{"id":5792,"date":"2019-10-10T12:47:52","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T16:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/?p=5792"},"modified":"2019-10-14T12:14:22","modified_gmt":"2019-10-14T16:14:22","slug":"the-2019-monktoberfest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/2019\/10\/10\/the-2019-monktoberfest\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2019 Monktoberfest"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> opening queue up. Hello friends! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R4wSY9oQMy\">pic.twitter.com\/R4wSY9oQMy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kelly Stirman (@kstirman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kstirman\/status\/1179766027439108096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 3, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>If there is one thing all Monktoberfest attendees share, it is a fundamental inability to explain precisely what the event is. As a rule, one can sum up the audience and the content of most events in this industry easily within a couple of words, a sentence at most. The Monktoberfest, however, is not like other events in this regard. Nor does experience help: those who have attended multiple times generally have no advantage over those who\u2019ve attended once.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I tried explaining the event to someone last week and all I could come up with is that \u201cit\u2019s good for my soul\u201d It is truly something to be experienced \u2728<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kim Bannerman \ud83e\uddd9\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83c\udf1f\ud83d\udc7b (@kmbannerman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kmbannerman\/status\/1179457747311616005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As a first timer at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Monktoberfest<\/a>, I&#39;m still trying to wrap my mind around what I just experienced. How will I explain this to friends and family back home?<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; kimber (@kittyriot) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kittyriot\/status\/1180334215839338501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Attendees are, notably, not the only ones with this issue. In spite of the fact that I have organized nine Monktoberfests to date, I am no better at describing this event than those who participate in it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">this is the ninth year we\u2019ve run the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monktoberfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monktoberfest<\/a> and i still have no elevator pitch for the event, so you\u2019re in good company at least <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hpqnDv87ld\">https:\/\/t.co\/hpqnDv87ld<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; steve o&#39;grady (@sogrady) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady\/status\/1179467228804198402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>As someone who spends a fair amount of my time dealing with sponsors, both past and prospective, you\u2019d think I\u2019d have an elevator pitch down. For whatever the reason, and there are many, the Monktoberfest defies easy description or categorization &#8211; not that this is the only challenge for sponsor conversations. Imagine, if you will, trying to explain to companies accustomed to traditional sponsor offerings why something as basic as the agenda is not diclosed, and that they need to just &#8220;trust us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>None of which is perhaps ideal, given that would be attendees often have to justify the travel or would be sponsors, the expense. To date, however, we have collectively found a way to make it work without having to fundamentally break the event in such a way as to allow it to be neatly summed up in a few words. We have all worked to make the event the event that it is &#8211; for better or for worse.<\/p>\n<p>While the event may not be easily described, however, its primary function is clear. The purpose of the event has always been to provide a space for talks that might not fit at other, more easily described events. It has been to look at the intersection of technology and the world around us &#8211; the good, the bad and the ugly. It is meant to be, in other words, that rarest of all things in this hectic, furiously paced industry: an opportunity to step back. To let go of your day to day concerns. To not think about code, databases or your next meeting. To take a few days to think about where you are, what you\u2019re doing, and why you\u2019re doing it. To be exposed to people, issues and concerns you may never have been exposed to. And perhaps most of all, to talk to people you may never otherwise have had the opportunity or occasion to meet about said issues and concerns.<\/p>\n<p>All of that sounds simple, but it\u2019s not. It requires speakers willing to talk about incredibly private &#8211; and often unimaginably painful &#8211; experiences. It requires sponsors who see more than an opportunity to purchase a thirty minute walking, talking advertisement. And it requires attendees who are <em>willing<\/em> to take a step back, <em>willing<\/em> to be challenged, and <em>willing<\/em> to make the trek to a city with no direct flights for most.<\/p>\n<p>When you think about it that way, every Monktoberfest is something of a minor miracle. But these minor miracles are sustained and made possible because the community around us sees value in this event &#8211; an event that can literally change the course of people\u2019s careers and, thereby, lives.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Milton was feeling extremely demotivated earlier this year, was seriously thinking about quitting tech. I asked him to hold on for monktoberfest.