CorelDRAW Unleashed User Conference Work and Play
Earlier a user had posted a comment claiming their interest in the CorelDRAW Unleashed User Conference, and I'm assuming a Boot Camp, was diminished because we planned (optional) fun activities for the evening. So I thought I'd discuss the work and play aspect of these events.
During the day, we focus on learning. Period. Now a lot of that learning can be fun because we are talking about CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT. There are an awful lot of fun things you can do with graphics. But we are very, very serious about the learning that takes place. We know that the attendees have invested in a training experience and we make sure that they get their money's worth and more.
As part of the Boot Camp there is a BBQ on the second night. If someone doesn't want to come, they are free to do their own thing. And we certainly welcome it if they want to bring a guest. In all the years (over 10) that we have been doing Boot Camps, I can't think of a single person who didn't enjoy the evening.
Since the User Conference is still almost a year away, we haven't yet planned any of the evening activities. All of them will be purely optional. We will try to plan things that people would want to do when visiting Arizona but then not everyone wants to do the same thing. Having been to a number of conferences on CorelDRAW and other topics, the attendees have generally really enjoy having some time to socialize in the evening. Sometimes the topics are all about what is going on at the conference and sometimes they have nothing to do with the conference. I've made a number of friendships over the years with people I've met and many others have done the same.
Now let's talk about some of the daytime activities I'm pursuing for the CorelDRAW Unleashed User Conference. One area where CorelDRAW is dominant is in the areas that I like to call vertical markets. So I'm working on getting the production equipment used in those markets to the conference so all users can see them in action. I had a meeting with a manufacturer this week that makes some of this equipment and we have verbally agreed that they will be there. I'll be meeting with another vendor next week and more meetings will come in the future. With any luck, we'll have 8-10 different types of output devices available so that attendees can output their files to these machines and see how easily one can expand their business since they already know the key component—CorelDRAW. And by the end of the conference, they will know CorelDRAW much better from the great training sessions we have planned.
As the conference is still almost a year away, your input can also shape what we cover and what we plan. So if you have any suggestions, please post a comment and we'll try to give the users—you—the best conference possible!
During the day, we focus on learning. Period. Now a lot of that learning can be fun because we are talking about CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT. There are an awful lot of fun things you can do with graphics. But we are very, very serious about the learning that takes place. We know that the attendees have invested in a training experience and we make sure that they get their money's worth and more.
As part of the Boot Camp there is a BBQ on the second night. If someone doesn't want to come, they are free to do their own thing. And we certainly welcome it if they want to bring a guest. In all the years (over 10) that we have been doing Boot Camps, I can't think of a single person who didn't enjoy the evening.
Since the User Conference is still almost a year away, we haven't yet planned any of the evening activities. All of them will be purely optional. We will try to plan things that people would want to do when visiting Arizona but then not everyone wants to do the same thing. Having been to a number of conferences on CorelDRAW and other topics, the attendees have generally really enjoy having some time to socialize in the evening. Sometimes the topics are all about what is going on at the conference and sometimes they have nothing to do with the conference. I've made a number of friendships over the years with people I've met and many others have done the same.
Now let's talk about some of the daytime activities I'm pursuing for the CorelDRAW Unleashed User Conference. One area where CorelDRAW is dominant is in the areas that I like to call vertical markets. So I'm working on getting the production equipment used in those markets to the conference so all users can see them in action. I had a meeting with a manufacturer this week that makes some of this equipment and we have verbally agreed that they will be there. I'll be meeting with another vendor next week and more meetings will come in the future. With any luck, we'll have 8-10 different types of output devices available so that attendees can output their files to these machines and see how easily one can expand their business since they already know the key component—CorelDRAW. And by the end of the conference, they will know CorelDRAW much better from the great training sessions we have planned.
As the conference is still almost a year away, your input can also shape what we cover and what we plan. So if you have any suggestions, please post a comment and we'll try to give the users—you—the best conference possible!
posted by Foster D. Coburn III at
7:31 PM
2 Comments:
I attended several Dynamic Graphics courses, I loved it and was looking forward to attending 1 course per year. The course was formal, classroom setting, there was a short lunch break with light refreshments, partnered assignments, home work and a roundtable for the last day, I loved it. I would NOT appreciate social activities, but everyone to their own...
Wouldn't I feel left out if everyone else WOULD attend the picnic/BBQ/social event and I would not?
Over the years we have had a number of people choose not to attend a BBQ for whatever reason. Do I feel this miss out on a great evening? Sure. Each user has their own reason for not attending. They may have friends or family in the area, they may choose to do something else of interest or they just may not be interested. It is purely their choice.
The original comment had said that part of what they wanted from a course was "schmoozing" with others about things like CorelDRAW. Even though things like the BBQ are a social event, there is definitely plenty of conversation about CorelDRAW and how people use the software in their jobs.
In a conference setting, we probably won't have an evening event where every single attendee would attend. We would provide options and people can choose which evening activity to attend, if any. If someone wants a purely social event, they'll probably find something that fits their needs. If someone wants to talk graphics all night, I'm sure there are others who will do that. In fact, the 1:1 Expert Station will be open in the evening hours if there is someone interested in working on an issue with one of the team members or simply with other attendees.
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