Thanks for the meeting log, I usually do not get time to attend the meetings, and also I find pre-scheduled activities a bit of an effort to fit around. Although my diary is tending to get alarmingly full on occasions. I offer below as many useful comments as I can, hoping that they might be useful for peoples experience, some discussion points, and new ideas. My general belief is that a key need for Ubuntu is wider conventional advertising with the intention of raising awareness a bit more. Not trying to take over the world, just that hey we are here! The meeting: [2011-02-19 21:28:28] Alan Cocks has managed to get invited to teach/demonstrate to students at a couple of colleges Yes thanks, the talks were at two different locations and were on the subject of Ubuntu for Students. Some information is in an advertising list message from me recently and there is also a report too. meeting: [2011-02-19 21:30:00] I haven't a lot to say about exhibitions and computer fairs. Next stage is to start e-mailing organisers [2011-02-19 21:30:30] barrydrake: do those things get a lot of attendance? [2011-02-19 21:30:46] * mattgriffin has never been to one except for tradeshows for work [2011-02-19 21:31:19] Yes - and the right audience - but Alan Cocks says he has difficulty getting folk to stop and talk. I would need eye-catching posters and a good banner ... [2011-02-19 21:31:50] hmm. ok [2011-02-19 21:32:08] Problem is, folk go there to buy, and he isn't 'selling' for money [2011-02-19 21:32:52] do the organizers usually charge for a table or space? [2011-02-19 21:33:30] Yes, but Alan persuaded them that as he is non-profit, could they let him stand for nothing - and they found him a spare corner [2011-02-19 21:35:49] is this type of stuff covered in the 'Talks-Ubuntu-for-students-report' document on the wiki at ? [2011-02-19 21:36:49] Yes, but there is more to add now. [2011-02-19 21:37:17] maybe this could be the third campaign... some support materials for specific use at face-to-face events [2011-02-19 21:37:38] they would need to be cheap to produce but help generate some kind of excitement or interest by passers by [2011-02-19 21:37:39] And exhibitions, computer fairs etc [2011-02-19 21:38:26] ok. adding to the Campaign ideas list Computer fairs: I have been running the Infopoint table at Bracknell Computer fair, monthly, since December 2005. Origin: The origin is credit to Jono Bacon who was a writer at the time (now with Canonical) copy below of an email I found as a reference [begin copy] ========================================= [sclug] Infopoint-able fairs now in the south - volunteers? Graham R. Balharrie graham at hollymoon.co.uk Sun Jun 6 08:58:38 UTC 2004 * Previous message: [sclug] Infopoint-able fairs now in the south - volunteers? * Next message: [sclug] Wireless Broadband in Slough and Windsor areas * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] Sorry about emailing you personally back simon! Stupid mail client :p Anywho.. Im probably up for helping at the Slough/Bracknell ones! -----Original Message----- From: sclug-bounces at sclug.org.uk [mailto:sclug-bounces at sclug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Simon Heywood Sent: 04 June 2004 01:08 To: Thames Valley LUG Subject: [sclug] Infopoint-able fairs now in the south - volunteers? Anyone interested? Bracknell and Slough would appear to be the relevant ones. S. ----- Forwarded message from Jono Bacon ----- Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 15:28:31 +0100 From: Jono Bacon Organization: Jono Bacon To: LUGMaster Reply-To: jono at jonobacon.org, "A closed discussion list for UK LUGMasters." Subject: [lugmaster] Infopoint-able fairs now in the south - volunteers? Hi all, I am pleased to announce that a deal has been struck with British Computer Fairs (http://www.britishcomputerfairs.com/) to run Infopoints at their fairs. This includes the following towns: London TCR Kempton Portsmouth Croydon Crawley Fareham Tolworth Worthing Southampton Bracknell Hove Gosport Ruislip Bognor Regis Bournemouth Slough Chichester Would any LUGs be interested in volunteering to run Infopoints at these towns? The Infopoint mailing list is at http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/infopoint/ and the website is http://www.jonobacon.org/infopoint/ Jono -- Jono Bacon - http://www.jonobacon.org/ Writer / Journalist / Consultant / Developer _______________________________________________ lugmaster mailing list lugmaster at mailman.lug.org.uk http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/lugmaster ----- End forwarded message ----- _______________________________________________ sclug mailing list sclug at sclug.org.uk http://www.sclug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sclug * Previous