<\/p>\n<p>So I thank you <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monkchips?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monkchips<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sogrady<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rstephensme?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@rstephensme<\/a> and so many others for bringing hope and support to my brother.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Angel Deez Pumpkins\ud83c\udf83 (@angeld_az) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/angeld_az\/status\/1180210990048317447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>All of which helps explain why, all of the blood, sweat and tears that go into putting on an event notwithstanding, all of us at RedMonk are profoundly grateful. It would all be worth it for any one of the below reactions, let alone all of them collected.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Monktoberfest<\/a> was *the* best conference I&#39;ve ever attended. I hope to return next year! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cbzzydVue7\">https:\/\/t.co\/cbzzydVue7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; julia ferraioli (@juliaferraioli) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/juliaferraioli\/status\/1182408967433195529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Monktoberfest<\/a> was hands down, the best conference I have ever attended. A week later I am still buzzing, and even emotional at times, about the talks and the people and experiences. It is so hard to describe, but something you must attend next year. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SyqOfxscpm\">https:\/\/t.co\/SyqOfxscpm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jeremy&#39;s #DevRel \ud83c\udfa2 Experience (@IAmJerdog) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IAmJerdog\/status\/1182758522527899648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Closing ceremonies at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>This is probably the best conference I&#39;ve ever attended.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Can you explain why in a way that fits in the rest of this tweet?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;It&#39;s the exact opposite of re:Invent.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Corey Quinn \u2708\ufe0f NYC (@QuinnyPig) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/QuinnyPig\/status\/1180163193219489792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Many conferences, including this one, help us learn how to do our jobs better. More importantly, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> reminds us what our jobs should be. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4Nsmg5tbaa\">https:\/\/t.co\/4Nsmg5tbaa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Justin Sheehy (@justinsheehy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/justinsheehy\/status\/1180170554868940803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yes! Not to downplay the efforts of Steve, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rstephensme?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@rstephensme<\/a>, and the rest of the team (indeed, this speaks to how well they do what they do), but the event really feels less like a show that they put on and more like something we all do together.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; haunted house intelligence committee (@ChrisVermilion) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisVermilion\/status\/1182448476686376965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Back home in Minneapolis and still processing the beauty and brilliance of all I participated in at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>I did nothing for my buzzword collection. It did so much for my perspective.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you all for being a joy and a privilege to share space with.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matt Broberg (@mbbroberg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mbbroberg\/status\/1180331725978816512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It\u2019s only been a few days since returning from Portland, but I\u2019m already thinking ahead to next year!<\/p>\n<p>Grateful for all the wonderful people I met, the powerfully moving talks, yum food \ud83c\udf63\ud83e\udd9e and beer \ud83c\udf7a.<\/p>\n<p>Yah, and this cool glass which made it safely home.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/y6z9lD1sCQ\">pic.twitter.com\/y6z9lD1sCQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; seong park \ud83c\udfe1 (@seong17) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/seong17\/status\/1180960119913353222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Thank you to everyone involved with the planning &amp; execution of all I experienced at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monktoberfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Monktoberfest<\/a>. I am leaving here with hope, inspiration, a more open heart, &amp; a ton of new friends! Huge thank you to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sogrady<\/a> for creating an environment where newbies are considered family! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HpmtUgpKyO\">pic.twitter.com\/HpmtUgpKyO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Farrah @ #Serverlessconf NYC (@FarrahC32) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FarrahC32\/status\/1180508148408475648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On plane back home post <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Monktoberfest<\/a> &amp; have to send a GIANT thank you \ud83d\ude4c to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/redmonk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@redmonk<\/a> for building this supportive &amp; curious &amp; welcoming community. My suitcase is full of ideas+inspiration \/ TY <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rstephensme?