Le Web 3 wants start-ups to buy ticket first or they won't be considered for a start-up slot. Thoughts anyone?
2 years, 1 month ago.
19 comments so far
The one hotel on our honeymoon that wanted us to pay up front before checking in, was the one hotel that was so horrible we checked out of it after one night and moved to the 5* next door. Therefore on principle, anyone that wants you to pay out money up front is wrong and should be avoided... What startups have the money to pay out 'just to be considered', you might not even get the slot after all...
No way. Consideration for speaker slots or start-up slots must be completely disconnected from payment, otherwise there's the potential for all sorts of nonsense.
Ah c'mon Dennis, the only way to register without paying immediately is to do a bank transfer. I've just gone through the steps (except the payment one) and it says to execute bank transfer quickly.
I dunno. I mean, while I think the lineup for Le Web 3 is more of the same as other conferences, it is a great networking event but if the startup competition is a subset of Le Web 3, then it can be seen as a bonus to those already going, right? There is the argument to me that if you think you should be presenting then you should be also attending whether or which but it would be nice, like TechCrunch 40 to give golden tickets to those that win slots, if it is within the budget of course.
Yup, I see both sides on this but the critical point is budget/ROI. The Le Web ticket price is at a level that is fine if you do get a slot but is high if you don't and it just becomes a networking event.
I think that Patrick and Boris did it perfectly with TheNextWeb. The tickets were relatively cheap, the speakers were good, the conference was small and the networking opportunities were rife. Best few hundred Euro we spent in 2007.
If Loic is serious about 2000 people at Le Web 3b then I think that actually reduces its value since the simple act of finding people becomes a challenge. Web2Expo in Berlin will be a strong indicator of whether these mega-events work here or not.
Damien - the line up is pretty decent IMO and includes voices I've not seen/heard but a good point about the Golden Ticket thingy.
You need pass this thread on to Loic - he'll listen. He's on Twitter from start of play through close SF time, pretty much 7 days a week at the moment.
Dennis, I'd disagree, most of the speakers seem to be the usual circuit goers stateside and Europe. I'd use your own quote on my blog in fact. "me-too BS conferences" and that's how I see Le Web 3. Loic is even ripping off TechCrunch 40 now except milking more money by not giving out Golden Tickets and instead demanding upfront payment from anyone that applies. 2000 people at 600 quid a pop. That's serious money generating, some kind of kickback to startups who while getting potentially good coverage, are also providing free content in a way.
I think there's a serious amount of clever people in Europe who could bring a whole lot more into the mainstream, given the platform. Loic could take the Reboot model and send 2000 people home with brains filled with new ideas and excitement.
While even Reboot had the big names it was the ability of "interesting" people to suggest their own talks and the Reboot people giving them the chance that made it powerful. Would love to see more streams for the Le Web event and a more open way of choosing talks.
19 comments so far
The one hotel on our honeymoon that wanted us to pay up front before checking in, was the one hotel that was so horrible we checked out of it after one night and moved to the 5* next door. Therefore on principle, anyone that wants you to pay out money up front is wrong and should be avoided... What startups have the money to pay out 'just to be considered', you might not even get the slot after all...
2 years, 1 month ago by ellybabes
No way. Consideration for speaker slots or start-up slots must be completely disconnected from payment, otherwise there's the potential for all sorts of nonsense.
2 years, 1 month ago by tommorris
@conoro: Where did you get that information?
2 years, 1 month ago by dahowlett
Was emailed to me and is now on the blog:
http://www.leweb3.com/leweb3/2007/10/important-updat.html
2 years, 1 month ago by conoro
@conoro: doesn't say pay, it says registered. Different thing.
2 years, 1 month ago by dahowlett
Ah c'mon Dennis, the only way to register without paying immediately is to do a bank transfer. I've just gone through the steps (except the payment one) and it says to execute bank transfer quickly.
2 years, 1 month ago by conoro
Note I'm looking for opinions here rather than criticising.
If memory serves about Essential Web, you didn't have to pay if you got a slot and if you'd paid already, they refunded.
TC40 was free for main stage but $2500 for demopit.
DEMO is $18000 to get a slot I think.
So there are lots of different approaches there.
Cathy comes from Guidewire right? Do startups that get slots at Innovate have to pay? And how much?
2 years, 1 month ago by conoro
I dunno. I mean, while I think the lineup for Le Web 3 is more of the same as other conferences, it is a great networking event but if the startup competition is a subset of Le Web 3, then it can be seen as a bonus to those already going, right? There is the argument to me that if you think you should be presenting then you should be also attending whether or which but it would be nice, like TechCrunch 40 to give golden tickets to those that win slots, if it is within the budget of course.
2 years, 1 month ago by DamienMulley
Yup, I see both sides on this but the critical point is budget/ROI. The Le Web ticket price is at a level that is fine if you do get a slot but is high if you don't and it just becomes a networking event.
I think that Patrick and Boris did it perfectly with TheNextWeb. The tickets were relatively cheap, the speakers were good, the conference was small and the networking opportunities were rife. Best few hundred Euro we spent in 2007.
If Loic is serious about 2000 people at Le Web 3b then I think that actually reduces its value since the simple act of finding people becomes a challenge. Web2Expo in Berlin will be a strong indicator of whether these mega-events work here or not.
2 years, 1 month ago by conoro
I just checked the price. 600 quid. Thought it was 300. Hmmm.
2 years, 1 month ago by DamienMulley
Damien - the line up is pretty decent IMO and includes voices I've not seen/heard but a good point about the Golden Ticket thingy.
You need pass this thread on to Loic - he'll listen. He's on Twitter from start of play through close SF time, pretty much 7 days a week at the moment.
2 years, 1 month ago by dahowlett
Dennis, I'd disagree, most of the speakers seem to be the usual circuit goers stateside and Europe. I'd use your own quote on my blog in fact. "me-too BS conferences" and that's how I see Le Web 3. Loic is even ripping off TechCrunch 40 now except milking more money by not giving out Golden Tickets and instead demanding upfront payment from anyone that applies. 2000 people at 600 quid a pop. That's serious money generating, some kind of kickback to startups who while getting potentially good coverage, are also providing free content in a way.
I think there's a serious amount of clever people in Europe who could bring a whole lot more into the mainstream, given the platform. Loic could take the Reboot model and send 2000 people home with brains filled with new ideas and excitement.
While even Reboot had the big names it was the ability of "interesting" people to suggest their own talks and the Reboot people giving them the chance that made it powerful. Would love to see more streams for the Le Web event and a more open way of choosing talks.
2 years, 1 month ago by DamienMulley
most conferences are speakercons with the emphasis on the second syllable. They do not endorse the uncon ethos because they exist for revenue first.
2 years, 1 month ago by topgold
Unfortunately the info overload from Loic on Twitter means I had to stop following him.
His own channel on Jaiku would solve that problem in an instant!
Should we start a campaign to get Loic on Jaiku? ;-)
2 years, 1 month ago by conoro
read loic the twit through your aggie and live with the delay not the noise.
2 years, 1 month ago by topgold
@conoro Scoble cite's Loic's noise as evidence that he's "outmarketing everyone on Twitter" but your reaction is closer to the truth.
2 years, 1 month ago by educast
Two words come to mind: "blow" & "me"...
2 years, 1 month ago by Evertb
Conoro - Loic has an account here, just doesn't use it: http://loiclemeur.jaiku.com/
2 years, 1 month ago by ellybabes
Thanks Elly. I added him and then unsubbed his Twitter input to Jaiku. As Bernie says, gotta love the granularity here.
2 years, 1 month ago by conoro