MPLS 2009 – What Happened to this Conference?

Today was the start of the MPLS2009 conference by Isocore.  It could have been a great day, but it wasn’t.  The tutorials were actually quite good.  The technical presentations were well done and the presenters were actually good presenters.  But the management of the conference was sorely lacking.  

When you pay $1100 to attend this conference, there are some basic amenities that one would expect.

1.  Power

When you check in for the conference, they give you a package that includes a CD with all the presentations.  Of course you can have them as a reference after the conference, but some of us like to go through the slides on the laptop as the presenter is going through them on the big screen.  Some of us also like to type in notes of what the presenter is saying.  All of these things require you to have a laptop that has POWER.  In past conferences they did run power to every table, and the conference staff claim it will be there tomorrow, but why wasn’t it there today? 

2.  Internet Access

THIS IS A NETWORKING CONFERENCE!!!  How can you not have internet access in the meeting rooms???  If it weren’t so sad, it would be funny.  The aforementioned CD typically has out-of-date material because the presenters make some changes at the last minute.  So when you boot up the CD, there is an option to download the latest presentations from the internet.  KIND OF HARD TO DO WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET!!!  Ya think?  Previous conferences had an attendee user name and password so that they could have access, but not this year.  I was told that no one was available to coordinate it this year.  WHAT?  I’m sorry, Internet access is as needful to this audience as food and water (or caffeine and sugar – see below).  Sure, those staying in the conference hotel have access through their room, but for those of us who still paid $1100 and are not staying at that hotel – what about us?

3.  Decaf coffee

OK, I am sure I’m in the minority here, after all this is a conference for engineering geeks who normally live on caffeine and sugar.  But for many people, a coffee break at 3:30pm is too late for caffeine.  So I waited in line at the coffee stand only to arrive at the pots and see there was no decaf.  A hotel waiter was standing behind the table and I asked him “where’s the decaf?”  I was told that of course the hotel has decaf, but our conference didn’t pay for it.  WHAT?  Too cheap to spring for decaf?  What’s up with that?

I made a list of my concerns and stopped by the desk to ask who I could discuss these items with.  One gentleman behind the table said I could talk to him….I bet he is regretting that decision.  Anyway, I voiced my concerns and was told that there would be power the next day, but the internet problem would not be rectified.  I don’t recall what he said about the decaf – I was too busy fuming over the internet thing.

There were a few good things today:  the presentations as I mentioned, and the bottled water that was available for attendees in addition to the nasty tap water on each table.  I will discuss the technical sessions in a later post.  First, I had to rant and get this off my chest.  Thanks for listening!!