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@rstephensme<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sogrady<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JulianeLeary?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@JulianeLeary<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monkchips?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monkchips<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drkellyannfitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@drkellyannfitz<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monktoberfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monktoberfest<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZP5giubqdY\">pic.twitter.com\/ZP5giubqdY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Claire Giordano (@clairegiordano) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/clairegiordano\/status\/1180285384179232769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Attended my first <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> and spent some time on the ride home reflecting on all of the great perspectives and context and ideas and hallway track chats. What a fantastic conference, nice work y\u2019all.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jesse Butler (@jlb13) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jlb13\/status\/1180230910056247297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Thanks <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sogrady<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monkchips?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monkchips<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drkellyannfitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@drkellyannfitz<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rstephensme?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@rstephensme<\/a> for another amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monktoberfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monktoberfest<\/a>! The topics covered in the presentations were diverse, captivating, informative, and entertaining! Food and beverages were 1st class as always! You all have a lot to be proud of!!! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y8IGSKq8zr\">pic.twitter.com\/Y8IGSKq8zr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Brad Topol (@bradtopol) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bradtopol\/status\/1180226059620495362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Once again, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sogrady<\/a> and team knocked it out of the park with another successful <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monktoberfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@monktoberfest<\/a> \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83c\udf89kudos to the whole <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/redmonk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@redmonk<\/a> team, and the speakers and attendees that make it great<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Christopher Ferris (@christo4ferris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/christo4ferris\/status\/1180179962411831297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Typical <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> evening: history of the baby Bell breakup, open source community motivations, complimenting the beer and attendees, religion and its effect on view of governments, how to improve organizational management theory to be more inclusive.<br \/>Y&#39;know, normal stuff.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Shane Curcuru \ud83d\ude40\ud83d\udcbb #Monktoberfest (@shanecurcuru) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/shanecurcuru\/status\/1179949050168303616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#39;ll be honest. While driving for 2 hours in the dark last night after a cross county flight I was wondering if it was really worth it for a small boutique developer event. Today proved it was at least 110% worth it. Thanks for such a high quality event <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> organizers<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Grace Francisco (@GraceFr) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GraceFr\/status\/1179942510187225089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> is my favorite conference because of these great people. Thank you \ud83d\ude0a <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OJLYfPBGfm\">pic.twitter.com\/OJLYfPBGfm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Angel Deez Pumpkins\ud83c\udf83 (@angeld_az) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/angeld_az\/status\/1179918258025185282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Great to hear from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sogrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sogrady<\/a> kicking off <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Monktoberfest<\/a> this year (my first time!) and I&#39;m so excited. It&#39;s already living up to the authenticity that I&#39;ve heard amazing things about. \u2728 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rmeoUByxEm\">pic.twitter.com\/rmeoUByxEm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jess Seattle West (@jessicaewest) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jessicaewest\/status\/1179765704054071296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 3, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I go with what my neighbors say each year: \u201cIs that the beer conference you go to with your nerd friends?