Doug,

>>Sorta like FoxTeach or WhilFest?
>>
>>I like the idea of regional cons, too, but I don't see how organizers would make a buck from them with the costs of speakers, facilities, etc...
>>
>>>But again, I still cast the lonely vote for less 'MEGA" conferences in favor of comprehensive regional ones that are easier to attend for those on lesser budgets.
>>>
>>>tongue in cheek, of course <g>
>
>
>Interesting questions. Is that the purpose of a conference, a for-profit undertaking, or is it supposed to be a marketing expense to spread the word about your product?

PMFJI.. I'd think both. If the conference-holder doesn't make any $ then why bother? If the vendor(s) don't sell enough product to get an appropriate ROI then why bother?

>
>And what is your target audience, the professional conference attendees, or the working-in-the-trenches users that carry a lot of weight in specirying your product?

Everyone. <g> From the CIO who's afraid to challenge conventional wisdom to the marketing folks who need to be educated on how various products enable productivity gains which = sales which = money to pay their mortgages, etc to the Gartner Groups of the world who seem to have the ability to look right at something and not understand its implications, and yet who charge lots of $ for what seems to me to be faulty advice.