LoCoComputerFairHowto

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Goals

Use cases

  • Loubna goes to a computer fair. She might have heard of OpenOffice.org, Firefox and maybe Linux, but probably not of Ubuntu. She passes by our stand. A booth volunteer tries to get her interested in Ubuntu and ubuntu-cc.org.

  • Piotr wants to stay informed of Ubuntu news: new releases, local Ubuntu activities and more.
  • Mahatma is a happy existing Ubuntu user. When a booth volunteer hears that, he tries to help him become an ubuntu-cc.org volunteer.

Functionality

  • everyone can:
    • burn an Ubuntu CD
    • make a donation to ubuntu-be.org
  • a fair visitor can:
    • learn what Ubuntu is:
      • advantages:
        • complete system including high quality applications: OpenOffice.org, Firefox, ...

        • little or no viruses and spyware (technical and market share reasons)
        • market share amongst exotic systems
        • free software
        • standards: in control of the meta layer
        • native language support
      • disadvantages:
        • hardware support
        • closed proprietary software (Flash, multimedia,...)
    • try out Ubuntu:
      • surf the web
      • read email
      • office applications: read & write MS Office documents

      • photo collection: connect camera, view, administer, print photos
      • music: connect audio player, play
      • play video
      • play a game
    • learn why "something for nothing" is possible with free software
    • determine if Ubuntu is right for him
    • learn how to experiment with Ubuntu (on a computer of his own or a demo machine):
      • receive a free Ubuntu CD with instructions:
        • learn how he can use it to get a first impression of Ubuntu
        • learn how it doubles as an install CD
        + learn about the system most suited for beginners
        • a separate machine
        • at least 256 Mb ram
        • wired ethernet network
        • single boot means less complexity
    • learn about ubuntu-cc.org as an information hub:
      • forums, lists and documentation (native language and English)
      • contact volunteers
      • subscribe to ubuntu-cc.org news flashes
    • run the Ubuntu live CD
      • on a computer of his own
      • on a demo computer
    • install Ubuntu:
      • onto a computer of his own (single boot!)
      • onto a demo computer (single boot!)
    • get an Ubuntu sticker
    • ? buy Ubuntu merchandise
    • ? buy a system with Ubuntu preinstalled in cooperation with other booths
    • get contact information of an individual ubuntu-cc.org contact
  • an existing Ubuntu user can:
    • become an ubuntu-be.org volunteer
    • join the booth
  • a volunteer can:

Booth Box

Modelled after the success of the Gnome booth box, this is an instant fair booth box. It contains all equipment necessary to run a booth. When you organise a booth, you receive it. When someone else wants to organise a booth, you send it to him.

Booth box content

Electronics

Non-electronics

Consumables

2 computers compact powerful keyboard mouse

2 long power extension cords

pressed 32 bit Ubuntu CD's

2 computers compact slow no keyb mouse

2 power strips (4 sockets minimum)

flyers

4 big monitors

10 pens

10 empty news subscription lists

camera

contribution urn

10 empty volunteer subscription lists

audio player

table cloth

duct tape

webcam

scissors

rope

multi card reader

2 foldable 3m poles

transparent tape

high quality speakers

2 candy bowls

empty CD-r's

USB mass storage thing with real life example documents: .xls, .doc, ...

anti theft cables

paper CD bags with window

20 empty plastic badges with room for name tag

cheap candy

strong reusable banners

Optional electronic booth equipment

Sample documents

ethernet cabling & switch

free magnatune music

wifi bridge

Elephants dream movie

And don't forget the booth box inventory list!!

