Convention 2007

The convention committee are considering the possibility of another convention, probably in September 2007. Location - Hemel Hempstead, UK.

So - anybody interested?

(And yes, this is not really technical support, but we need a quick idea of numbers for booking the room <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

Sarah

Count me in!

Im in!!!

I'm in! Naturally.

I'm on the wrong continent now <img src="/center/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I would love to come if I have some time over and can afford the flight... I can't tell for sure now..

More than 3 years now that the convention do not take place in France... I'm disapointed...

At least it's in Europe... we here in the Americas never get them

VirtuaCLIK - The 2004 Convention was in France.
2005 England
2006 No Convention
2007 England (Proposed)

We would love to have it in France again but its difficult to find people to organize it. The conference in France seemed difficult to arrange and the attendence was lower then the meetings in England.

Which brings me to part 2:

Here is what you do if you want a convention in your country.
Help make it happen. We have a few very dedicated users in England who spend a huge amount of time putting everything together and getting everything arrange.

I´d love to come. But I can´t plan that far into the future at this point. It will depend on several factors that aren´t clear yet. So I´m a 50% chance :/

Don't worry if you can't make plans yet <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We're not looking for firm committment at this stage - just trying to measure the level of interest. (And give people time to save up for the journey!)

Sarah

Although I wouldn't mind conventing in a more happy place some time .. like where it's sunny and such. Spain or Italy maybe <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But yeah. People from there would have to organize it. Barcelona 'd be awesome <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[]Barcelona 'd be awesome <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> [/] Totally ^^.. But for the moment I still prefer the UK since the flight is very cheap... only around 1200 SEK ~ €130

I will be there and a note for anyone undecided - it is a great day out to meet other users and the people who create and support the software you use. Everyone is friendly and you can usually show off your stuff in between sessions. There's usually one or two surprises at these events too <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'd thoroughly recomend it

We would love to come!
If my health recovers to 75% of ok, we will be there. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
And I'm sure my inlaws will come along again, they loved it last time we attended.

I would like to come as well <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ooh, near London, eh? That's quite far for me, but then I have to consider that some people are coming from different countries. Well, I'd certainly consider it!

We picked Hemel Hempstead originally, because it has good rail links from the north of England, is just off the M1 and it's fairly close to Luton airport.

If you book the train or (EasyJet) plane ticket a month in advance, you can generally get a really cheap deal. eg return flight from Paris for about 75 Euro, or single rail ticket from Birmingham for £10.50.

I'll be there and I'll have another batch of free CD's and prizes for the Conventioneers <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.

I found it quite a trip to get from central London to the hotel last time :/

It depends where in London you want to be.

There's a regular service (GE758) from Victoria coach station to Hemel Hempstead coach station. That takes an hour. However, as the coach station is about 3 miles from the hotel, you'd probably want to get a taxi for the last bit.

By train, you'd leave from London Euston and change at Watford Junction for Hemel Hempstead - these go pretty frequently. The journey also takes an hour, but the train station is nearer to the hotel.

Yeah that's the trip I meant, I walked the last three miles twice <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[]I found it quite a trip to get from central London to the hotel last time :/ [/] Hmmm, I thought it was quite easy, and I am not even British. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have made this trip using:
British rail (shutter) and a cab to the hotel. (with my dear friends)
British rail and walking to the hotel. (with my daughter)
Arriving at Luton and having a friend drive us to the hotel.
And lastly, motor carriage (bus) from Heathrow to downtown Hemel and then a walk (death march) along the canal.

Everytime (well maybe not the death march) the trip was very easy.

haha, and then theres me who last time just simply got a lift there and back - EASY! :P

I would definately try my hardest to try to host a large convention in the United States. I know I could get a pretty good size convention running in Portland, Oregon.

The problem is, I don't think ClickTeam would reach its full potential if we just had ClickTeam products. The reason being is I would advertise the convetion in the local area to three groups of people:
[*]People who want to learn how to make games or applications (that would be my main market),[*]People who already make games or applications but would like to learn more,[*]Other people (educators, homeschoolers, IT departments, etc..)

Now, if we could have other companies there it should draw in other groups of people and be able to convert them to ClickTeam products.

For example if we just had a ClickTeam convention in the United States, who do you think would attend? People who already own ClickTeam's products. So whats the point to having a convention, especially when we could hold a general convention with several workshops geared toward ClickTeam's products?

