Thinking in G

One the reasons that NIWeek 2007 was the Best NIWeek Ever was that several of us decided to sit in the front row for all three keynotes and were able to pull it off. You don’t actually need special tickets to sit in the front row at NIWeek keynotes, but you do have to get up early (or have friends who do) and be one of the first through the keynote auditorium doors when they open up at 8:00am.

(Here’s me and several of my LAVA buddies in the front row at NIWeek 2006)

Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “What’s so cool about being in the front row?” Well, I’m glad you asked:

• Being close to the loudspeakers really keeps you awake (which is useful after a night of fun on 6th Street).
• You can actually see the keynote speakers and presentations without needing to look at the big screen video display).
• You can take great photographs and video of the keynotes for posting to the NIWeek blog and photo gallery.
  
• You are in a great spot to stalk find the keynote speakers (after the keynote ends), to get them to sign a copy of their book for you.
• You’re very likely to appear in photographs and video used by NI to market NIWeek, such as the one shown above.
• When you raise your hand to volunteer to come up on stage and show off your LabVIEW Dance Dance Revolution skills, you have a much better chance of being picked. (Ain’t that right, Captain?)
  
• You always know where to find your LAVA friends in a crowd of 2000 people.