It’s coming in May. The official UK SQL Server 2016 launch event is SQL Bits and the conference returns to Liverpool on May 4-7. With a fun theme.
Check out the launch video here: SQLBits XV
Update (Mar 24): The agenda is live. I’m speaking Saturday at 2:30pm.
There are two days of pre-cons, packed with some great sessions, as well as two additional days of fantastic content and a fun party Friday night. You can register today, and I’ll see you there.
Now, to find something to wear…
It was a few years back that my wife and I planned a trip to the Austin City Lights music festival to see Stevie Wonder. This was a bucket list item for us, and we thoroughly enjoyed a long weekend in the city. I’ve been for SQL in the City as well, and each time I’ve gone, I’ve enjoyed a lunch at one of the Mexican restaurants South of the river. My kids always joke that my wife and I will fill up on chips and margaritas at Mexican restaurants, and it’s somewhat true. Often dinner becomes lunch the next day.
It’s just two weeks to SQL Saturday #461 in Austin, and I’m looking forward to going back. In fact, I’m going to make it a point to at least go get chips and a drink at the same place. I can’t remember the name, but I know how to get there, so I’ll be fine.
However the main event is the free, one day SQL Saturday event taking place. I’ll be there delivering my Branding for a Dream Job presentation, but there are tons of other great talks. From AlwaysOn to Power BI to Azure to Writing Faster Queries, you’ll have a great day of learning on all sorts of SQL Server topics.
If you’re anywhere near Austin, register today and come join us in Austin for a fun day that kicks of my SQL Saturday 2016 tour.
I got an email recently that notified me that session feedback from the Summit was available for my talk. I’d had a lot of people in the room, and was curious how things went. I think the session was OK, a little off on time, a few too many questions I tried to answer, and perhaps a bumpy flow.
However when I got my scores, I had a 2.85 for the session overall, with various aspects of the talk being rated from 2.5 to 2.9.
Well, I sucked.
That was my first thought. I’ve been getting rated, and evaluating speakers on a 5 point scale for quite a few years at PASS events. I was surprised, and disappointed, and then a bit embarrassed that I hadn’t delivered a good talk at the Summit. Since I hadn’t delivered that talk in public anywhere prior to the conference, I thought I had made a big mistake. Apparently my practice that week in my hotel room had been for naught.
However then I saw this note in another email: One of the changes this year was to move from a five point rating scale to a three-point scale.
Hmmm, I missed that in my email somewhere, and didn’t notice this as I filled out a couple of session evaluations.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with changing the scale. Personally I like the 3 point scale, but it wasn’t a change I noticed. The first communication with speaker feedback didn’t mention this.
Scale matters. Many of us know that by manipulating scales, we can make data look different, We can prove a point that might not be supported by a different presentation of the data on another scale.
Our clients and business users come to know and expect the various ways we present data. They will start to internalize scales and interpret data based on their expectations. We can change scales, but we need to make it clear and visible that we have changed scales.
Personally I would have appreciated the results being reported as:
Overall Session Score: 2.85/3.00
instead of
Overall Session Score: 2.85
That little extra information can mean a lot. Keep this in mind as you make fundamental changes to the way you present data.
I’ve been to the SQL Saturday in Washington, DC a few times and I’m looking forward to going back. It’s a good event and since I have family in the area, I can usually take a day or two of vacation and visit.
This year the event is on Dec 5, 2015, and it’s SQL Saturday #470. Wow, we’re closing on #500, which is amazing.
I’ve got two talks I’m giving, both of which I really like. I’ve revamped them both a little, incorporating a few new items in there and I hope everyone enjoys them.
The room I’m in will be the room for the day, with both myself and Brent Ozar giving two sessions around Wayne Sheffield talking T-SQL window functions. I know there are other great sessions, but feel free to camp out in this room.
If you’re in the area, come join us for a free day of training. The event is in Chevy Chase at the Microsoft building.
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