That way we could convert potential newcomers to ClickTeam's products, educate people already using ClickTeam's products in workshops, and not limit ClickTeam to one very segmented market (people already owning ClickTeam products).

Basically, I would be killing several birds with one stone.

I'm just throwing idea's out there, so I would love everyone's input!

[]I'll be there and I'll have another batch of free CD's and prizes for the Conventioneers <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. [/]
Sounds good. I'll try my best to attend.

I'll probably come, but I'm not good at planning that far ahead <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I would like to offer my input to Sam’s statements above. Please (please please please) bear in mind that these are my personally observations and not the view of Clickteam in general.

A convention in the USA would need to not only be a place for current CT users but, as stated by Sam, we would need to use the event to draw new users. The UK has a distinct advantage due to the density of CT product users verses the general population. While the US may have more users we are more numerous. This combined with the logistic issues of travel, again due to the large size of the US, makes a single purpose convention impractical in the US.

The original purpose of the UK convention was to provide a means for CT product users to gather/converse/share outside of the forums. The original convention was very small and while latter conventions have grown the feeling is still much the same. (or so I am told) Again in my opinion the UK/French conventions have changes somewhat. Not only do users have a way to share (show off) their creations but CT has been invited to update the community on its business/ideas. Clickteam is one of the only companies that I know if where users have such assess to company management. I think this is one of our greatest strengths for both users and the company. But I digress…

The US would need to make a business event out of a convention while the UK/French are able to make this a social event.

My point exactly DT.

It can not only be a business event, but a social gathering. Remember, every user of ClickTeam products could still take ClickTeam workshops and converse with other ClickTeam users.

I truely believe that ClickTeam products would definately bring in new customers at this event, versus other software.

Plus, as I stated above, I believe I can get a really large convention going if I do what I have stated.

I might consider taking a flight to England, but it is mostly unlikely (got Highschool).

Sweden would be good <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Actually Tiny and I organized a mini convention in Stockholm a couple of years ago <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I think a full-blown Scandinavian convention is likely one day, because you have plenty of dedicated users.

I heard Berlin is a nice place with a very good air connection.. (it even got it's own flight company <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) would provide some nice sightseeing before/after the convention too. Aw well. Then again it's just a matter of organising it at a place, right <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I would have nothing to present (unfortunately) and sadly I do not have any money to take part anyhow. Would be nice to explore England more than just the tourist packed London. It would be cool to combine Autscape and Click Convention to the same trip.

If there were to be arranged Click Convention for Nordic countries I believe Sweden would be the most central place. This is only my opinion but I think it could serve the Baltic region as well if there are any clickers there and also make sure that the presentation language would be English thus not making it too easy for the Swedes! <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

There are good connections to Arlanda airport from just about anywhere, also from the Baltics. Those wishing to use the no-frills airlines could arrive to Västerås or Skavsta airports. Places like Göteborg (Gothenburg) or Malmö would be again more difficult to reach I think. Then again what place in the Stor-Sthlm (Greater Stockholm) could host the convention? Are there any hotels with decent prices for rooms as well as conference facilities? I guess Solna's too expensive an area but it would be very easy to reach.

Edit: Ah, Berlin would give the chance to visit Olympiastadion and a Hertha BSC match or alternatively go to a TeBe Berlin football game... <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[]I heard Berlin is a nice place with a very good air connection..[/]

Denmark please <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
You can easily take flights from both Sweden, Norway, Germany and England!

Hi Sarah,

I'll do my best to come this year....

jp

I'm not so sure I'd have anything new to present though either. Still I'm interested <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[]By train, you'd leave from London Euston and change at Watford Junction for Hemel Hempstead - these go pretty frequently. The journey also takes an hour, but the train station is nearer to the hotel. [/]

This is the route I take and can tell those of you looking at this route that the train from Euston actually does stop at Hemmel Hempstead station (check the route tracker display to be sure), so you don't need to change at Watford Junction. Being a fan of railways, I love this journey as the train passes straight through a packed freight yard which is great to see <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

/me raises his hand

There's a large chance I'm coming! <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I planned going to the 2006 one but it got canceled <img src="/center/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
It would be fun meeting the clickers I know face to face after I know them for few years <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />