XP Days Benelux 2009-How would you make the conference perfect?

3 days with repeat session – missed some good sessions
Coke or other soda
No need for two warm meals on first day, sandwiches would have been perfect. Indicate better the maturity level for sessions. Also drinks (if only water) during noon + talks. Water next to orange juice
Inform participants that the days don’t end at 18:15
Some sessions need some more theoretical basis
Some sessions were of somewhat lower quality
Alter the times a bit to allow for 5 slots per day. Make sure that there are no permanent markers in a room with a whiteboard
Better descriptions of sessions – some were quite misleading
Speakers were not always top, sometimes too much a ??? for beginners
Lunch room less noisy
I have to think about this; It’s a really difficult question
Coming next year too
More meeting places to hang out
Better presentations. More for experienced agile, fewer comparisons with waterfall/explaining agile/justifying agile
Coffee during the last session of the day
Dinner could have been better
Better conference room setup: U shapes or theatre doesn’t work well for most sessions IMHO
More less experienced people starting out
Bring in some new (non agile) blood. I start to have the feeling to already have heard people’s stories a couple of times
Rate the sessions regarding the topic: for newbies, for normal people, for advanced ones. Clearly identify the different kinds of speakers: Agile gurus, with proven methods, consultants selling their garbage and agile guys willing to share experience and tricks. Make sure all sessions are of good quality. Clearly indicate which sessions are demo, tutorial, workshop etc.
There were a lot of “soft” topics and not much “technical”. I personally prefer the balance differently. Presentation Zen session
Was OK right now
More awareness for the need for continuous training upon which introductions can grow into skills
Three days
On the planning, have hints about the “level” needed for each session (is the session for beginners, experts, geeks…)
Add a level of difficulty to sessions
More advanced sessions
Fewer parallel sessions
Better titles for the workshops
Exact same thing, with same price… in center of Brussels (or Amsterdam, or Luxembourg city etc…)
Longer coffee and food
Hands on sessions are nice, but please always do a lessons learned. Also from previous sessions. Otherwise things are too open and leave many unanswered questions.
Too much audience input => content too superficial. Mix between knowledge sharing and collaboration sessions
Having an open space session
More technical advanced sessions
Some sessions became a victim of their own success -> overbooked. Maybe sessions should be limited
Most sessions could be longer. Hold it in Ghent
Better description of the sessions. Have the slides upfront?
By staying overnight so I can engage in evening activities & meet more people
I’d like to contribute, but don’t know how/when
No restrictions on use of the coffee machine ;-)
Let the sun shine, the wind blew it cold
Make clear what group is targeted for the session on the program card
Make all session the same length. Now certain sessions were continued but at the same time there were other interesting sessions
Perfection doesn’t exist
If in Belgium, better location. Getting to Elewijt is hell
A third day? More hands-on
Placing of sessions was unfortunate for me
Time slot between opening and first session longer that there’s time to reach the room on time. Provide also water during the breaks
More scientific aspects in the sessions
Work on improving the sessions – test runs, coaching
Don’t change too much. More room for BOF’s White Space
Possibly some more open space on the second day – there were a couple of session on testing, there could’ve been good discussions
Keep the coffee machine open at all times! Fewer traffic jams
More focus on “mainstream Agile” topics and Agile applied outside of development processes
Try to gauge the level of presenters: first time presenter, experienced presenter, etc.
Better division of people on all sessions (some were very crowded, some not)
Invited renowned speaker
I do think it would be good to coach the weaker sessions. The quality is quite diverse
Some shorter sessions
Pokens to exchange contacts at the conference easily, also a nice gift!