I think Dave Berlind made it quite obvious that his team is looking for feedback as to the right days and times to hold the conference to accommodate as many people as possible next go round.

Mashup Camp works regardless of the number of attendees, because if you find there’s nothing there to excite you, you can create an ad hoc forum to find like-minded people. It’s never let me down in that regard.

The first event I attended in Dublin since leaving 9 years ago was the Firefox Ireland launch party that I hosted. It got so much attention that Mozilla got in touch and asked if they could supply lots of merchandise (which they did). However the turnout wasn’t great (about 60) and I noticed right away that people are very shy when it comes to introducing themselves and simply getting to know others.

Look at the number of huge companies that are based in Dublin… Microsoft asked if I’d run an event for them after they attended my last Curry 2.0. Why? well because there isn’t much else happening – not because my dinner meetup was anything extraordinary.

There are a few people who are very keen for it to happen, but the vast majority in Dublin are like poker players – holding their cards closely to their chest in fear of giving something away.

Here’s an example now that I’m on a role, I met an old AOL colleague at a reunion and when I asked what he did, he wouldn’t tell me in fear of ‘everyone knowing his business’ – some people can imagine how I reacted. Needless to say he was very embarrassed and owned up to being an investor. I mean, WTF?!

Companies need to generate revenue but this doesn’t always mean pitching for a project during 9 to 5 on Monday to Friday. This belief is the issue I aim to raise (which you do quite well for me, but for the wrong reason). For example and not for the benefit of selling my services!… one of my companies has generated more than 5m since 2002 and 100% of the work has come from referral. That’s purposely without trying sell or build the business as we build ‘trust’ and a long-term business proposition.

It’s about ‘people’, not about chasing the buck.

Chase the buck if you want to make a quick one. Change your attitude and approach if you want to make it long term whilst adding real value.

Some people can’t make it, fine. But why come here and defend why ’some’ people can’t make it? Damien was simply making the point that not enough people get off their fat arses to put the effort in, so they can better themselves and their proposition.

The networking scene in Dublin sucks, full stop. Even the Firefox Ireland party that I hosted where Segala paid for an entire night, only attracted about 60 people – some great people I may add, but a very small number compared to an 11th hour meetup that I could arrange in London.

I was just pointing out that from a certain mindset, particularly one that isn’t starting up, or very small, or in need of sales leads… they might well approach it using bottom-line, money-talks type attitudes like the above. In which case the unconferencing benefits, the passion… it isn’t necessarily something you can sell to these people, but I’d also suggest that there is a marketing strategy for events for this kind of mindset…but I guess the million dollar question is nailing that down. [I'd hazard to say it certainly is NOT doing it at the weekend.] So I was simply hashing all that out. I’d agree entirely with you that if someone IS a freelance consultant, a contractor etc. related to the area… then if they’re not interested in an event like this then they are of course only damaging themselves.

We’ve identified definite types of people who AREN’T part of that: People like Des Traynor, who have a passionate interest in the area. That’s fantastic. No one is knocking that.

We’re also seeing another type, ‘the would like to but can’t afford it.’ – Which comes right back to the issue of whether there should be more support – entrepreneurs can easily be on a shoe-string, so it’s a whole other conversation to identify what can be done to help them get access to incredibly beneficial resources like this.

@Damien

That’s the trouble with so many Irish companies and tech people. They’re interested in getting by, not doing well or becoming a power player.

That’s just not true! The CEOs of these companies aren’t interested in getting by… they’re interested in money. Cha – ching! The SME sector in Ireland has really supercharged tech companies, going at it like bunnies in their own niches. – Mobile, online, everywhere… I know we need to encourage more entrepreneurship etc. but we’re talking about tech companies that exist in this discussion.

What’s doing well + a power player? I consider a power player a profitable company that makes loads of cash. What do you consider it? You can’t say that because a huge proportion doesn’t go to mashup camp, and subscribe to your same ethos, that ‘they all just don’t get it.’ Are you really really far ahead of the grade curve? Nope, it’s just part of your ‘doing well’ and ‘power player’ to get to these camps. And that’s not a bad thing. But i’m positing it’s not Irish tech companies ethos at all.

Companies are motivated by money. It’s how to get to that beating heart. It’s how to get to that beating heart and motivate it into getting to your conference. So that you can sell the product to them, be it your standards proposal, your api, or maybe just yourself.

And so the cycle goes on!

Hey! Could I speak at a conference on the problems with conferences? Is there a conference about conferences?