Search results matching tags 'sqlpass' and 'MVP'

24 Hours of PASS next week, pre-con preview style

drsql — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:53:47 GMT

I will be doing my Characteristics of a Great Relational Database, which is a session that I haven’t done since last PASS. When I was asked about doing this Summit Preview version of 24 hours of PASS, I decided that I would do this session, largely because it is kind of light and fun, but also because it is either going to be the basis of the end section of my pre-con at the summit or it is going to be the section of the pre-con we don’t get to because we are so involved in working out designs that we forget the time and the next day’s precon people start arriving and kick us out.

The session is basically a discussion about the finishing touches that make a database better than average, something you can rave about, something you can brag to your significant other about, something your company will run a Super Bowl ad just thanking you for… Well, ok, seriously, a database that won’t cause you and your coworkers to ralph each time you use it is a solid step towards the way you will want to develop your databases.

The goal is to be reasonably like at a little bit fun, since I am doing the presentation at 11:00 PM Central Time in the US, and well, that isn’t exactly prime SQL time for most people. In Europe it will be the middle of the night, and in half of the US I will be competing with the national news and the end of the football game between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. If the game is close, I will be happy to share your attention, and heck, if my internet connection would support streaming video and the sharing client I would probably be watching the game myself (as it is, I will probably TiVo it and watch it on my phone via SlingBox when we are done…yes, I have a little bit of a football problem.)

If you want to attend my session, click here and register. Even if database design isn’t your thing, 24 hours of PASS has (hold on to your hat) 24 different sessions in a 24 hour period to choose from. So click on over to the 24HOP Speaker/Session list and pick your sessions and register for them. I look forward to seeing you (well your name in the list) at the event.

But db design is your thing (or you want it to be!), and you want to get a full day dose on the Monday before PASS, try my pre-con on Relational Database Design. It is going to be a great day, there will be plenty of learning, lots of swag (including at least 30 copies of my book to give away,) and some practical experience doing a bit of team based design. In any case it will be better than a normal Monday at the office.

Speaking at PASS 2012… Exciting and Scary… As usual…

drsql — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 23:03:00 GMT

Edit: As I reread this, I felt I should clarify.. As usual refers mostly to the "Scary" part. I have a lot of stage fright that I have to work through. And it is always exciting to be picked.

I have been selected this year at the PASS Summit 2012 to do two sessions, and they are both going to be interesting.

Pre-Con: Relational Database Design Workshop - Abstract

Triggers: Born Evil or Misunderstood? - Abstract

The pre-con session entitled Relational Database Design Workshop will be (at least) the third time I will have done this pre-con session, and I am pretty excited to take it to a bit larger scale. The one big change that I am forcing this time is a limit on the lecture time. Each of the first two times I have done this session the biggest disappointment has been that we didn't get nearly enough time for the exercises. If people get tired of the exercises, I will certainly have a lot of extra material to do, but the focus will be on getting at least three hours of design time in. Some as a full group on the screen, and some broken up into groups. (Of course, we will adjust the schedule based on the size of the group and whatever they are throwing at me verbally… and physically! I will have material to pad out at least an hour if people start looking bored (or if the group members start screaming at each other…you know, like a real database design session would be like if people weren't concerned with losing their jobs.))

The triggers session is the one that I have been mulling over for years now, and it is going to be minimally interesting, and probably a lot of fun (particularly if Hugo Kornelis (@Hugo_Kornelis) and Tom LaRock (@SQLRockstar) (Tom is not a fan of triggers! http://thomaslarock.com/2009/03/sql-database-triggers/) show up to offer their opinions). Triggers are probably the most controversial of SQL Server objects, and for good reason. There are server and database settings that affect how they work, and it is not trivial to write them in a manner that doesn't harm performance. Worst yet, they can cause side effects that (if not performed correctly) really harm performance, data integrity, and the sanity of the developers who don't realize they exist. But for all of the negatives, there are some tasks that just fit the trigger to a T. I might be trying to do too much in a 1:15 session, but it would not be the first time!

So I hope to see a good number of you there, for the pre- con, and certainly for the Trigger session. Just leave the potential projectiles in your hotel room...

What will I be doing at PASS?