message: [sclug] Infopoint-able fairs now in the south - volunteers? * Next message: [sclug] Wireless Broadband in Slough and Windsor areas * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] More information about the sclug mailing list ========================================= [end copy] About the Computer Fairs: The continuing brand for the display is 'Infopoint', and the useful concept is FLOSS, which is inclusive of Windows stuff, which is quite useful. Note: there is an existing though not very active, site for Infopoint. http://infopointproject.org/wordpress/materials/infopoint-guide/ I encourage involvement in the site, I do not really have time, but I would contribute if the site became more active, certainly. An important point is that when marketing Ubuntu, is to remember it is a *sponsored* distro. This can be a severe draw back in most display environments where the organisers differentiate harshly between business displays and volunteer amateur displays. They want to make money from the shows, and also things like public liability insurance is relevant. (Even for non business) This is the reason to very clearly front with FLOSS. The opendisc and opendisc/ education is excellent for this, very Windows centric and windows users are totally happy to just download windows stuff. If you see my relevant leaflets you will notice that there is a paragraph at the end of the second side full of gentle FLOSS propaganda...... I also have run displays at events like Wallingford town fest 'bunkfest' in the craft tent, I can recommend it, it is a lovely local town type family (non technical) event http://popey.com/blog/2010/07/19/ubuntu-at-non-technical-events/comment-page-1/#comment-5160 shortened link http://bit.ly/gtZ0vc Computer fairs attendance: The Bracknell Computer fairs seem to be attracting less attendance in this increasingly online age. I hope it survives, it is an excellent platform for Ubuntu support introductions and discussions. I am usually talking continuously from 10am to 3pm, people come back to ask a question if they see I am busy at first. Some of it is technical social, which is part of endorsing Ubuntu etc of course. This is marketing at the front end. [2011-02-19 21:31:19] Yes - and the right audience - but Alan Cocks says he has difficulty getting folk to stop and talk. I would need eye-catching posters and a good banner ... The attending audience is obviously one full of PC users who are content to install programs and use a screwdriver usually. But I guess 60% do not know about partitions and 30% dont know about backup.Barry, note that I do not 'try' to get folks to stop etc. Occasionally I have invited a dialogue with attenders passing by, but it can be hard work and I am not convinced it gives a good impression. A bit like being stopped in the street on a shopping trip to talk about religion or something. I do have a ploy of offering to the parents of kids under 5 a row of TUX paper stickers - the kids are usually bored and trouble so a diversion is welcomed. And penguins are definitely IN at present. Many parents, surprisingly, seem to recognise tux :-) I just recalled - at the college talks, the tux stickers (25mm dia labels) went down very well with the less techie attenders - fun. The displays are in a classic retail environment, I have pulled back from trying to be a market stall (I used to work on a street market vegetable stall as a sixth former). I wait with dignity any enquiry and work at making the punter feel welcomed. I have also run several Software Freedom Days events in Bracknell, two in the shopping mall and two in the open, one of which was simply me standing alone by a notice with some leaflets all day. (That is a the hard way). The shopping mall events were very costly, 200 pounds and 100 pounds per day respectively (and were generously funded by Alan Pope). At the computer fair another person in small business selling general program CDs including recovery tools says that his price is usually 5 pounds per CD and now it is hardly worth selling a CD at less than 8 pounds. Just threw that in as a current market comment. But his customers are not facing a major change of direction nor is he 'advertising' a community environment approach. [2011-02-19 21:31:19] Yes - and the right audience - but Alan Cocks says he has difficulty getting folk to stop and talk. I would need eye-catching posters and a good banner ... I use the brand 'Infopoint' (for attention of the organisers) I use a hand painted TUX on a cheap looking garden plant cane with coloured clothes pegs supported in an empty CDs 50s cylindrical box which has three rubber TUXs inside trying to escape. I *aim* to look like a local enthusiast amateur group, and distance myself from anything suggesting