\u201d Yes. Yes it is. <\/p>\n<p>Reality: See above + inspiring talks that make me think deeper and with a wider lens about the world around me and my interaction with and impact on it.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Maney (@the_spinmd) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/the_spinmd\/status\/1179468627898175489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My pitch: it\u2019s the only conference I _gladly_ spend my own money to attend.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Drew Conway (@drewconway) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drewconway\/status\/1179468649725415425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>We are grateful that people are willing to take time out of their schedule to be with us, and hope that they have the kind of experience the folks above did. And most of all, we hope to hear sentiments such as the following.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With so much of my future unknown, the only certainty I have is that I&#39;ll be in Portland, ME in October 2020 for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/monktoberfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Monktoberfest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Meg Guliford (@mkguliford) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mkguliford\/status\/1180328287765192704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h1>The Credit<\/h1>\n<p>I say this at the show every year, but it\u2019s worth repeating: the majority of the credit for the Monktoberfest belongs elsewhere. My sincere thanks and appreciation to the following parties. It is enormously important to us that everyone who shares a hand in making this event possible and who makes it happen receives the credit they deserve, so please take a minute to thank the people that follow. Without their support and assistance, the Monktoberfest would not exist.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Really love that <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/monktoberfest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#monktoberfest<\/a> starts with recognizing the people who make it happen. Really sets the tone of the conference \ud83d\udc9c<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; julia ferraioli (@juliaferraioli) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/juliaferraioli\/status\/1179766338560172032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 3, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Our Sponsors<\/strong>:<br \/>\nBecause we do not like conferences where talks are simply paid advertisements, we do not sell speaking slots at the show. This means that we have to find sponsors that understand that the benefit to their sponsorship won\u2019t be standing up and pitching but letting attendees know that they helped to make possible an event that they enjoyed. We\u2019re fortunate that we find such sponsors every year, and we can\u2019t thank them enough. Without their support, there is either no Monktoberfest or tickets are thousands upon thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Trappist<\/strong>:<br \/>\nIt takes a special kind of company to be the lead sponsor for an event that features no speaking slots, no booths and none of the usual big conference trappings. It takes a company, ultimately, that understands and appreciates both the importance of developers, and their preference for being talked with than talked at, their admiration for organizations that support the projects or events they enjoy. Fortunately, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linode.com\">Linode<\/a> is just such a company, having bootstrapped a developer-focused cloud into one of the most popular dev-centric platforms anywhere.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Abbot<\/strong>:<br \/>\nOf all of our sponsors, only one has been with us every year that we\u2019ve run this event. <a href=\"http:\/\/redhat.com\">Red Hat<\/a>\u2018s not only the world\u2019s largest pure play open source brand, they\u2019re an organization that gets developers and community, and is willing to invest to support them. Without Red Hat, it\u2019s hard to imagine what the Monktoberfest would have been, or be today. Thank you for always being there, Red Hat.<\/p>\n<p>Joining us for the second time this year is a next generation player in this industry, the digital product company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twobulls.com\/\">Two Bulls<\/a>. With offices in Berlin, New York and Melbourne, Two Bulls has helped some of the largest companies in the world make the leap to digital. No wonder, then, that they chose to be with us at an event like the Monktoberfest.<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least we need to thank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightbend.com\/\">Lightbend<\/a>. Focused on bringing real-time data to cloud native applications, Lightbend has deep expertise across a wide variety of technical areas as well as long time experience with open source. With its developer-friendly approach, the Monktoberfest was a natural fit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Dinner &amp; Breakfast<\/strong>:<br \/>\nFrom the the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bradtopol\/status\/1179907220353536001\">crab cakes to the lobster rolls to the lamb chops<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IAmJerdog\/status\/1179882430163046400\">the sushi<\/a>, we try and take care of our attendees whatever they may prefer to eat. Doing so &#8211; particularly when someone eats <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/QuinnyPig\/status\/1179960852721623041\">eight thousand dollars worth of shellfish<\/a> &#8211; isn&#8217;t cheap and we need help to do that. Enter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.datastax.com\/\">Datastax<\/a>, the database for hybrid and multi-cloud company, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalocean.com\">DigitalOcean<\/a>, the developer cloud company, who both stepped up in a big way.