AaronBertrand — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:43:00 GMT

I felt horrible last year when I missed the MVP Deep Dives book signing at PASS. I took part instead in a focus group that ran a little late, and still regret it. So this year I wanted to get a jump on where I'll be, and this will help me stick with it. So if you'll be at PASS and want to track me down to meet me, catch up, or punch me in the throat, I'll outline where I'll be - at least to the best of my knowledge at this time:

Monday, November 8th

[EDIT] Apparently there are some MVP meetings on Monday, too. Who knew? Can't wait to see a schedule.
Monday night is the Welcome Reception and QuizBowl, and then there's the SQL Server Central party.

Tuesday, November 9th

I will be at the bloggers' table during Ted Kummert's opening keynote, from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM. Then you can find me in the Meet the Bloggers lounge from 10:45 AM - Noon. During lunch, you may spot me stalking tables and heckling during the Birds of a Feather luncheon, organized by Mike Walsh (blog | twitter). I may also find a window to pop into the Ask the Experts lounge, operating from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM on Tuesday. Then in the evening is SQL Sentry's annual party - I think I'm invited again this year, especially now that I work there. :-)

Wednesday, November 10th

Again, I will start the day at the bloggers' table for Quentin Clark's keynote, from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM, and I expect to hit the Meet the Bloggers lounge between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. I won't be at the Women in Technology Panel Discussion, but it's not because I'm a man. You don't have to be female to attend, and it's just a coincidence that it falls on kilt day, really. And I may stop by the Ask the Experts lounge on Wednesday too; it operates from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Thursday, November 11th

You may sense a common theme here - I will, once again, be at the bloggers' table during the keynote, from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM. This is David DeWitt's keynote, and the 2 hour block of time during PASS that I am most looking forward to (see more on that below). There is a focus group on SQL Server & SCOM at 6:00 PM, then I will be attending RedGate's annual MVP dinner.

Friday, November 12th

If you're an MVP and are around on Friday, we'll probably be in the same room, or at least the same hallway - if previous events are any indication, we'll have some heavy sessions on campus. Then there is the annual MVP dinner taking place on Friday as well (this year it's being sponsored by Quest). If you're not an MVP (or a softie), chances are I won't see you on Friday, unless we share a flight back to the fairer coast.

Throughout

I will be present in the SQL Sentry booth when possible. Come visit us in the Expo Hall! We'd love to hear your feedback on our new free tool, Plan Explorer, or the suite of SQL Sentry products in general. If you aren't already using SQL Sentry's tools, come by and see a demo or chat with the team. We also have very cool swag this year - while it's not a lava lamp, it serves multiple very complementary purposes.

If there's any time remaining, I'm hoping to attend some great sessions. I'll talk about which ones as the Summit gets closer. But don't be too surprised if I hit you up for some conversation in the hallway, the lunchroom, or the exhibition hall. And don't be afraid to stop me if you see me around - especially if you read this blog and we've never met!

What's that? You won't be at PASS?

Well, I'm truly sorry that you won't be able to be there, as it really is the premier event for SQL Server professionals at all levels. But just because you won't be freezing your butt off with us in Seattle, doesn't mean you can't feel involved! Several of us will blogging live from the keynotes, and I'm sure you can catch a lot of the conversation if you follow the twitter hash tag #sqlpass and, if you're interested in following the Women in Technology conversations, follow #passwit. There will be live streams displayed on monitors at the event, so please use judgment and self-control when posting anything to those hash tags. We saw some interesting conversations develop last year; you know who you are. :-) And if you watch the photo streams and such on Wednesday, you should see plenty of kilt action. You know, if you're into to that kind of thing.

In addition to all of the live blogging and the real-time twitter stream from your favorite bloggers and online personalities, you will still be able to enjoy several of the festivities from the comfort of your bedroom, boardroom or office. How is this possible? Because PASS will be streaming several events live, and the streaming events will be free for everyone (you just need to register). You can take advantage of this even if you're at PASS, and can't make the keynote in person because you're wallowing in your hotel room, recovering from the night before (this might only be an issue the morning after karaoke, but who knows). Here are the events that will be covered:

Opening keynote, Ted Kummert:
        Tuesday, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Day 2 keynote, Quentin Clark:
        Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Women in Technology Panel Discussion:
        Wednesday, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Closing keynote, David DeWitt:
        Thursday, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Not to take away from anything else, but if you were at PASS last year, you'll know that David DeWitt is not a speaker to miss. So put November 11th on your calendar now, and be prepared to learn about the future of query optimization and execution plans from one of the best speakers you'll ever experience. Just don't forget to register.

If you WILL be at PASS, well, I'll see you there!