The Problem
DDD is a great free event held twice a year at Microsoft’s UK Campus in Reading. It provides 4 simultaneous sessions from non-Microsoft speakers and promotes home grown talent whilst providing the usual excellent Microsoft food. The problem is that it is very popular. It is always sold out and the latest DDD3 is no exception. It is so sold out that typically even the waiting list is full. This is a great problem to have. DDD wants a problem like this. But it is a problem all the same. So we need a solution.

The Solution
The solution is a bit tricky because at 400 attendees (including speakers and staff) Microsoft is at capacity. So increasing the number of attendees whilst keeping the same location doesn’t work.

It is a free event because Microsoft foots the bill but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t cost Microsoft anything. If the event were moved to a different location someone would have to pay for the location and the food. The likelihood is that it wouldn’t be free then.

So here’s my solution: repeat DDD on another day. In other words run the whole event twice. The second day could either be the next day (i.e. the Sunday) or the following Saturday. Attendees would sign up for one specific day.

It’s a simple plan but it might work. I welcome everyone’s opinions on how to solve this problem so don’t be shy in piping up.