StartUps On Stage

My friend and former client Gibu Thomas over at Sharpcast has been in start up launch mode and has invested a fair portion of his company's resources in presenting at some of the major tech conferences. Most of us know that people pay to go to these top tier industry schmoozes and companies pay to present.

Wat most people do not realize is the chasm of difference that goes into the production.  Some producers, such as DEMO, go through agony to select the best possible companies and guide them toward making the best possible presentations. Others, apparently including Web 2.0, seem more intent in getting the money and letting the companies flounder through an experience that would make Kafka wince.

Gibu has a long and passionate post of the differences in his personal experience. Any tech entrepreneur should read it.  Any conference attendee should read it and keep it in mind while watching some company founder struggle against the demon of shoddy production at their own financial expense. Mostly, producers should read this and be called upon the carpet for it.

I spent years covering conferences for Conferenza, one of the best resources on the topic.  This was among our hot buttons, getting us on the dirt list with many producers for pointing out their shoddy preparation of presenting companies and we lauded Chris Shipley and DEMO for precisely the same reason.

For producers, there is not that significant a cost for building quality in. All three of your communities deserve it.

Comments

[jim Forbes]

Shel,
Selection is everything and Production values are on the same plane.Tthe real quandry for most producers are interstitial segments. Some shows have used these to present still more companies or audience participation panels-- which raise the touchy feely quotients-- other shows just use them for ad display.
Good post by the way. I was really sickened by the last Industrty Standard show I attended, they turned it completely over to a VC firm and it --the show-- was a giant waste of time and money.
I'm sure most people have no idea how difficult it is to rent a barn, pick companies and put on a show, Alfalfa. It damn near killed me because it was "just one" of my duties. having said that, Demo was a dream come true for me. I just wished I could have lasted a little longer.
the dude abides,
Jim Forbes

[shel israel]

For you young folk in the audience, as someone named Ed Sullivan used to say Jim Forbes was an extraordinary talented and hard-nosed tech journalist for over 25 years and was the founder of what is now called DEMO Fall. He stepped down as host-producer after suffering a stroke. I have a hunch he still smokes when I'm not looking.

[jim Forbes]

I wish I had the guts to quit smoking. but hell, Im on borowed time anyway. At least there's still a few fish in the ocean and long range boats that go down the Baja coastchasing them.
Tight lines,
the dude abides
jimF