Key facts
Working in progress
Conference content
UbuCon Asia usually runs 3 rooms simultaniosly for conference sessions. One of them is usually a large auditorium that can handle about 200-300 participants for Keynote, talks and Panel discussions that would be inspiring many participants. The other rooms are small classroom that can handle 20-40 participants for breakout sessions: Talks, Workshops or BoFs
Most sessions are academic-style conference presentation with some Q&A with audiences. English is mostly used to give presentations. But depending on the country, sometime there are also some sessions in native language of the host city.
Most sessions are at least recorded as videos, if possible we also live stream online so that people could also join the event remotely. After the event, session videos are also edited and published on UbuCon Asia YouTube channel and other video channels if available.
Social events
We usually try to organize conference dinner and group tour.
Conference dinner is usually organized at least once right after the closing of Day 1 programs with around 40~80 participants scale. If possible, another one could be also organized after Day 2 program. It can be either organized on-site (in the venue) by bringing catering, Or off-site (Usually restaurants or banquet room near the venue). Usually event staffs(Organizers and volunteers), speakers and sponsors joins the dinner. And if there’s more seats avilable, few attendees also join the dinner sometimes.
Group tour is usually organized next day of Day 2 with 15-25 participants scale. It could be either a half-day or full day group tour schedule. Details are usually up to local team. They can either prepare through travel agency, or just plan group tour themselves. The tour schedules usually includes visiting some famous attractions and meals (lunch and dinner)
Travel grants
Travel grant is one of the largest parts that takes event budget plan. Through travel grant, the conference usually covers flight expenses of overseas speakers. The funding is usually provided as reimbursement after the event with proof of purchase collected from beneficiaries rather flights booked by organizing team or transfer before the event.
Accommodation
We also provide accommodations for speakers and organizers. We usually try to provide low-cost shared rooms which could be university dormitory rooms when available or some other cheap hotels nearby the venue. Usually local team acquires rooms about at least 2-3 month before the event than assign it to speakers or organizers who need.
Food
During the conference, We usually provide lunch and snacks with some drinks.
We usually try to provide lunch to every participant. Details could be vary by depending on environment and venue policy. It could be either meal boxes for each person, buffet style catered food served near reception or dedicated dining space if available allowing participants to pick foods they would like. Lunch is served during Lunch break time which is usually 12:00 to 13:00.
Providing snacks with some drinks are optional. But if possible, could be served during long break time(such as coffee break) if possible. This could be breads, chips, cakes, cookies with beverages such as coffee, juice or tea.
Budget
Total budget amount is usually around between 30,000 USD and 45,000 USD including travel grant. Exact total budget amount is vary by the host city and country.
Funding is mostly raised with sponsorships. Some part is also raised with donations from individuals and ticket fee income. While most expenses are covered by funds raised with sponsorships, many sponsors don’t deposit sponsorship fee until late in the process. (There are also some sponsors deposit fees after the event due to their own policy)
Sponsorship
While Canonical usually joins us as sponsor with top-tier sponsorship package, Usually it’s not enough with just funds we got from Canonical. Thus, we also reach out companies who would be interested to sponsor us and promote them through the community.
As we don’t have our own legal entity for holing funds and handling contracts, We use fiscal sponsors both at global level and local level. At global level, We’re currently using Open Source Collective a 501(c)(6) non-profit in the United States. As paying from Open Source Collective to local vendors usually takes quite long time (sometime more then a week). We also ask local team to bring their own fiscal sponsor(fiscal host) who will handle local event funds on behalf the organizing team.
In most casts, Sponsorship is not a donation. Sponsors usually provides us funds to gain some marketing benefits for gaining awareness among the community. Depending on sponsorship packages, We usually provide wide range of benefits: Such as logo exposure, sponsor session slot, sponsor exhibition booth and much more.
IT Infrastructure & Equipments
Since most of sessions involves presenting slides to many audiences. At least, We will need these equipments for each rooms:
- Beam projector with screen for projection or large TV display that speakers(presentors) can connect their laptop.
- Microphones and speaker(audio)
- Stable Internet connection: Either WiFi or Wired(ethernet) - Should be available at least for speakers and event staff
- A lot of power sockets that people can plug their laptop or other electronics for charging