XpDay3Hursley

I just want to gauge opinion about possibly running XpDay3 here at IBM Hursley (near Winchester)? I would like to help organise another XpDay and this is just to see whether it is worth pursuing...

Please contribute opinions:

• Possibility of sponsorship (space/kit/cash)
• I guess we would not have to pay IBM anything for this venue? --RachelD -- hopefully, maybe, part of next step...? --Dan :o)
• Would be nice if we could use network for programming sessions -- RachelD
• Lovely surroundings - Country Park with stately home - http://www.yelavich.com/images/73201con.jpg
• Good infrastructure support (conference facilities)
• Out of London - and this might encourage some of the organizers/contributors from previous XPDays -- KeithB

• Out of London - http://www-5.ibm.com/uk/locations/hursley.html and this might deter some from attending -- RachelD
• No beer - well at least it might be limited as some or most people may drive? This could break the xtc tradition -- PaulS
• Out of London - and this might deter some of the organizers/contributors from previous XPDays -- IvanM

--StuartBarker

Do you work at B&Q in Eastleigh? - I Live near Chandlers Ford, we could share a train to an XTC if you're interested? --DanPollitt

Yep, certainly do. In their new offices next to Scothall BMW. It'd be great to get upto an XTC again, but it's usually quite difficult to find the time. I'll bear your offer in mind and If I've a spare Tuesday I'll drop you an email. --StuartBarker

Hi Paul, Have a look at http://www-5.ibm.com/uk/locations/hursley.html it shows location and directions when travelling by planes, trains, and automobiles... DanPollitt

Yes thanks Dan, this confirms my fears - the journey time is quite long isn't it? - except for those coming from the airport, that is ;-) .

That said, I do think there might be something in running an event at Hursley. I spoke to Dan about this at the Agile SIG the other day and we talked about not trying to run XpDay there (at least, not the "main" XpDay) but instead trying a 1-day event.

What I like about this is that we get a chance to gauge the level of interest in a low-risk way (lower than XpDay because I'm assuming we don't have to pay for the venue) and it already looks like there is enough interest on the south coast to be erm, interesting.

What I don't like about this is that it might suck some of the life out the main London-based event. If the numbers got cut too much it might be a loss-maker, so we should consider carefully.

... DuncanPierce

I'd also prefer to keep this as a separate event, maybe Dan can raise some backing from IBM. I think XpDay should remain a London event, especially as it's the public face of the XtC. --SteveF

I'd expect XpDayHursley? to pay a premium 500 GBP per candidate, and there to be at least 1 XTC coach per 10 candidates. Companies like IBM/Nokia & Microsoft regularly pay 5-10 thousand GBP to send engineers on leading edge training courses.

We have to account for the fact that although "it's only one day", months of time goes into the content and organisation, during which you can't really organise another, so you have to recoup that money on the day. I may sound mercenary, but if you're a consultant only employed for 3 months a year you have to charge 4 times as much. The other 9 months isn't holiday, you're out their trying to make the next sale.

• Don’t feel embraced because Xp/Agile is gathering momentum. Feel proud that you choose a good path in the past.
• The argument that commercialisation will kill Xp/Agile will come true if we're not the people who commercialise it!

-- OliBye