The weeks before the fair

  • finding volunteers:
    • launch the question onto the mailing list
    • ask volunteers to reply to the mailing list, to encourage others to participate
    • find a second person to confirm his participation before adressing the mailing list
    • ask possible volunteers as directly as possible: in person, phone, messaging, mail
  • funding:
    • ask for a non-profit, non-selling discount! ubuntu is popular and will draw people to the fair!
    • be prepared to pay for the booth yourself
    • make it easy for people to make a free contribution at the fair
  • bootstrapping a booth box:
    • often easier to get contributions in kind: let the mailing list know what you need!
    • fairs are a nice place to buy
    • let it grow slowly
    • buy compact (e.g. TFT monitors instead of CRTs)
    • buy quality (e.g. plastic poster instead of paper one)
    • buy flexible, low tech, cheap (e.g. free black and white copier leaflets instead of full colour ofset printing)
  • logistics:
    • many volunteers have no cars! logistics!
    • getting the heavy stuff to the fair
    • borrowing from other booths at the fair
    • sending the booth box around

The hour before the fair

  • set up the booth:
    • news flash & volunteer fill out lists:

      • take enough pens and fix them to the booth with rope
    • consistency and simplicity:
      • 1 flyer visible: present Ubuntu itself and your team
      • keep specialised flyers away from the booth desk, but available:
        • what is free software, especially why "something for nothing" is possible with free software
        • kubuntu, edubuntu, xubuntu
        • OpenOffice.org -> ODF ISO standard; what are open standards

    • table cloth identifies and unifies the booth
  • When the booth is ready, do a role play a few times: a visitor passes:
    • what does the visitor see first?
      • does the visitor see a presentation about Ubuntu, whatever side the visitor passes from?
    • does he receive a flyer?
    • does someone start a conversation with him?
      • conversation:
        • WRONG: "Hello sir, do you know what Ubuntu is?"
        • RIGHT => try to connect to positive experiences: 3 times "yes" and you have a psychological grip Smile :)

    • the visitor is a child(children attract parents!) => do we have:

      • candy!
      • games (preferably 3d): planet penguin racer, ...
    • the visitor is a woman
    • the visitor is a journalist: do we have business cards ready?
    • the visitor is a bling lover: do we have a beryl/compiz demo ready?
  • schedule breaks!
    • food breaks: volunteers need to eat
    • photo breaks: pictures taken at the busiest moments are the most interesting
  • are there enough CD's? if not: start burning
    • insert them into paper cd bags with transparent window together with an ubuntu-cc.org flyer
    • continue burning during the fair
      • shows the powers of free software in practice

The booth itself

  • target audience
  • We are teasing visitors into trying ubuntu. This is a big jump already. Keep their experience simple and consistent!
  • number of volunteers needed: minimum? maximum?
  • A booth is also a social event between volunteers!
  • enthousiasm sells: don't be afraid to go after every single passerby
  • Never ever interrupt another volunteer when he is dealing with a visitor, unless he begs you for input.
  • Mentor eachother. Observe another volunteer's way of talking to a visitor. Afterwards, try to suggest him more effective techniques. Switch roles and repeat.

Ideas: to be sorted

  • organise introduction course/ install party at a less busy moment during fair?
  • beID card-reader with belpic soft installed and tested, ready to show to people
  • keep track of:
    • number of cd's distributed
    • number of people actually talked to
  • burn CD's ourselves
  • Nelson Mandela video: attractive! and not only to hippies, women, non-technical users
  • presentation machine (introductie, voor wie geschikt)
  • burning CD's together
  • elaborate free contribution
  • explain the freedom model, mix with
    • Shuttleworth the rich space tourist
    • OpenOffice.org

    • Firefox
  • wishlist: printed version at the booth
  • home printed posters fall apart after two fairs; we might order a sturdy plastic thing
  • do something interesting on the screens
  • people in front & behind the booth table is easier to demonstrate

  • visibility in height: poles, rope, tape
  • women to distribute flyers
  • if you talk to a couple, talk to the woman and keep the tech speak even more away than usual: speak fair trade software, ubuntu the african word, shuttleworth the space tourist, show demo
  • listen to eachother when talking to a visitor
    • don't interrupt, but discuss good and bad things afterwards
  • presentations
  • list potential volunteers
  • list of potentially interested people

LoCoComputerFairHowto (last edited 2010-12-31 02:17:38 by alderaan)