<\/p>\n<p>DataStax went even further and helped out with our breakfasts, so whether you enjoyed a breakfast sandwich, a gluten-free Holy Donut or our other assorted options they deserve an extra thank you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Video<\/strong>:<br \/>\nGiven the importance we place on the talks at the Monktoberfest, we believe it\u2019s equally important that they are captured and shared for posterity. The good folks from <a href=\"https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/\">Amazon Web Services<\/a> make all of that possible with their generous underwriting of our video efforts. Thanks to their support, all Monktoberfest 2019 talks were recorded and will be posted in the coming weeks so that you can catch up if you missed it or share your favorite if you were lucky enough to be with us.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Diversity Scholarship<\/strong>:<br \/>\nFor the third year in a row at the Monktoberfest we hosted a Diversity &amp; Inclusion program. Taking a page from the amazing efforts of our sister conference in London, the Monki Gras, the D&amp;I initiative is an opportunity to give people who would not otherwise have the means or opportunity to attend the conference a free ticket, connections with mentors and travel stipends. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our joint sponsors <a href=\"http:\/\/accel.com\">Accel<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/mongodb.com\">MongoDB<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/solace.com\">Solace<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Closed Captioning<\/strong>:<br \/>\nFollowing in our sister concerence the Monki Gras&#8217; admirable footsteps, the Monktoberfest was proud to introduce closed captioning to the event. Helping us bring a real time transcription of the event to those who needed it significantly elevated the accessibility of the event and our talks for all. We were grateful the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudfoundry.org\/\">Cloud Foundry Foundation<\/a> for helping us bring this important feature to all of you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Dinner Cruise<\/strong>:<br \/>\nOne of the iconic brands of the technology industry, <a href=\"http:\/\/ibm.com\">IBM<\/a> has been a long time supporter of things that developers love and enjoy from open source itself to events like the Monktoberfest &#8211; this time with our dinner cruise. If you enjoyed the food and drink while threading our way between the islands of Casco Bay, IBM is the one to thank.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Glasses and Coffee<\/strong>:<br \/>\nEvery year, the glassware at the Monktoberfest is one of our most popular takeaways, and 2019 was no exception. Helping us bring you custom Barlow glassware was none other than the good folks from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/\">Cloud Native Computing Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the CNCF was the organization behind the coffee that even our pickiest coffee drinkers described as &#8220;excellent.&#8221; Our thirsty and tired attendees thank you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Lunch<\/strong>:<br \/>\nBased on the catering bill which will arrive shortly, it\u2019s safe to say that we invest a lot in our food at the Monktoberfest, and we\u2019re only able to do that with the help of sponsors like the <a href=\"http:\/\/cloudflare.com\">Cloudflare<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/oracle.com\">Oracle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Giveaway<\/strong>:<br \/>\nYears ago, RedMonk talked to <a href=\"http:\/\/dell.com\">Dell<\/a> about how unfortunate it was that none of the major hardware manufacturers were producing hardware designed exclusively developers. Dell agreed, and the result has been their Sputnik line of Linux-equipped XPS 13 hardware, beloved by developers the world over. At this year&#8217;s Monktoberfest, we were lucky enough to give one of these units <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/barton808\/status\/1180197400859877376\">away<\/a> thanks to Dell.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Diversity and Inclusion Programming<\/strong>:<br \/>\nIn addition to helping offset the tickets and travel for our Diversity and Inclusion attendees, the Monktoberfest wanted to find a way to make their experience both at the event and following it a memorable one. As a result, we relied on help from Microsoft to provide items such as pronoun stickers as well as takeaways such as professional headshots &#8211; more on that in a minute. <a href=\"http:\/\/microsoft.com\">Microsoft<\/a> generously help offset our costs in this regard.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Buy A Round<\/strong>:<br \/>\nJoining us help buy absurd rounds like these were the good folks from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stackpath.com\">StackPath<\/a>, an edge-based cloud computing platform for developers. We are able to go above and beyond with our beer selection because of support like this.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Snacks<\/strong>:<br \/>\nFor the second year in a row, two of our most enthusiastic fans got together and helped bring snacks to the Monktoberfest. Thanks Matt &amp; Erik! We also had support from <a href=\"http:\/\/punderthings.com\/\">Punderthings<\/a>, your open source lifesaver.