Voice of the DBA

Tag: SQLBits

  • Heading to SQL Bits 2025

    I’ll be at SQL Bits tomorrow, Saturday Jun 20, 2025 for the final day of the conference. I wasn’t selected to speak, but since I’m in Cambridge next week I came a couple of days early to stop by the event.

    As this publishes, I’m probably just about to land at Heathrow and I am looking forward to a fairly quiet day in London.

    Tomorrow should be fun. I have lightly looked at the schedule and I see a few AI sessions that might be fun to watch, but mostly I’m looking forward to catching up with friends.

    If you see me, please don’t hesitate to say hi.

  • Skipping SQL Bits 2024

    SQL Bits has been my favorite data platform event for years. Both it and the PASS Data Community Summit hold special places in my heard and I enjoy going, but the community, casual feel of SQL Bits is just a bit more fun for me.

    I’m sad to be skipping SQL Bits 2024, but the timing doesn’t work for me. I saw Brent was also skipping (for different reasons), and decided to state my own reasons, since I have often attended. This was also Brent’s most commented on post in 2023, so I’m hoping to start the year off right on this blog Winking smile

    Managing Workload

    In 2023, I had 32 trips. By mid Oct, I was a bit worn out and struggling. I just wanted trips to be over with and get back home. Between my last pre-Summit event in early Nov and the PASS Data Community Summit, I was home for 12 days in a row. I hadn’t done that since May 2023.

    As a result, I’m trying to be more careful with travel workload in 2024. My boss and I meet every week or two and we review the schedule for the next couple months to manage things.

    I also coach volleyball in Q1 and I try not to miss events or practices so I try to limit my travel.

    Scheduling

    While I local SQL Bits, I’ve missed a number over the years because of scheduling conflicts. Their March events have conflicted with other events in my life, often outside of work. I preferred when they had an Aug/Sept event as well.

    This March, I am committed in March from the 9-11th, and then have to be in Atlanta on the 13th-14th. I have the next week at home, and I could potentially go to the UK on the 18th, but I have to be back on the 24th to coach an event in Denver. That means leaving Sat from the UK at the latest, and leaving SQL Bits on Friday. I’ve done that before, but I have to miss some practices in Denver that week and it’s not worth it just to indulge myself in another event.

    I also have to be back in the UK in April and travel the in between week in the US, so I’m thinking that this is a time when I could make the schedule work, but it would impact my managing my workload.

    Skipping a Year

    I’ve been blessed and honored to speak at many events. While I would like to go back and enjoy SQL Bits, I also want to make room for others and let them enjoy the experience. Missing a year is OK, and I’ll look forward to 2025 (and cross my fingers that the date doesn’t have workload or scheduling impact).

    If you’re anywhere near London or can get there in March, attend the event yourself. It’s fantastic and a lot of fun.

  • Blogging for the Tech Professional PowerPoint

    Thanks to everyone that came to my talk at SQL Bits.

    Powerpoint here for download.

    If you have questions, reach out.

  • On the Road at SQL Bits

    I may try to blog, but I know this is a busy week. I’m leaving today for England and SQL Bits. Actually I fly to London and then spend a day there before training across to Wales with colleagues.

    By my CV, this is my seventh trip to SQL Bits, and I’m excited to go back. It is my favorite conference, and I love that I can see friends from all over the world. The Summit in Seattle and MVP Summit also get worldwide attendees, but Bits gets a neat mix of many speakers and attendees I don’t see elsewhere.

    I’ll try to post some pix and notes from the event, though I know it will be a busy week.