corporate backing. Other Infopoint displays in the SE eg Hampshire I think, went to much trouble to create 2 metre white wood INFOPOINT banners with professional lettering. They had a slightly different approach to mine. They displayed for a while then did not continue. At this stage people starting Ubuntu should expect to rely either on a personal friend basis to help them (me) or be prepared to go cautiously forward away from their comfortable if frustrating Windows experience. Did I send you any photos of fairs Barry? I have two levels of leaflets. A'street' level which is colourful and designed to be picked up by a windows user who is just hearing about alternatives, and leaflets for those already decided for more action. The action stuff has a pure advocacy and social political set and there is also some important hardcore techie stuff needed for a sharp learning curve. I offer hand burned, hand written on, CDs at one pound each, if I can get Ubuntu retail CDs they are also one pound, but I have not purchased any or the price would need to be more like 2 or 3 pounds, and they are all so date dependednt anyway. 3 pounds begins to 'look' like a shallow end of a business. My whole operation is strongly geared to low cost and ease of management and being able to endure for a long period. People return to ask a question 4 months after they originally had a CD. [2011-02-19 21:32:08] Problem is, folk go there to buy, and he isn't 'selling' for money: I note that my display is 50% used as a local Ubuntu beginners problem solving table nowadays, no purchases. All attenders have paid an entrance fee, so the fair organisers see this, it helps to justify my existence. It is a *business* for them of course. I see more that people are happily downloading for themselves and coming to me for advice, I have no problem with this. My intention is not to make money, I am clear about that. I do it for love, not anything else although it would be harder to justify if I was a large loss maker (domestic sympathy would be limited). I recently offered to the organisers to take some of their leaflets around town to distribute, to help. They were grateful for the offer but so far they have not followed it up. What is good for them is also likely to be good for me too of course. [2011-02-19 21:37:38] they would need to be cheap to produce but help generate some kind of excitement or interest by pas The street level leaflets are colourful and cost 15 pence each to produce (for a 1000 rate) I have used about 1000 during about 12 months. They deliberately do not mention the 'L' word at all, nor the word free software (in its political sense) and Ubuntu only very briefly. All other leaflets are arranged as black only, A4 size, maybe folded (time consuming but appropriate). I have an old laser printer which has had at least two drum replacements (50 pounds each) and regular toners (about 30 pounds each) etc. A4 sheets actually cost around 4p each over time. I buy cds in 100's either at the fair or if tesco or sainsburys has special offers. Paper cd covers are about 5p each. Importantly, I note that I find I am no longer at the front line of Ubuntu 'advertising' because there is a lot in the press media and magazines and unlike a couple of years ago, when most people had not heard of alternatives, now I find that many people are aware. But not everyone is ready or willing or confident to find the time and effort to try it. My continuing presence at the fair is often relied upon by attenders. I also see it as a symbol, symbolic that Ubuntu 'exists'. Descartes: I think therefore I am. Ubuntu 'exists' because I keep seeing it at the computer fair (alan). :-) [2011-02-19 21:33:30] Yes, but Alan persuaded them that as he is non-profit, could they let him stand for nothing - and they found him a spare corner In principle this was Jono Bacon who deserves the credit for the initial idea and inspiration. I arrived later and would have been far too timid then to start up 'cold'. But it was still quite scary to make inquiries etc. However the existing then infopoint project activists did not agree with my aim of showing as local amateur group with handwritten stuff, and they gave me a hard time in the local discussion. I was undaunted. They were sure that a more polished professional showing was necessary. However that is not only more effort and quite costly, it also produces a conflict of understanding in the novice customer. My current belief is that a modest national advertising campaign would help in prompting discussion in local councils and education houses, and down the street too. Now my talks are finished, I am available to probe if any computer fair links can be found in your area, which I aim to do over the next couple of weeks I think.