I enjoy going to domain conferences for a number of reasons, and Andrew’s analysis of domain industry conferences got me thinking about which ones I will attend in 2010, even though the current year hasn’t concluded yet. In 2009, I attended DomainFest, GeoDomain Expo, and TRAFFIC Amsterdam, all of which were great shows. The next domain conference I plan to attend is TRAFFIC New York in October.
I haven’t committed to attend any domain conferences in 2010 yet, but I am beginning to plan my conference schedule. Because of the expense of travel (conference, hotel, transportation) and the amount of time I am dedicating to building out my operational websites, I think I am going to cut back next year.
Here are the shows I plan to attend. Which shows will you be attending?
Domainer Mardi Gras
When: February 11-13
Where: New Orleans
Cost: $795 Early bird through October 15
Why: I heard the conference last year was fantastic, and it will be a great opportunity to see friends and colleagues in a more relaxed atmosphere. I love New Orleans, flights from New York aren’t too expensive, and hotel rooms are reasonably priced. I also know the people who organize the conference are down to earth, fun people, who know how to have a good time.
GeoDomain Expo
When: April 28-30
Where: New Orleans (During Jazz Fest and Heritage Festival)
Cost: Under $1,000 (not yet released)
Why: The Geo Domain Expo is the premier conference for geodomain developers and owners who want to build out their domain names. The conference is a great place to get to know the leading developers in more of an intimate setting than other conferences.
TRAFFIC
When: TBD
Where: TBD
Cost: Under $1,500 (not yet released)
Why: I am going to attend either one of the European or Asian TRAFFIC shows in 2010. It’s a great opportunity to meet other domain investors who I wouldn’t ordinarily see in the US.
The Castello Brothers (Michael and David Castello) of the 