Community Conferences - What to know? (Ep 90)

Over the past few years, we’ve seen conferences ebb and flow. Some community-run conferences have evolved into new things, new ones have sprouted up while other annual favorites have sadly gone extinct. What goes into a community-led conference? How does someone get involved? Let’s take a look! 1. The Role of Community Conferences in DevRel: Jason Hand introduces the topic, highlighting the evolution of community conferences over the years. While some conferences have grown, others have disappeared, leaving the question of what sustains such events. Wesley Faulkner discusses the importance of understanding the origins and logistics behind community conferences, including the passion and effort required to make them happen. 2. Guests’ Journeys into Organizing Community Events: Matty Stratton: Started organizing DevOpsDays Chicago after realizing the need for a local event in his area. His motivation was to be involved in something he cared about by taking the lead in creating it. Shared how his experience organizing swing dance events shaped his community involvement philosophy: organizing allows him to stay engaged and create meaningful connections. Mo McElaney: Entered tech after a career switch during the 2009 recession. She started organizing events through a nonprofit teaching women to code, which opened doors to organizing Ruby conferences and others. Her lack of experience in tech initially became a motivator for organizing conferences, as it allowed her to connect with experts and learn from them. 3. Why Organizers Keep Coming Back: Mo McElaney: Community conferences create meaningful connections and friendships. They are also a way to spot industry trends by seeing what topics speakers submit for presentations. Matty Stratton: Highlighted the emotional rewards of helping others and witnessing life-changing moments for attendees, such as finding jobs or negotiating better salaries through transparent discussions at events like DevOpsDays. Shared the struggles of stepping back from organizing long-running events due to the personal attachment and friendships developed over the years. 4. Impact of COVID-19 on Community Conferences: Matty Stratton and Mo McElaney agree that COVID-19 significantly disrupted the conference landscape: Many community conferences either downsized, paused, or failed to recover due to funding challenges. The corporate sponsorship landscape has shifted, prioritizing events with high ROI and attendee numbers over smaller, more impactful community-led events. Wesley Faulkner observes that increased workloads and layoffs post-COVID have further limited individuals’ capacity to attend or organize events. 5. Challenges in Organizing Community Conferences: Funding: Conferences often struggle to secure sponsorships, especially in today’s economic climate. Corporate funding focuses on large-scale events, leaving smaller, localized conferences underfunded. Volunteer Management: Organizers face difficulties when volunteers fail to deliver on their commitments. Unlike employees, volunteers can’t be held accountable in the same way. Mentoring and transitioning leadership roles is often overlooked, leading to burnout or gaps when organizers step away. Changing Needs and Expectations: Conferences that fail to adapt post-COVID may struggle to thrive. The shift towards virtual and hybrid formats requires innovation to stay relevant. 6. Refactoring the Community Conference Model: Matty Stratton and Jason Hand propose the need for reimagining how conferences operate: Smaller, localized events can reduce costs and environmental impact while fostering deeper connections. Events like outdoor retreats (e.g., DevOpsDays Rockies incorporating the natural setting of Colorado) demonstrate creative ways to bring people together. Mo McElaney emphasizes the importance of paying speakers and organizers for their work, advocating for a more sustainable model that values the labor involved in organizing community events. Key Takeaways: Community Conferences Have Evolved: Post-COVID, conferences face new challenges, including funding limitations, organizer burnout, and changing attendee expectations. The importance of maintaining the participatory, community-driven spirit remains central to their success. Innovative Models Are Needed: Smaller, more targeted events or creative formats like retreats could address the current barriers to large-scale conferences. Organizers need to adapt to funding realities by prioritizing impactful, cost-effective event models. Sustainability and Support Are Crucial: Paying organizers and speakers is essential to sustaining long-term involvement in community conference planning. Mentorship and succession planning are critical to ensuring the continuity of events and avoiding burnout. Advice for Aspiring Conference Organizers: Clarify Your Capacity: Be upfront about your time, skills, and communication preferences to set realistic expectations for yourself and the organizing team