SolidWorks World 2004

[2Dto3D]

Anyone heard any dates & locations for SolidWorks World 2004? According to announcments at SWW2003, it will be devided up by region, but that's all I know so far. Maybe someone with more of an inside scoop can share.

Charley Leonard
CSWP

http://www.2Dto3D.com

 

[SBaugh]

That's right there will not be a SWWC anymore or at least not at this time. There will only be regional SWWC. SW was having trouble getting customers to go to the Conferences so they are trying something new this year and that's the regional stuff you have seen. I personally don't like it myself, but if the customers are not going and only the VAR's are, what's the point of throwing that big of a party if no one comes.

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help

 

[2Dto3D]

Well, I think there were a couple thousand of us in Orlando. I thought a healthy portion of that was users (like myself), but maybe not. I know it was down from the previous year in Vegas, but I just thought it was because of the general economic hard times. I'm not thrilled about breaking up the world event, either, but the bright side is I probably won't have to go to the other side of the continent like I did this year (it's cool when the company's paying, unless you're the company)

PS. Like your new site, Scott.



Charley Leonard
CSWP

http://www.2Dto3D.com

 

[DetroitPickles]

I am here to cast my vote for not liking the new "idea". I think the conference goers were down due to the struggling economy and the fact that it was in Orlando. Personally, I think it is easier to get someone to go to Vegas than Orlando, but that is me. All I know is I had a better time in Vegas during my off time, and the Vegas trip was cheaper.



Mr. Pickles

 

[APPENG]

My two cents....

I dont like the new idea either, and as far as I know its not a for sure thing that they are going with Regionals... I can understand the point that many people would not need to travel so far, but personally I enjoy going to the different locations..i mean who wants to go to Cleveland after being to Vegas, and Orlando, and such.. (okay that the selfish part of me talking)

Realistically, I think that you can get a much broader panel of experts to put on clinics and poweruser sessions at one location... after all If I want to run one, my boss is not going to allow me the time to perform it more than once... that would call for me to take time off and do it on my own time... which if I were financially well off would not be an issue... however I am NOT!

As an added benefit it gives VAR's a chance to talk to other VARs in different locations on a non-competitive basis to see what sorts of things that others are doing to help proliferate the product.. tips and tricks on tech support, sales, marketing, etc....

So anyway I think they should stick with the national SWX WORLD CONFERENCE!

Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[JNR]

I whole-heartedly agree with you all. The international conference should stay in the long term. (For ALL the reasons you give, plus some.) I have been to lots of other CAD conferences in the past and the iternational ones are always best attended and most useful.

BTW: In terms of travel distance, don't forget this is INTERNATIONAL - we have it easy in the US!

I also firmly believe (and this is supported by many trade studies) that the "popular" conference destinations very definintely do attract more people. For many, especially overseas users, it is a great opportunity to combiner it with a family vacation - maybe even a once in a lifetime chance.

I also agree that the reductions in business travel budgets and discretionary budgets in general have really been the cause of the downturn in attendance. We used to send 2, then 1, now no-one for that reason alone. Perhaps if they go regional they could just do it for a year or maybe two at most until things settle back again. But on the whole I would prefer to see a scaled back or re-designed international conference until things recover.

 

[doyle808]

Just so we have a vote in favor of the regional conferences, tally one in the affirmative.

The whole idea is to get more users access to the show, and I think this will address the issue. If I had any concerns, it was for the vendors who will now have to go to three shows instead of just one. I've talked with a few of them, and surprisingly they are in favor of the idea. Seems smaller shows actually generate more good leads.

Speaking of regional conferences (big plug coming...), the Texas State SolidWorks User Groups are hosting the 2003 All-Texas SolidWorks User Conference July 13th - 15th, 2003 in Austin Texas. Check out the website at

http://www.ctsug.org

- click on the All-Texas Conference link for more information. This conference is open to all.

Richard Doyle
SNUG

 

[GFranck]

My vote would be to keep the present setup of a World conference. I have been to the last three and felt that this years attendance was similar to the other two. I for one enjoy meeting other users from different parts of the country and the world. I like many others combine this trip into a vacation which may make my vote slightly tainted.

 

[jeanpaul]

Yes for a world conference; and each year in one new country.
Why not 2005 in Deutchland and the next year in Japan.

 

[adamkas]

Graphics Systems Corp. out of Milwaukee, WI will be holding the Largest Solidworks User Conference in the Midwest on Aug. 11-13 at the well known Grand Geneva Resort. For more info check out the web site

http://www.gxsc.com.

 

[JNR]

User conferences and user group meetings for specific products are a strange breed of events. Having been involved in many over the years and read several studies, I can tell you it is not what one might expect. (Kinda like the issue of people wanting to bust up huge lottery prizes into more smaller ones then the tickets sales go in the dumper when they try it.)

As it turns out, in spite of all the "logical" advantages to smaller, local events, they turn out on average to be poorly supported - particulalry in the long term. There are exceptions, but look at user groups (of all kinds). With the exception of a few shining stars, they tend to rely on a few dedicated individuals to keep them alive (until they burn out). Also they don't have the strength and breadth of content to attract enough enthusiasm to attend.

Indeed, the "popular" destinations are the best attended in practice. It adds that extra incentive.

One thing to remember is we are not necessarily talking about you and me, but the average Joe who makes up the greater volume of attendees.

On balance I hope they don't go regional and if they do, I hope they revert to international as soon as possible.

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......

 

[SolidWorksFr]

It seem that SWW2004 were able in 4 country next year!!!
US March 2004
France Feb 2004
Germany Feb 2004
UK Feb 2004

 

[jdsmi]

I vote for the World Conference format also. I agree 100% that the downturn in attendance is economy related. That's why we will not be sending anyone next year. Hopefully things will turn around and I'll get to attend the 2005 World conference (assuming SWX admits to their mistake and reverts back to the old format).

 

[JNR]

According to our VAR and the regional SW rep, this time it will be held in more than one country. "Regional" in SW lingo means North America for us. Apparently there will still be people coming for other countries, so it looks like it will not be so different for us afterall. Maybe it will eventually evolve into a "main" conference in the US, plus some others around the world. This would be benefitial to a lot of users on other countries who can afford to make it this far. I seem to recall Computervision essentially did this years ago.

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......

 

[2Dto3D]

So any word on where in North America?

Charley Leonard
CSWP

http://www.2Dto3D.com