Developer Meet and Greet Proposal

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

I do think it would be a good idea to offer a table for swag at the cocktail mixer.

Sponsors pay for the privledge of the continued exposure, so offering a banquet table for anyone to place some freebies/promo materials at the social functions or at least the mixer I do no think would cause much concern.

The social aspects of the conference are extremely valuable for networking - and I do not believe that would detract from the benefits of sponsorship.

Well, now see, that probably won't be happening. Sponsors pay for the privelege to hand out items. You're more than welcome to hand out business cards and what not during the conference, but you won't have a table available for marketing materials, unless of course you want to be an exhibitor or sponsor.

[chucklasker-BANNNED]

I was actually thinking about is from an end user perspective. I'd like to be able to get some info from developers...

[leslienord]

I think I'd like this - we're arriving around noon Tuesday. Do we have to be a MIVA Partner developer?

[William Mayo]

I think I'd like this - we're arriving around noon Tuesday. Do we have to be a MIVA Partner developer?

Not at all! This is just a time and place for Developers and users who want to talk to them to gather and share info.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

I would add "Intergrators" to that nomenclature. In fact, I think there is too little information targetted to perhaps one of the most importent segments of the Miva Community. There are just not enough to support the work load for which we see requests. Most Merchant sites don't need "full on" developers...but need more than the average web designer who dapples in DreamWeaver, or even full blown site designers or intergrators who don't have an understanding about e-commerce or MIVA Merchant.

Part of my presentation at the conference will hopefully be of interest to those who are looking to becoming better Integrators as well as store owners.

[Barney Stone]

Well, now see, that probably won't be happening. Sponsors pay for the privelege to hand out items. You're more than welcome to hand out business cards and what not during the conference, but you won't have a table available for marketing materials, unless of course you want to be an exhibitor or sponsor.

At the risk of supporting an unpopular opinion, I have to strongly agree with that. We spend a lot of money sponsoring the Miva conferences (about $6,500 this year, not counting our time, for a conference that last year attracted about 100 merchants; it only cost a bit more than that to take more people to eBay Live with over 10,000 attendees!), and we have had a problem the last two years with a competitor that does not pay to be a sponsor, but distributes literature and promotes their products in other ways that I think are inappropriate for a regular attendee that is not paying for those privileges. If some developers are paying to promote their products, others should not get to do it for free.

[Julie Wilber]

At the risk of supporting an unpopular opinion, I have to strongly agree with that. We spend a lot of money sponsoring the Miva conferences (about $6,500 this year, not counting our time, for a conference that last year attracted about 100 merchants; it only cost a bit more than that to take more people to eBay Live with over 10,000 attendees!), and we have had a problem the last two years with a competitor that does not pay to be a sponsor, but distributes literature and promotes their products in other ways that I think are inappropriate for a regular attendee that is not paying for those privileges. If some developers are paying to promote their products, others should not get to do it for free.

As Barney has said, we will not have a table for developers who are not sponsors or exhibitors to hand out literature. If they hand it out while speaking with someone that is fine, however, the sponsor and exhibitor areas will be off limits as far as self-promotion is concerned unless you are a sponsor or exhibitor.

As for the developer meet and greet. We are providing a time and an area where users can find several developers, if they wish to be there. It will be at the MIVA table, however, their handouts will not be on that table.

Thanks guys

[leslienord]

Time?

So has a time been "set" for this? I read 2 different times 1-5PM and 12-9PM.

[William Mayo]

The Developer Meet and Greet is in the Marina Foyer from 3pm to 5pm.

We'll see you there!