Not Going To Be @media
A few people have asked recently if, given that I’m going to be in London in early June, I’ll be showing up for @media. I’m sorry to say that the answer is no. Why not? The honest answer is that I’m not speaking there. These days, if I’m not speaking at a conference, I can’t spare the time and expense it would take to attend. In fact, it’s the default case that if I can’t at least break even on a conference, I won’t be there whether or not I’ve been asked to speak—which I wasn’t, in the case of @media, so there you go. There are exceptions, like SXSW and WWW2005, but those are rare and require a good deal of justification.
Too big an ego on our boy Eric? Maybe. What it comes down to is this: I can make money to support my family by staying home and working, or by traveling to conduct customized training for clients. To lose money on an event that will take me away from my wife and daughter just doesn’t make sense.
Besides, it’s not like @media is going to be lacking for truly excellent speakers. You’ve got Jeffrey, Joe, Doug, and Molly in the lineup, plus all the others I really ought to list individually but am clearly too lazy to do so. It should be a great time for all, and while I’m sorry I’ll miss it, with all those high-powered rock stars on stage I seriously doubt I’ll be missed.
Nine Responses»
Roy Schestowitz wrote in to say...
Ego?!?! Guilt?!?! No, no, no. When you speak, then clearly you must attend. If the purpose of your presence is merely to fill a chair, why not stay home and support your family?
I was about to register for a conference in Colorado last night. After seeing the cost (nearing $2000) and considering how unnecessary I would be (I am co-author of a paper, but not first author), I changed my mind.
Andy Hume wrote in to say...
Makes perfect sense to me, Eric. You’ve got to prioritise as a freelancer, and family has to be number one, particularly as you’re away quite a bit anyway I imagine.
Anyway, as you say, there’s plenty going on—we probably won’t miss you anyway. ;)
Molly E. Holzschlag wrote in to say...
I totally relate to the need for choosing when, where, and how better. It’s really difficult in a situation like all of ours where the industry has operated in a feast-or-famine mentality for so long. I’m finding it very challenging to say “no” when I should be.
However, there is the issue of being left out, not invited, or somehow overlooked when events come together. My philosophy is that there’s room at the Inn for everyone – we all have something important to contribute. But that doesn’t change the reality that most people want to feel included!
As far as I’m personally concerned, any event without you Eric just can’t feel right. I always miss you when you’re not there.
clint wrote in to say...
one, bravo on the family note
two, anyone as fundamentally important as you and your work will be noticed in the vacancy
three, that means u will be here and I like that, and when you are there_(enter location) you are missed here, and I know I dont only speak for myself on that note.
Eric Meyer wrote in to say...
clint wrote in to say...
Neil Young rocks.
Mike D. wrote in to say...
I totally agree. SXSW is the only conference I’ve ever been to that I had to pay for and that took a lot of convincing (for good reason though… it’s a great conference). If someone of your prominence went to every conference he was invited to without compensation, that would get into the five figures pretty quickly. Not worth it.
Eric Gruber wrote in to say...
Do these places do streaming video of their conventions or have a DVD you can purchase? I.e,, I’d love to go to MacWorld, but I can just as easy sit at home on my couch and watch the keynote from my PowerBook. And with H.264 in the game, the quality should be better.
Does @media have anything similar?
lisa wrote in to say...
Very well said, Clint! Neil Young rocks!