In case you hadn’t heard SQLSaturday #54 was Oct 23 in Salt Lake City.  It was a dreary opening to the Deer hunt, and a good morning to be inside to learn about SQL Server.  I was there to make my first presentation at a larger scale event (than a UG setting).

I got to meet some cool people and to learn a few things while I was there.  I enjoyed the time I had to chat with Denny Cherry (Twitter | Blog), Nic Cain (Twitter | Blog), Bill Pearson (Twitter), TJay Belt (Twitter | Blog), Pat Wright (Twitter | Blog), Meredith Ryan-Smith (Twitter), and Randy Knight (Twitter) as well as some others.

I picked up a few pointers for when we do a SQLSat in Las Vegas (like order overkill on the pizza).  It is also encouraging after having participated in a SQLSat to just get out and do it.  Nevermind the concerns about this or that, just do it.  So we will be formally working toward a SQLSat in LV very shortly.  I will be presenting that to the UG in LV first though.  We had tinkered with the idea – but now it is time to do something about it.

If you have never participated in a SQLSat, I highly recommend that you do.  I got some good networking in, some knowledge transfer, and I got to give my presentation (which needs a little more tuning).  That brings me to another thing that I learned.  It seems to be a trend that it is difficult to get audience participation no matter where you go (first hand experience as well as from what I have heard).  As presenters, many thrive on participation.  For my presentations – participation is crucial.

I hope to see you at future SQL Saturdays.

Oh,  and many thanks to Tjay Belt and Pat Wright for organizing this event.  Great Job.