[Linux-aus] Request for creation of "Video Recording and Streaming" subcommittee

[Russell Coker]

On Sat, 23 Mar 2013, Michael Still <mikal at stillhq.com> wrote:
> So... I like video and streaming, but how do we fund it if it reduces
> the attendance at the event?

Do we have an attendance problem?

I had the impression that for a long time LCA was limited by venue size.  I 
was told in the past that the number of delegates has been limited to the 
capacity of the hall used for the keynote lectures.  While 2013 obviously 
wasn't limited by the keynote hall size it did seem that the area used for 
regular presentations was about as crowded as it could be (some lectures were 
over-crowded).

The general impression I had received from LCA organisers is that for a long 
time it's been an issue that allowing more delegates would imply choosing a 
larger and significantly more expensive venue while also having less freedom to 
choose location (as there aren't so many huge venues).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number

Also larger conferences seem more impersonal.  For example the organiser of 
the Colorado Software Summit deliberately limited the number of delegates to 
about the same number as LCA even though the venue he hired could fit more.  
Maybe something like Dunbar's Number applies to conference size.

In regard to the people who believe that they get better value from sitting at 
home watching videos, would it be better for everyone if we provide really 
great videos for free so that the limited seats in the conference can be taken 
by people who want to hang out with other people?  Note that I'm not 
criticising the people who would rather watch videos, they are probably more 
like me than the majority of the population.

If we do have an attendance problem then what should we do to fix it?

-- 
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