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 in the regional LoCo team.

• 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, they try to help him become a volunteer for the regional LoCo team.

Functionality

• everyone can:
  • burn an Ubuntu CD

  • make a donation to the regional LoCo team

  • see how many CDs were distributed
  • see how many people actually talked to
• 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 them
  • 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 they 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 their own
    • on a demo computer
  • install Ubuntu:
    • onto a computer of their 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 contact for the regional LoCo team

• an existing Ubuntu user can:

  • become a volunteer for the regional LoCo team

  • join the booth
• a volunteer can:

Booth Box Ideas

Modeled 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 organize a booth, you receive it. When someone else wants to organize a booth, you send it to them.

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

The weeks before the fair

• announce your fair presence at ConferenceAppearances

• 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?
  • do they receive a flyer?
  • does someone start a conversation with them?
    • conversation:
      • WRONG: "Hello sir/madam, do you know what Ubuntu is?"

      • RIGHT: try to connect to positive experiences: 3 times "yes" and you have a psychological grip

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

    • stickers/plush toys/candy/similar
    • games (preferably 3d): planet penguin racer, ...
  • the visitor is a woman:

    • Remember tips from HOWTO Encourage Women in Linux

  • 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 CDs? if not: start burning

  • insert them into paper cd bags with transparent window together with a regional LoCo team flyer

  • continue burning during the fair
    • shows the powers of free software in practice

The booth itself

• Think about your target audience!
• We are teasing visitors into trying Ubuntu. This is a big jump already. Keep their experience simple and consistent!
• A booth is also a social event between volunteers!
• Enthusiasm sells: don't be afraid to go after every single passerby.
• Never ever interrupt another volunteer when they are dealing with a visitor, unless that volunteer begs you for input.
• Mentor each other. Observe another volunteer's way of talking to a visitor. Afterwards, discuss about good and bad effects. Switch roles and repeat.

Example Booths

After the fair

Do a short debriefing, preferably over a drink or food. Create a small report about the event and send it to your LoCo team mailing list.

• What went really well/wrong?
• Did anyone try something new? Did it work? Is it already listed in this how-to?
• How many newsletter subscriptions did you get?
• How many donations did you receive?

• How many CDs did you distribute?

• Did you feel this event was worth the effort? Why (not)?

Ideas: to be sorted

• organize introduction course/ install party at a less busy moment during fair?
• Belgium specific: demo an ID card reader.
• Nelson Mandela video: attractive, and not only to hippies, women, non-technical users
• presentation machine (introduction)
• elaborate free contribution
• explain the freedom model, mix with
  • Shuttleworth the rich space tourist

  • OpenOffice.org

  • Firefox
• wish list: printed version at the booth
• do something interesting on the screens

• people in front & behind the booth table is easier to demonstrate

• visibility in height: poles, rope, tape
• list potential volunteers
• list of potentially interested people

• ConferenceTopTips lists some BRILLIANT hints

• UbuntuAtConferences

• ConferenceAppearances

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CategoryLoCoTeams