This is my fourth
PASS Summit but my first time attending it outside of Seattle. I like Seattle
but I have to admit it was nice to visit some place new and the fact that it
was warmer was definitely a plus. Also since Charlotte is the hometown of SQL
Sentry they gave us a treat with maps, evening shuttles and sponsorship for
various events.
Welcome Reception |
This year I decided
to attend more sessions because I wanted information about particular topics
and I also wanted to see certain people present in-person. There is always a
wide selection of interesting topics and knowledgeable and outstanding speakers
at the Summit so choosing sessions is always a task. I believe that a main
benefit of attending the event is networking and visiting vendors. I attended
some of the evening events such as the welcome reception and exhibitor
reception and met many attendees and vendors. The Community Appreciation Party
which takes place on the Thursday night is also a great place to meet old
friends and make new ones. This year the party took place at the NASCAR Hall of
Fame which had many historical cars as well as activities such as High Octane
Theatre, the Simulated Track and the Pit Challenge.
NASCAR Hall of Fame |
The venue, Charlotte
Convention & Trade Center, was a suitable size for the event even though
some might say the rooms were small for some sessions. The Summit had a large
number of attendees that will continue to increase and because of the quality of
speakers and sessions it seems inevitable that all sessions will have to be
held in large rooms. I was shocked at my first planned session when
I entered the room and saw people sitting on the floor and I was blown away the
next day when I saw a queue to enter a session. My own planned session at that same time was also full. Just to be clear
I’m not complaining but highlighting how much the Summit has grown.
Leaving PASS Summit 2013 |
I must admit that
this year time management was a task especially since I wasn't familiar with
the venue but I still learned and networked which are my main goals at this
event. I had a great time seeing my old friends and making some new ones. In
the last four years, I have never regretted taking the time or spending the
money to attend the PASS Summit. If you work mainly with SQL Server and have
never been to PASS Summit then I recommend attending Summit 2014 in Seattle,
especially with the upcoming release of SQL Server 2014!