linuxword update

[David Bristel]

Ok, with THAT out of the way, I'm wondering about some more rational/sober ideas
here.  I've not been to a Linux specific show, but except for RedHat and
Caldera, there hasn't been much of an attempt to EXPLAIN to corporate customers
"Why choose Linux", or "Why choose Debian" for their company.  So, if we can
take this idea, and present it, it would give us positive publicity and notice.


							Dave


On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, epsasnova wrote:

> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 11:00:25 -0500 (EST)
> From: epsasnova <epsas@sky.bluelight.net>
> To: "G. Crimp" <ye416@vifa1.freenet.victoria.bc.ca>
> Cc: David Bristel <targon@targonia.com>, Joey Hess <joey@kitenet.net>,
>     bad@kitenet.net, Sudhakar Chandrasekharan <thaths@netscape.com>,
>     Sylvester Baker Smith II <sly@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>,
>     David Welton <davidw@master.debian.org>,
>     Donovan Freemyer <dlfg@tsoft.com>,
>     Nils Lohner <lohner@typhoon.icd.teradyne.com>, alan@webwidgets.net,
>     Kevin Smathers <kevin@ank.com>, Klaus Kettner <kk@sesom.de>,
>     Blackwolf <blackwlf@blackwolf.com>, Darren Benham <gecko@debian.org>,
>     Michael Schmitz <MSchmitz@lbl.gov>, Kevin Dalley <kevind@rahul.net>,
>     Nathan Myers <ncm@best.com>, Seth <schoen@uclink4.berkeley.edu>,
>     Joseph Carter <knghtbrd@debian.org>,
>     Rafael Kitover <rkitover@dillinger.io.com>
> Subject: Re: linuxword update
> 
> Okay, here's my attack strategy - 
> 
> Juggling - I'll get several stuffed penguins and start juggling them in
> front of the Debian booth.  If that fails to bring in those mindless
> drones, we can do a performance art funeral procession.  Get some
> cardboard, spraypaint it black with red letters "Proprietary Software",
> wear bright clothing and carry the coffin down the aisles singing "Amazing
> Grace" or some other uplifting chant.  This of course, is the emergency
> plan and we should only do this on the last day, in case we get kicked
> out/for the best publicity.
> 
> Hacking Geeks - The "Huddled around the computer, leave me alone I'm
> chomping on some tasty code" attitude that we exhibited at the ALS did
> good to foster our image as genuine hackers as opposed to the marketing
> drones at the other booths - One difference this year being that we should
> open up our booth entrance, to allow the public to wander in and ask
> questions.
> 
> Quickcams - Somebody can probably code a small, free and fast program to
> manipulate/distort the individual frames coming from a quickcam. - Once
> distorted we can broadcast (multicast!!!) the video stream to every
> workstation.  If we can't get the system complete in time we can always
> work on it while we're at the show --> that way we'll have something to
> talk about as they pass us by.
> 
> The Big Shot Factor - Coffee - we'll have coffee and get some
> cheap/free/fatty pastries from the "stale" section of a bakery/Safeway
> Dumpster.  Set up folding chairs, put on some relaxing muzac and watch as
> the dino-hackers come out of their slumber and gravitate to our spot.  If
> we make our space comfortable enough, sooner or later Alan Cox, Linus,
> RMS, Jesus Christ or whoever is going to chill out with us to shoot the
> shit.  This, naturally, will bring their followers/adorers too.  This
> happened last year, it will happen again - I'll bring the throw rug.
> 
> Uniforms - Suits, Ties, and Bahama Shorts (color coordinated) on the First
> Day, Smoking Jackets/Bathrobes on the Second Day, etc...  something to
> catch their eyes.
> 
> Let's find out who has the booth next to ours so we can leech their
> bandwdth or something - we'll build a router to throttle it if they want
> - I'll bring some extra ne2k cards.
> 
> Have Fun, this will be a long, joyless event if we don't - The most
> important part.
> 
> Percolate this for a moment.
> 
> -----------------
> Charles Esteban Paul
> http://www.bluelight.net
> 
>        The Revolution Will Be Multicast
> 
> On Mon, 22 Feb 1999, G. Crimp wrote:
> 
> > On Mon, Feb 22, 1999 at 06:29:23PM -0800, David Bristel wrote:
> > > Ok, now that the time is close, I'm wondering what sort of a display we want to
> > > have there.  I'd personally like to see a solid demonstration of what makes
> > > Debian better than the other distributions.  YOU know, and _I_ know, but to
> > > those who have never seen Debian, they may want to see for themselves.
> > > Depending on stations, perhaps showing off the installation process, and package
> > > management would be good.  I've not tried the fresh setup of 2.1 yet, but it's
> > > something that might attract some attention(hopefully good).  Any thoughts?
> > > 
> > > 						Dave Bristel
> > > 
> > 	I think it would be good to have a machine available to show an
> > installation, but I don't think we can count on doing a demo.  My experience
> > from a couple of shows up here is that it is next to impossible to do demos
> > for even a small group.  Too much noise, too many distractions especially on
> > a monitor that is crowded as soon as you get two heads in front of it.  Most
> > people are going to want to talk and hear why they should use what we're
> > offering.
> > 
> > 	Some really catchy stuff running on X couldn't hurt, but likely will
> > serve more to show after the passer-by has been hooked in.  I think we will
> > attract more people by being open and welcoming than from anything we might
> > have showing on a monitor (except maybe for the geeks who can figure out its
> > significance immediately).  Apparently passers-by decide in some
> > ridiculously short interval (I think it is less than three seconds), from
> > the moment they set eyes on a booth, if they are going to stop and talk.
> > 
> > 	In the overall sea of colour from fancy booths and back drops,
> > monitors are pretty insignificant.  We should probably be thinking as much
> > about how we present ourselves and what we will promote about Debian, as
> > much as what we will have on the boxes.  Might seem rather silly, but we
> > have found that something as simple (and backbreak tireing at the end of a
> > long day) as making sure not to have our backs turned to the aisle and
> > making eye contact got us more people than fancy stuff on boxes.
> > 
> > 	As for what to have on the glass once they are in, I will defer to
> > the rest of you.  I am as yet only a wanna-be-geek, and not bleeding edge. 
> > You people probably know much more cool stuff than I.
> > 
> > 	Gerald
> > 
>