Whatever happened to Scotch on the Rocks?

May 25, 2006 · 5 Comment s

This time last year - in fact a year ago today - the Scottish ColdFusion User Group (by that I mean me) organised a two day conference, which took place in Edinburgh that covered the then recently released ColdFusion 7. It was an excellent three days worth of drinking, and the talks over the two days were pretty good as well. We had some excellent speakers including one time CF Snr Product Manager Tim Buntel, Adobe's Senior Whisky expert Andi Hindle, Mr Flex himself; Steven Webster, those crazy Romanians from InterAKT; Alexandru and Bogdan, Philipp Cielen from Germany as well as some home grown folks. We gave away around £10k worth of goodies; including software, an iPod, books, t-shirts, etc, etc. We had about 65 people at the event and this provided some excellent networking opportunites for folks. I've kept in touch with a lot of people and although I came out of it with a fair amount of debt (it was only £25 to attend) and a lot less hair, it was definately worth it. So I guess the big question is, why is there no Scotch on the Rocks 2006? After last year I knew there was no way on earth I was going to arrange a conference by myself ever again. It's not good for your health or your finances. So I knew I had to get more people involved. Unfortunately either no one was available to help, or they didn't want to help (people are busy and have their own lives, hey I understand). Sponsors ... no one was interested. Actually that's not true, but we didn't have enough to even get started. Macromedia UK ... I'm not even going there as I'll just get really angry (maybe Adobe in the UK will be better). As an aside, Macromedia in the States were(are) FANTASTIC. Ed Sullivan is a god! And I'm sure it'll just get better with Adobe at the reigns now. Out of interest, I actually went out to Boston last November to meet with Ed and discuss sponsorship for the event (I paid for the trip myself) and I came home a happy chap. We were going to get a lot more support than we had for 2005 but we needed more than just Adobe's sponsorship. And not to hark on about it, it never happened. Additionally, the last 12 months for me have been ... interesting. I've had more things go on in the last year than I have in the 27 before that. The biggest stumbling block has been my new job. Quite simply I don't have time for anything else. Throw in buying a house, relationship ups and downs ... mainly downs and I'm just happy to sleep at night. My ultimate goal was to have Scotch run every year, to keep it fun, and not to let it become some big corporate money making exercise. But alas, it wasn't to be. The interest wasn't there and I couldn't do it all myself. Anyway, here's some links to the 2005 event site (with photos) and I for one look back with a smile on my face. Especially at the drunken antics on the Friday night. http://www.scottishcfug.com/go/scotch2005/ http://www.scottishcfug.com/viewer/scotch/2005/index.html

Tags: ColdFusion · What the F%*k? · Events

5 response s so far ↓

1 Mark Drew // May 25, 2006 at 12:56 PM

That is a real sad state. There HAVE to be more CF events in the UK. Conferences and the such is what keep this community a community. I am sure Adobe will have more impetus than Macromedia, at least, that is what I hope.
2 John Farrar // May 25, 2006 at 1:07 PM

Perhaps you should learn a lesson from the man dubbed as 'the Prodical Son'... when he spent all (and in his case this was before a famine rose in the land) his so called friends were not as interested. They came for the party and they thanked him for sponsoring it. Yet, there wasn't a lasting gratitude.

Bottom line, you need to approach relationships differently. People are people, and the point of this isn't to be religious. We just need to realize that people are committed to a flow of gifts... but when the flow dries up they go looking for another source.

Now, there are a few good friends that each of us have. And in my definition there are a few good people. These are the ones we don't have to buy out with a 'real good time'. If I set apart a tech conference once a year and take time to leave my family and friends to attend... then I want to get as much as possible out of that few days. Now it is also good to take a little time to get to know some of you other guys that attend. But to think that I would have to drink to have a good time isn't saying much for how enjoyable someone else's personality is to me now is it? Imagine if a bride showed up for a wedding completely drunk... and said, 'I wanted to make sure this day would be fun!'

Food for thought,

John Farrar
3 Duffman // May 25, 2006 at 1:33 PM

Good man Andy, damn, straight. Beer Beer Beer Beer. If only life was like beer, we would all hug and kiss and we would live in a utopia (which sold beer). Remember that Duffman can never die....only the actors who potray him....OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!

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<img src="http://www.thesimpsonsquotes.com/images/duffman.gif">
4 Trond Ulseth // May 25, 2006 at 2:21 PM

Being in the UG board for years, and currently the manager/leader, I know how it feels. That being said there are now signs of increased interest, involvement and enthusiasm going on :)

What I am thinking is that there are people like yourself out there (my self as an example) who would like to see a great conference in North-West Europe, and would contribute to make it happen.

Maybe we can team up cross the country borders, and try to make something happen together?

Rock on!
5 Scott Stroz // Jun 2, 2006 at 8:03 PM

A conference run by the wild Scotsman and the crazy Norseman? Where do I sign up?