Voice of the DBA

Tag: PASS

  • Looking Forward to the PASS Data Community Summit 2023

    I was lucky enough to attend the very first PASS Summit in 1999. It was a brand new event, and while not overly large, it was busy and crowded in the basement of a Chicago Loop hotel. I had the chance to meet Kalen Delaney there and ask her a question. That was the highlight of the trip, but I also learned a lot about SQL Server 6.5 and 7 there, spending all the time I could in sessions and hanging out after each one listening to the questions others asked the speakers.

    Since then, I have been lucky enough to go to most of the Summits. The event has changed a bit, and I look forward to going to see friends each year and re-connect with them. I’ve also loved meeting new people, often those I’ve corresponded with online. Each event has been memorable and exhausting at the same time. It’s a busy week, and I can sometimes feel overwhelmed. However, it’s always felt like it was worth the trip.

    I saw a video from Kendra Little where she talks about what she’s looking forward to this year. She has a few things on her mind: connecting with people, learning from the people who write the software, learning from those that use the software, broadening her horizons, and being a part of the data community.

    My thoughts are similar. Last year I was looking forward to the event in person, but apprehensive with all the commitments I had for Redgate with speaking. This year I’m much less involved, working more on things before the Summit and I’m hoping I can enjoy the experience more with less work during the event.

    For many years I was always excited about the SQL Server Central party. That was a highlight for me and I was sad when the referrals that funded it went away. Perhaps I’ll get find a way to get it back in the future. For now, I want to connect with more people. I want to do this casually in a few ways. From the #sqltrain on Sunday to a few quiet dinners with friends during the week to taking time at night to attend some of the events that various vendors will sponsor, that will be a great chance to bond with friends (new and old) in a social way.

    I also want to connect more professionally with people, which I’ll do in the Community Zone, as Kendra suggests, but also around the convention center. I am planning on not having to rush to many things, which means I’ll have more time in hallways and after sessions to talk tech with speakers and attendees. I’m always amazed by the ways some of you use databases and software, and I find myself learning creative solutions that I might suggest to others in the future.

    The last thing that I’m looking forward to is the chance to motivate a few more people to run SQL Saturday events in 2024. We’ve had some new events in 2023, a few more than 2022, but not nearly as many as we used to see each year. I’m hoping to connect with more community leaders and volunteers to try and get them to consider organizing an event in the future.

    The Summit is a great investment in your career as a data professional, and it can be a good investment for your employer. Make a case, show them you want to learn and grow, and that what you learn there will help you in your job. It’s a park for those of you that bring value to your employer and the can help with retention. You’ll gain knowledge and make contacts that help you on a daily basis.

    I hope to see you in Seattle this November.

    Note: The price goes up Sept 20, so get registered before then.

    Steve Jones

    Listen to the podcast at Libsyn, Stitcher, Spotify, or iTunes.

  • 100 Days to the Data Community Summit Keynote

    The start of learning at the 2023 PASS Data Community Summit is 100 days away. I checked.

    2023-08-04 09_24_01-SQLQuery2.sql - ARISTOTLE_SQL2017.master (ARISTOTLE_Steve (52))_ - Microsoft SQL

    The Summit starts for many of us on Monday with precons or an early arrival and spending time with friends. However, the first keynote is Wednesday, and that’s the main conference for most people.

    100 days away.

    It’s amazing to think we’re that close. Speakers are working on their sessions, polishing decks and practicing demos. Hopefully attendees have gotten all their travel arranged. The sessions are out, and you can build a schedule. You can even still add a pre-con if you want.

    Hopefully I’ll see you there. If you’re valuable at work, if you get things done, make a case to send you to the Summit to learn things and network with others. Those contacts might be invaluable in the future when you have a question or problem.

    And if you’re going, consider coming to SQL Saturday Oregon the Saturday before and taking the train up with us. It’s a fun time.

  • PASS Data Community Summit 2023 Registration is Open

    You can register today for the 2023 PASS Data Community Summit. This year the event is in Seattle, Nov 14-17, and in-person only. The event was a lot of fun last year, with many great sessions and lots of networking with fellow data professionals.

    I’m looking forward to this year’s event. I have submitted a session, though I am hoping for less of a load this year. Last year I had a session, hosted a panel, MC’d two lightning talk hours, was a part of two keynotes, and I’m sure I’m forgetting something. This year I hope to have a few less commitments and see more sessions and friends.

    There is a lot to learn, and this is a great chance to talk with many of the SQL Server developers from Microsoft. With the event in Seattle, I expect a lot of them to attend. It’s also the chance to talk to many of the experts in the community. People like Erik Darling, Allan Hirt, Glenn Berry, and more.

    This is the cheapest rate you can get now. They’ll be a few price bumps, and there might be some discount codes, but you can register for a three day conference for less now. Talk to your boss, get some funding, make a case for the ROI as well as suggestion that sending you helps retention.

    I hope to see you in Seattle this November.

  • Registered for the Data Community Summit

    I was reminded this week that I needed to get registered for the Data Community Summit 2022 since I’m speaking. I also needed a hotel, so I took some time this week and got my flights, hotel, and conference booked.

    Register for the Data Community Summit today and come join the largest data platform conference in the world. Use the discount code “SJSUMMIT93” for $200 off the 3 day conference in person. Or use “SJONLINE93” for 50% off the virtual conference.

    This is a great chance to meet with other professionals, network, hear about their innovative and inspiring solutions, and get excited about your career. I’ve been lucky enough to attend many Summits in the past and I’m looking forward to this one.

    I’ve got a discount code for the online

    I’m a part of the Cloud learning pathway and have a few other sessions as well. I also have a Tuesday pre-con focused on Redgate technology, so if you’re a customer (or want to be), come to the pre-con and learn how to implement database DevOps.

    A few other sessions I hope I can get into my schedule:

    There are many more in the schedule, and I know there will be hard choices to make. There always are, though you can get recordings and access later to recordings.

    I hope to see some of you there. Please feel free to stop me if you come and shake my hand, say hi, and chat for a moment.

    Register today and use these codes for discounts:

    • SJONLINE93 – 50% off the virtual conference
    • SJSUMMIT93 – $200 off the in-person event in Seattle.