How to build a DevFest π
Nicola Corti
GDG Pisa
@cortinico
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GDG Pisa
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You will probably
underestimate the
effort behind organizing
a conference...
-An anonymous GDG Organizer
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The Idea
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The Idea
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βGood artists borrow,
β¨
Great artists stealβ
P. Picasso
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Theme
Shape your DevFest
Audience
Price
Format
β What do you love to talk about?
β Android/Cloud/Web/ML
β Tech or non-Tech?
β Junior/Mid/Senior Dev?
β Dev/PM/Designers?
β Tuscany/Italy/Europe/Globe?
Free/Paid?
β Language: Ita/Eng/Multi?
β Hybrid/In-person/Online
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All about networking
β Make sure you create a good
environment for networking
β High quality content will involve more
attendees
β Create networking opportunities
(coffee break, party, etc.)
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The Environment
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Media
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Media
github.com/gdg-x/hoverboard
github.com/gdgpisa/hoverboard-2023
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Logo
β Define logo and graphics
β Make sure youβre consistent
β No idea? Run a contest!
β Prepare a Media Kit for media
β¨
partners and sponsors
β https://bit.ly/dfpi23-mediakit
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Social
β Define a Media Plan
β Decide your network based on your target
β Schedule your content (Buffer/Hootsuite)
β Have photos!
β @devfestpisa
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Location
β Find the right date
β Paid: Thu/Fri
β Free: Weekend
β¨
β Find the right place
β Coworking space
β Hotels
β Universities
β Conference Centers
β¨
β Keep your audience in mind
β Be accessible
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Food
β Good food translates into good
networking
β Coffee/Water are (basically) mandatory,
full meal is a plus.
β Ask for alternatives (vegan, gluten free,
kosher, halal, etc.)
β Have a networking party
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Sponsors
β Define a set of levels, but be flexible.
β The sooner the better.
β Make sure there is a single point of
contact.
β Sponsors donβt like to be forgotten!
β Tips (JetBrains & Stickermule)
β https://bit.ly/dfpi23-partnership
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Helpers
β If you need some help, run a call for
helpers!
β Try to build an identity
β Make sure you have printed checklists
β Helpers should be easy to recognize
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The People
Global GDG
Leads Summit
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Speakers
β Make sure you prepare a great CFP.
β Sessionize is great!
β Ask for all the information you need.
β The sooner the better.
β Advertise your CFP
β Android Study Group Conf List.
β Android Weekly Conference List.
β Slack Groups (GDG Global, Android
United, Kotlin lang).
β http://bit.ly/dfpi23-c4p
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Agenda
β Making a good agenda is just an NP-hard
problem
β¨
β Some guidelines:
β Balance intermediate/beginner talks.
β Balance english/foreign talks.
β Donβt overlap similar topics.
β¨
β Donβt announce speakers before they
confirm.
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Attendees
β Re-invite previous attendees.
β Free event? 30% drop
β Sold out is cool, but not 3 months earlier
β Make sure you follow up and ask feedback
β Do a video recap
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Code of Conduct
β Donβt forget about your Code of Conduct
β Have some printed copies to hand out
β Leave a phone number/email to reach
out to a point of contact
β https://confcodeofconduct.com/
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Delightful Details
β Be unique!
β Think about all the little details.
β Put on some music
β What about a placeholder video?
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Delightful Details
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Itβs a bumpy ride
β 6 cancelled flights β
β 2 visas issues π
β Badges arrived with wrong logos π«
β Speaker missing the day of the event π«
β β¦and much more!
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...but tomorrow
evening you will be
the happiest person
on earth!
-An anonymous GDG Organizer
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How to organize your community conference? (on Medium)
bit.ly/howtocommunityconf