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>In Kind<\/strong>:<br \/>\nWe\u2019d like to thank Moo for their generous offer to provide free business cards to our Diversity Scholars, who were very excited about this. Thanks also to O\u2019Reilly for a great collection of free industry texts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Our Speakers<\/strong>:<br \/>\nEvery year I have run the Monktoberfest I have been blown away by the quality of our speakers, a reflection of their abilities and the effort they put into crafting their talks. At some point you\u2019d think I\u2019d learn to expect it, but in the meantime I cannot thank them enough. Next to the people, the talks are the single most defining characteristic of the conference, and the quality of the people who are willing to travel to this show and speak for us is humbling.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Ryan Travers<\/strong>:<br \/>\nWe had four different offerings to choose from for lunch&#8230;of just cider. And then there were the browns, IPAs, lagers, pils, stouts and sours. Again &#8211; that&#8217;s just <em>lunch<\/em>. There\u2019s a reason our lineup is so incredible every year, and as I tell people every year when they thank me for the the selection, it sure as hell isn\u2019t me. Ryan Travers is the force behind The Monktoberfest\u2019s frankly absurd set of offerings, and he drove incredible distances just to source the beers, ciders and meads for this show \u2013 and then walks through their histories like some kind of human craft beer encyclopedia.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Lurie Palino<\/strong>:<br \/>\nLurie and her catering crew did an amazing job for us, and as she does every year, delivered on a ridiculous event yet again. With no small assist from her husband, who caught the lobsters, and her incredibly hard working crew at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seacoastcatering.com\">Seacoast Catering<\/a>. How many conferences have a raw bar, a sushi bar and a slider bar \u2013 all at the same time?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Mike Maney<\/strong>:<br \/>\nOne of our longest tenured attendees is also one of the event&#8217;s biggest supporters. For the first time this year, we put his unparalleled skills as a photographer to provide professional quality headshots to all of our Diversity &amp; Inclusion attendees. We are enormously grateful for his continued support, and now our D&amp;I attendees get to benefit from it as well.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Kate<\/strong>:<br \/>\nThough as many of you noticed Kate wasn\u2019t around the conference itself because of her day job as a dean, nearly all of the best aspects of the Monktoberfest are thanks to her. As I like to say, the good ideas you enjoy every year came from her \u2013 no joke. I can never thank her enough, particularly because she now has to wrangle a toddler solo while I\u2019m wrangling the show.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Rachel<\/strong>:<br \/>\nWhen it comes to the day to day, on the ground operation of the event, no one is more important than Rachel. Everything runs smoothly \u2013 even when it doesn\u2019t and the deliveries end up in the wrong place \u2013 because Rachel is detail oriented, organized and on the ball and the human equivalent of a spreadsheet. We couldn\u2019t have done this without her.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>The Staff<\/strong>:<br \/>\nJuliane did her usual excellent job of working with sponsors ahead of the conference, and with James secured and managed our sponsors. She also had to handle all of the incoming traffic while we were all occupied with the conference as well as handle the Monktoberfest social media accounts. Marcia handled all of the back end logistics as she does so well. Emma, Celeste, Elizabeth, Katie and Kim handled the chaos that is the event itself with ease. We\u2019ve got an incredible team that worked exceptionally hard.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Allagash Brewing<\/strong>:<br \/>\nOne of the largest, and in my view best, breweries in the state of Maine is Allagash. But while they are a lot bigger than they were when we started this event all these years ago, they haven\u2019t changed a bit culturally: they\u2019re still amazingly good people who are always ready to support events like the Monktoberfest. It is always a pleasure to have Allagash involved because their people are as good as their beer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>The Alchemist<\/strong>:<br \/>\nOur favorite Vermont brewery was fantastic to us as always, helping us bring attendees options from their single IPA Focal Banger to their world reknowned Heady Topper, an incredible and incredibly hard to get DIPA. They\u2019re fantastic people, they are there to support us every year, and if you\u2019re in or around Stowe, VT, you really need to go see them.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>The Attendees<\/strong>:<br \/>\nLast, but certainly not least, let me thank all of the attendees. Conferences are a ton of work, but you make it worth it every year. Thank you all, and hope to see you and many new faces next year.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Traditional #monktoberfest opening queue up. Hello friends! pic.twitter.com\/R4wSY9oQMy &mdash; Kelly Stirman (@kstirman) October 3, 2019 If there is one thing all Monktoberfest attendees share, it is a fundamental inability to explain precisely what the event is. As a rule, one can sum up the audience and the content of most events in this industry easily<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conferences-shows"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5792\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmonk.com\/sogrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}