Lots of different strands of work taking place at ILUG today.  Sponsor area is almost complete, the rooms are ready to go and now onto the bar.  Looking forward to meeting everyone over the next few days.

The first few start to meet at ILUG.  Lots going on before it starts on Wednesday.  Tomorrow from lunch time on, bag packing begins along with all the other madness.

It feels colder out.  And Wednesday night (the night of the bus trip) it is to be very cold/wet.  Plenty of hot/cold drinks at the venue though.

One side of my garage is filled with boxes.  We are all dealing with suppliers, sponsors, speakers, hotel staff, catering staff constantly.  About 60 items on the to-do list and working through it.  Yep, its ILUG again.

Once more, a bunch of people put in their own time to present a conference on a technology that they all share, for free.

Once more, the sponsors contribute to make this happen for free.

Once more, the best speakers in the business converge to present for free.

Once more, people from 24 countries travel to Ireland to listen to the speakers and sponsors.

Once more, speedgeeking, speedsponsoring and general madness

This time, IBM have a full LAB setup where you can sit and experience all the latest toys.

The agenda is packed and there is a lot lined up to keep  you entertained.  It’s hard to think that the first time it ran was six years ago for 1/2 a day in Dublin.  Back then I could sort it all myself with no sleep and no life for a month.  Now, a three day event, there is a team of people that have no sleep/life for a few months.

A few tips for ILUG

• Wear comfortable shoes
• You can wear a suit, if you want to be pointed/jeered at
• This is a tech conference, but everyone is nice and friendly – say hello
• Bring business cards
• Bring warm clothes for the bus tour
• VISIT THE SPONSORS.  They paid for the gig.  You owe them your time.
• Thank the organisers if you see them.  Buy them a drink.  They work hard.
• Show appreciation for the speakers
• If a non-paying sponsor tries to do a ad-hoc session, feel free to tell coatsie, Bill, Matt, Warren, Kitty, Eileen, Julian, Kerr, Steve McDonagh, Rob F Novak or myself.  We shall sit on them.
• WiFi is on us
• Dinner is NOT included.  There are three places to eat in the hotel.  Feel free to choose (they are all good  – I attended an event in this hotel in May and liked the food ;)  )
• If you arrive on Tuesday, feel free to help us.  We will be in the hotel
• The event starts at 9am on Wednesday morning.  We won’t wait for you!
• Hastag is #ilug10
• There are LOTS OF PRIZES at the event.  If you are not at the closing session, you don’t win any of them.  Dems the rules folks!

Folks, first surprise for ILUG2010 occurs after the speed-sponsoring on the Wednesday evening.  At 7.30pm, two buses from Belfast City Bus Tours will collect people from the hotel and bring you on a guided (and entertaining) bus tour of Belfast.    There are two busses booked so will take approx 150 people.  It’s first come – first served folks, so no gripes if you don’t get a seat.  Remember, it’s November in Belfast.  It will be cold, and possibly wet, so dress smart.  Tour will last about an hour and brings you back to the hotel/bar, where we will be waiting.

The cost… free.  It’s on me as a thank-you for giving your time.

Yup – the ILUG agenda is now live and on the website.  If you start to browse through the massive amount of sessions, from brilliant speakers, and most excellent products (not to mention a seriously insane number of free gifts) and realise that you are not going, then shame on you.  Go face a corner and think about what you have done.  Then go register on the website and get your ass to ILUG.

Seriously, the session listing alone makes me not want to help run ILUG.  It just makes me want to attend.

So much for Irish ;)

Anguilla

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Canada

China

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Malta

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Portugal

Slovenia

Spain

Sweeden

Switzerland

Turkey

UK

USA

Via – Steve McDonagh