FOSS4G 2009 Demonstration Theatre

Welcome to the 2009 Demonstration Theatre - a chance to show off what your team or community is capable of (to a willing audience since they are having their coffee).

Hapless Volunteers

 * Jody Garnett
 * You! (add your name to this list to volunteer)

Where possible we will try and have community leaders introduce the members of their community that are offering demos.

= Demo Theatre =

Demo Venue:
 * This year we are taking over one of the presentations spaces during the lunch break and afternoon tea.

Demo Facilities:
 * We will have two overheads projectors (so one team can set up as another is presenting)

Demo Schedule
The demo schedule is being set now (over the month of August) as it is one of the last things to be placed into the program.

August: September:
 * 3 Aug, 2009: Sponsors -- Initial email contact
 * 10 Aug, 2009: Sponsors -- Contacted via Phone
 * 7 Sep 2009: Community Leaders asked to contact their email lists and FOSS4G Submissions Contacted (Workshops/Tutorials/Presentations)
 * 14 Sep 2009: Demo Schedule Finalized
 * 21 Sep 2009: Printed Program Deadline

Please keep in mind:
 * Primary spots are at the start of Lunch and the afternoon tea break (these time slots have the most walk-by traffic to feed on)
 * We will group similar content together (both to allow direct comparison and to let those interested in a topic to mark off a block of time)
 * Demos are the last thing to be Scheduled in terms of conference priorities - we do not anticipate any conflicts since we are running in the breaks this year
 * If you would like to do a demonstration in the theatre, please contact the theatre coordinator [mailto:jody.garnett@lisasot.com?Subject=FOSS4G Demonstration demos]
 * We will open the demo theatre up to sponsors first (they are paying for this party after all) and then to the general community
 * When the call goes out it will be first come first served (no fancy attempt to balance the content or match the conference agenda - this is a simple activity)

= Giving a Demo =

The first step is to have something to demo:
 * You have 10 minutes
 * You must demo software (really - it is an open source software conference)
 * Show us, rather that talk. It is better to show software and leave time for questions than to try and handle this as a presentation.
 * Source code is hard to read and does not qualify for "show us"
 * You will have 5 mins to set up prior, and 5 mins to tear down. Please be prompt as there is someone waiting to start after you.
 * Sponsors (or anyone starting a session): you will have access to the room for a bit before the session starts - if you want to take the time drag in a poster (or put hand outs on the chairs) more power to you.

The second step is to email us:
 * [mailto:jody.garnett@lisasot.com?Subject=FOSS4G Demonstration demos]
 * Let us know of any schedule constraints (perhaps you are presenting or giving a lab)
 * We will get back to you with a timeslot (we will be organizing the demos according to subject matter or community).

Suggestions
Is this your first time doing a demo?
 * If you are used to doing presentations; try this approach: Show the software and hand out your presentation in paper form.
 * Be excited, what you are showing is *cool* and meeting people like you is why we come to these conferences anyways
 * Hang around to the end of the session, many people that would like to ask you questions will be hesitant to walk out of the room to chase you down.

You may also wish to bring:
 * Something to hand out (Your business card, demo-CDs, academic papers, t-shirts)

If you would like to have someone introduce you please warn them before hand: - Your professor? Your company's marketing department? Your open source project lead?

Let people know where to find you:
 * For sponsors - be sure to include a slide showing the location of your booth
 * For academics - let them know if you have a poster up

Warning
Bring your own laptop, do not expect to install software during your demo (you only have 10 minutes).
 * This advice can be ignored if you want to demo the fact you have a slick installer now
 * You may wish to make a back up "flash" demo (use http://debugmode.com/wink/ for example) in case the worst happens (THIS IS GOOD ADVICE)
 * Turn off virus checkers, ebay bidding tools, email applications and anything else that is going to leap up and ask for attention in an embarrassing manner

With respect to the Internet:
 * Ensure you can connect to the wireless network before starting your presentation
 * We will try and have a LAN drop for you
 * Expect the Internet to be slow (there are a lot of fun toys at a conference like this all of which want their piece of the packet pie)
 * Run from a local service installed on your laptop if you can

Is there a PC with Internet?
Please bring your own laptop (that way you can be sure it is set up correctly for your demo), there will be a LAN drop (or you can make use of the conference wireless).

How long should a demo be?
The demo slot is 10 mins, you may want to use the entire time to show your application. Or you may want to show the application for for 5 mins and answer a few questions.

Do demo's have to be visual?
It depends on what you are showing, if you want to show that "Using JTS Prepaired Geometry is 120% faster" a simple JUnit test and a code example may be all that is needed. If you want to demonstrate an open source compass based on two GPS units you may wish to dance around the room in an entertaining manner.

= Formal Corraspondance =

Letter to Sponsors
Thank you for Sponsoring FOSS4G 2009:

One of the exciting FOSS4G activities taking place is a Demonstration Theatre. Showcase an exciting product to a receptive crowd during the lunch or tea breaks and invite them back to your booth for further discussion.

This is a great venue for a marketing department to launch a product; or to let a developer down the hall to show off a cool project they have been working on. The only restriction is that we would really like to see running software. Please keep in mind that these are 10 minuet slots and are not suitable to presentation material.

For additional information please review the Demonstration Theatre page: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Demonstration_Theatre

You may contact me directly at jody.garnett@lisasoft.com with questions or to reserve a slot. The Demonstration Theatre schedule is reserved for Sponsors throughout the month of August (on a first come first served basis). In September we will open up the remaining slots to the wider community.

Also a reminder to register for the conference before the early bird registration period expires (7th of August). (http://2009.foss4g.org/registration/)

Yours sincerely, Jody Garnett, demo theatre coordinator

Letter to Community Members
TBA