Voice of the DBA

Tag: speaking

  • A Broken Streak

    SQL Saturday #1 was in Orlando, as the first actual event that has gotten us to nearly 1000 in just over a decade. I didn’t go to the first one, but I did go to SQL Saturday #8 and many more since that time. I’ve been luck to get back to Orlando a few times, and I look forward to more in the future.

    Andy Warren announced that this year’s SQL Saturday in Orlando is cancelled. This breaks the longest streak so far, and I’m sad to see that. I wasn’t likely to go to Orlando this year, though this city is always on my list. I was hoping the event would take place in some form, but I understand the desire to step back and examine how to move forward.

    A virtual SQL Saturday isn’t quite the same for me. I’ve presented at one, and submitted to a couple more to support them, but I don’t love this format, and I think it becomes hard to make it a special event for your city. I know a few more are planned for 2020, and I hope someone runs a SQL Saturday with only local speakers for that area. That might make it feel like a local event.

    Since the pandemic hit, and since SQL Saturday #950 in Victoria, I’m not sure anyone has held a live event. I’m not sure when the next live SQL Saturday will be, but I’m hoping that it happens in 2021 sometime. I don’t think anyone can plan for this year, but I am hopeful we will find a way to get back to some live interaction next year.

    We have until 14 Mar, 2021 to avoid losing a whole year of SQL Saturdays and breaking a streak of having them every year since 2007. I’m confident that if it’s safe, someone will organize and run a SQL Saturday as soon as they can. I’m also sure it will be well attended as I’m guessing many of you are looking forward to a live event as much as I am. I just hope I get the chance to speak, because I will certainly be ready for a live audience.

    Steve Jones

    Listen to the podcast at Libsyn, Stitcher or iTunes.

  • Giving Back to Speakers

    It might be hard to think back to 2007, but at that time, there were only a few SQL Server events taking place in the world. SQL Bits held its inaugural event, and we had the annual PASS Summit, DevConnections, and Visual Studio Live conferences. Microsoft had a few large events, but outside of user groups, that was it.

    In 2007, Andy Warren and I were talking and planning for SQL Saturday #1. That year we thought there were plenty of speakers in that area, with a number of MVPs. However, after the event, as other events sprung up in 2008, we worried if we’d have enough speakers.

    He did, and we continue to find new speakers every year. I’ve seen some really good ones, and some that need help. GroupBy is trying to do something in this area. They only choose a few speakers, but they’ve started a mentorship program that is geared to helping new speakers grow.

    You can apply to help today, and I’d encourage you to do so. I did.

  • A Virtual Trip Down Under

    I had a great holiday last week, getting away from my home for the first time in months. It’s been an extra strange time for me as I usually have a number of personal and business trips I’ve taken by this time, but with the pandemic, I’ve been at home, like most of you. However, we managed to find a campground open, and we packed up the family, dogs, and horses for a week in the South Dakota hills.

    I’m back, and while I won’t be getting on an airplane, I am going to travel virtually to Australia this week for quite an action packed Redgate Streamed APAC Edition. I’m slightly disappointed that I won’t be able to shake hands with Troy Hunt, but neither will Damian Brady, Greg Low, or Hamish Watson. I was on stage last summer with those three, and I immensely enjoyed the experience.

    This year we’re holding the event virtually in the Australia time zone, so I’ll be working late afternoon and evening my time for the event on Thursday, July 2. Time zones certainly get strange when I do things in Australia, and it’s the one place I’ve traveled where I feel really out of place when contacting this side of the world. The last time I was there, I watched my daughter’s evening volleyball game as I was eating breakfast.

    I get to deliver a talk, and then I’ll settle in to watch everyone else and enjoy the other talks. All of these are expert software developers and data professionals, and I learn quite a bit from them on a regular basis. If you want to spend time later this week, register for the event and join me, wherever you are in the world. The one good thing with these virtual events is that we can attend them if they fit our schedule.

    I’m excited to talk DevOps, software development, and, of course, security with the incredible Troy Hunt. This is an exciting week back for me, but also a busy one as I prep for a look at the software challenges down under.

    Steve Jones

    Note: Podcasts paused this week as I have construction taking place at the house and nowhere to record.

  • Bringing Redgate Streamed Down Under

    Next week is the Redgate Streamed APAC Edition, on July 2. At least, July 2 in Australia. I’m still not sure what time it will be for me, and I am double checking all the schedules since Australia and New Zealand make me feel more disconnected from everywhere else in the world. I loved my trip last year, but crossing the dateline was a weird experience.

    You can register for the event and attend. It’s 0800-1430 in AEST, but I’m not going to try and figure out where that is anywhere else. You’re on your own for that one.

    This time I’ll be presenting and hosting the event from Colorado in the US. I also get to do a short interview with Troy Hunt, who is in incredible expert in his field. I follow his blog, have watched his presentations, and am somewhat disappointed I don’t get to meet him in person. Maybe next year.

    We also have some other amazing speakers:

    • Damian Brady, Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft
    • Steve Jones, Microsoft Data Platform MVP & SQLServerCentral Editor
    • Greg Low, Microsoft Data Platform MVP and founder of SQL Down Under
    • Hamish Watson, Microsoft Data Platform MVP and founder of SQL Down Under

    I’ve been blessed to be on the stage with each of these experts, and I am looking forward to learning more from them next week. We’ll be talking security, DevOps, compliance, and more. Register today and join me next week for some learning, inspiration, and excitement.

    As a  plus, Redgate is donating to the Australian Red Cross and the WHO for each person that attends, so be sure to tune in.