As well as running my series on Behind the Scenes at TechEd, I thought it might be interesting to have a few reflections on some of the previous TechEds that have happened over the years. The difference with these, however, is that instead of talking to staff involved with putting it together, I've canvassed a few local Aussies from the dev community to talk about their own experiences. We'll have some coverage from the last few years, a student, and even someone that made it all the way over to the States.

So this is #1 of about 6 or so people I've asked for input from. First up is Rob Farley - and seriously, he was randomly chosen when I asked for volounteers on the aus-dotnet list. It may look a little like a bit of propoganda (he obviously loves his Microsoft :) but a geek is a geek, and all geeks are welcome here! Honest - he really doesn't work for Microsoft! :)

1. Name rank and serial number.
   Hi, my name's Rob Farley, and I'm a DB/Dev/Mgr guy... sounds like an AA meeting, but oh well. I live in Adelaide, where I run a small dev team. My blog is at http://robfarley.blogspot.com, and there's plenty more about me there. Recently I've got a bunch of new MS Certs, and as I write this, I'm actually in Redmond, helping to put some new simulation content together for 70-431 (the core SQL2005 exam).
2. What TechEds have you been too? Why did you go? If you've been to more than one, why do you keep going back?
   I've been to two TechEds, 1999 (Brisbane) and 2005 (GoldCoast). This will be my first one outside Queensland. I went to 1999 fairly blind - didn't know what to expect. Then I was in the UK for a couple of years, working at a company who didn't tend to send people to TechEd. Then I moved to Adelaide (my wife's home-town), and got the chance to go last year. I go back because I really enjoy it!
3. Once it was over, were you glad you went? What did you get out of it that you consider valuable?
   In 1999, I was pleased I went because I came out feeling like I was part of a much bigger community. I didn't really get involved much in user-groups until 2005, so when I went the second time, I came out having met a fair number in the much bigger dev community. Tech-wise, it's like going to a pile of user-group events in the one week, and you get the same thing out of it - a sense of excitement for technologies that you may not have considered before. To hear someone speak on something they feel really passionately about, you leave having caught some of that passion, and have ideas about how to use that. That's why I will always encourage people to go user-groups, and also encourage people to go to other events, like the RoadShows, and especially TechEd.
4. What were your favourite parts of TechEd?
   Favourite parts is a tricky one. In 1999 there was obviously the party (DreamWorld), but also the "Wow, so this is TechEd" thing. In 2005, the party was good, but I really thought the networking was better. I loved sitting in a room with leaders from the other SQL User-Groups and talking about stuff. This time, I really hope to do the same - but now I know even more people (at least by name and reputation), and I plan to meet up with them. Many people will know of me, but not necessarily have met me in person. In Adelaide you can feel somewhat isolated, so it will be great to be in the larger community.
5. What could have been done better?
   It's really hard to say. I know that Kleefy's going to be doing a great job this year, and will have addressed some of the common whinge-themes. I have no need to make any serious comments here - if I had any, I would've told him by now. :)
6. How much of it was relevant to you personally? Did you get a big enough benefit that the expense was worth it, or would, say, someone else from your workplace have benefitted more?
   It's really hard to weigh up the value of a TechEd to someone from a business perspective. If I had've sent someone else, then I would've missed out on all the personal contacts I'd made, etc. In 2005 I did a few MCP exams and upgraded my MCSD to MCSD.Net. That was good for me personally, and prompted Andrew Coates to mention me in his blog, and start talking to me about beta exams. After doing a bunch of beta exams, I got my first invite to Redmond to help with item selection for the MCPD exams. I guess that wouldn't've happened if I hadn't've gone to TechEd 2005 - so I can definitely say that it's benefitted me personally. If someone else from my workplace had've gone, then the tech knowledge would've been transferred just the same, but perhaps they wouldn't've used some of the new contacts in the same way as I have personally.
7. Would you go again if you had the chance?
   Yeah, I'd always go if I had the chance. I know there will be times when I don't have the chance, but if I do, I will always try to be there. Mind you, if I had the resources, I'd travel a lot more too. I would've liked to have been in Wagga for the Code Camp in April, but I'd just got back from Redmond and chose to spend time with the family instead. I will be in Wagga for the SQL Code Camp in October - I'll speak if I can get a topic sorted. I would encourage everyone to travel more within the community. Get to user-groups, and get to user-groups interstate too if you can - it really helps so much to increase your network. It's often been said that the Code Camps are better than TechEd. For me, I think this could be true because the average person at a Code Camp is at a different level to TechEd. Many people at TechEd are there because they've been sent. They don't really choose to go to TechEd. But if you drive (or cycle, like Adam) to Wagga, then you really want to be there. So then you'll make the effort to meet people, and spend your time wisely. I think lots of people just go to TechEd to get a week off work. In 1999, I was living in Melbourne, and the week in Brisbane sounded appealing even if I wasn't planning to learn anything. The following year was in Cairns, and I would've happily have gone for the sunshine, let alone anything else. But I was in London, and no-one was going to pay for me to go to Cairns.
8. Where was the party? Did you have a good time?
   1999 was Dreamland and was really good. I went on heaps of rides, and definitely took advantage of the location. In 2005, it was in MovieWorld, but I didn't go on many rides. That year, I was enjoying TechEd for the people there, and I hung out with people I met. This year, I plan to do the same. The party is obviously going to be a highlight for many people, and I'm sure there will be a lot of headaches the next morning. But for me I don't expect it will be really too different to the rest of the free-time while I'm there. I'll be finding friends and spending non-tech time with them. We can talk tech via Msgr during the weeks that TechEd aren't on. And obviously at the Exhibition Centre, a lot of the conversations will be technical... I don't expect that will be the case at the party, which is definitely a good thing.
9. I know there wasn't a question 9, but I figured this was somewhere I could put other comments. I know the team a lot more this year. Whilst I'm sure I don't appreciate the effort that goes into an event of this size (my convention organising involvement never reached ones that catered for even 1000 people), I know more of the people (and better) this time. So when I got an email to ask about giving back, by helping with the Hands-On Labs, I said 'Sure, sign me up'. Community-based events are made better when the community pitches in. It's true for user-groups, and it's true for bigger events like this. I'm not presenting, but I would happily do that if they needed me. It'd be great to have a "How are you prepared to help out?" field in the registration form, but I know that can make life really awkward.
   All in all, if you get the chance to go to TechEd, then definitely go. But don't just attend the great sessions, eat the food and pick up the free gadgets from the exhibitors. Actually find out how you can get involved within the tech community. This is Tech.You, right?