More WordPress Events  ## Metadata - Author: [[YouTube]] - Full Title: More WordPress Events - Category: #articles - Document Tags: [[video-notes]] [[youtube]] - Summary: More WordPress Events (Raquel from PressConf) - URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eO-vtrkrIg Raquel, fresh off the plane from uh Word Camp US 2025. Lots of exciting stuff to talk about. We're also going to talk about press conf uh next year in the great state of Arizona where another thing is taking place as well, which was kind of a surprise, which we'll also talk about. Um, feelings for Word Camp US 2025 compared to 2024 Sands the Apocalypse presentation by Mullenwig. How was it? So, overall feelings were was that it was worth it, but on a specific scale definitely smaller and you could feel that it was smaller. It just seemed like it was like empty in the hallways and by the hallways I mean literal hallways. So the sponsor hall was vibing. I mean essentially there's they checked in I think over a thousand people total and I'm being nice. I think there maybe was like maybe 1,200 maybe that they checked in. But of course not everybody's there at the same time. So and it was a 4-day event. So it was nice because then I felt like I could sit on the couches that they had set up in the sponsor hall and not feel like you're constantly fighting somebody for it. Um, and like I expected all the key players, most of them were there. Um, I knew that there would be some that were missing, but that there would be a lot. And the side parties all felt pretty normal. Those definitely felt normal. And there were a lot of new people cuz there are tons of automaticians there. Tons. So, there's people I got to meet that I never met before. >> Yeah. Yeah. the I couldn't go. I had a 10-year anniversary and >> congratulations. >> Thank you. Also taking off at the end of this week for we do an annual Florida trip down to Marco Island, but my sister-in-law is also getting married down there. So, like travel at this point was really tough for me. I know a lot of other people didn't go, you know, from the WP Minute Slack group. I know we it was only a small maybe two people from Gravity Forms went to check it out, people that live out there. But yeah, I mean, you know, it it's tough after this last year of stuff that WordPress and the community have gone through to, you know, kind of uh look at it without that kind of lens, but at least for me, it was just like logistically not a good time. I also think like logistically not a good time for a lot of people on the East Coast where kids are going back to school. >> Totally. >> As well, because my kids went to back to school the day on contributor day. Like it's super tough to like squeeze something like that in. >> Absolutely. >> I think maybe that's the effect anyway. >> And Burning Man as we were reminded. >> Yes. Well, >> I didn't win a bagel already with three pounds of LSD and uh a bunch of burlap sacks. But >> Molly is the new >> I wouldn't know. >> That's what it is. That's what it is. I don't know. Speaking of of drugs, how were the afterparty at Word Camp? At Word Camp US, you you hosted your own side gig. What do you What do you call them? >> Soncho parties. >> Okay. >> I'm so excited. Why? >> Oh my god. It was It went so well. So well. Clarification because I thought everybody at least knows some sling Spanish, colloquial Spanish, but Soncho means boy on the side or Soncho is girl on the side. And I'm like, "Oh my god, this is like the perfect name for my brand is to call the side parties parties because it's not officially part of the conference." And so it's a side Yeah. It's your your party on the side. So I just had to explain that cuz >> Yes. But yeah, so it was great in Big Scoots and they are my first clients and it was it was honestly amazing and they were sort of the perfect companies to work with because they are not new to their existence but pseudo new to to WordPress and it just it was perfect because WordPress still has a future and I and I'm not going to sit back and just think that it's dead which I'm starting to see people even like share and post about how it's dying and yet it's still such a big part of the internet and they are proof that there's still sururgence and resurgence and that WordPress is continuing on. So the party was it was just not too loud, you know, and even me, everyone knows I love a good time, but I hate having to talk over music with a passion and my voice is still recovering and I always get my postcamp voice because you can't go anywhere without having to yell at people. >> Yeah. >> So that part was really appreciative and of course I had something to do with that. But it was a little warm. I would say all of Portland was having just like this heat wave. So that was kind of annoying to leave Phoenix and go to humid Portland, which I wasn't expecting the West Coast to be that humid and hot, but but otherwise it was really really sweet. It was like the community showed up for it and then I was hearing reports from people well like grade they were telling me that that people were telling them it was the best side party. >> That's good. >> Unsolicited immediate result survey results. Yeah. So, I mean, obviously I've known you for a while. You're part of the WP Minute team, but I just want to talk to you about >> Yeah. >> your business from the entrepreneur angle. >> Yeah. >> Which which I we rarely talk like I rarely interview you and ask you like entrepreneur questions like this, >> but from like a first MVP, I mean, maybe you don't call this an MVP. this this first event that you hosted, but how do how do you feel about it as like, you know, you've got your Wonderland Curious hat on now. You're the CEO of that. You've launched your first side event, not your premier product, which is Prescom, but your side event, which is a totally different category. It'd be like, right, >> if somebody were had a plug-in and then like, oh, we're going to design themes now, like we're going to or we're going to integrate into themes. >> Like, I think that that's what this brings you down that path. It's not, you know, capstone events for you, but it's also like a side revenue generator. So, how did that go from a business sense to you? Like the nuts and bolts. Are you happy how it all played out? >> Yeah, I mean it was always part of the plan, but TBH not specifically to plan a side party. And honestly, I mean, what I always knew is that I was going to plan any in-person event for almost anything techrelated. I I still have like my boundaries. I'm not doing any birthday parties, any bachelor parties, any weddings, bachelor, I say that cuz somebody literally asked me once. I'm like Anyway, so so then when and actually it was it was um somebody on the team, Adam Weekes, who really kind of like uh sort of kickstarted this for me and is like, "Hey, would you be interested in doing a side event at Word Campus US?" because not everyone has this big company that has an events team that you know that that can they could plan this and this just takes the load off of these companies that they just want to be there and make connections curate a list of people that they want to get to know and what I do is just come in and facilitate all the logistics for them and like essentially take care of it at the event itself so then all they have to do is is just chill and have fun. So honestly it was just a perfect fit. It made so much sense and it the clients themselves were like the perfect fit because I don't need to plan for GoDaddy, you know, the GoDaddyy's got their team or Blue Host, you know, like that stuff like Devon knows how to set up, you know, but so just that perfect niche of someone who wants to have a party but doesn't have the team and also just wants someone else to take care of it for them. It blew my mind and it was I mean I hope I I don't know. I keep feeling like I my first tries are just so good. So now I'm like, how do I talk that? And I mean, I'm not I'm not like a >> stay humble, Raquel. Stay humble. >> My point is I have this built-in humility that like even if I try to get an ego, just watch me get locked down. I'm swear the universe is like, "Oh, you're not that girl. You're not that girl, Raquel. We're going to remind you of your humility." So, I say all that with self-love, but also with like, oh, don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near perfect. >> How does it play out? Like, I mean, you know, obviously when you put it in the if you put it alongside of Presc totally different animal, right? Pres, you're busy. You're running around, you're doing the whole thing. This just like logistically it's larger. It's just a different scale. >> I mean, just from like a business perspective, like could you run two of these side events at one time? >> Oh, absolutely. >> Yeah. I mean, maybe not you, but like do you think like after doing this first one, do you think, oh well, if I hire somebody else and I get another event and we do two side events, like I think I could scale this. Like, do you think about it that way or are you like, no, I'm just really comfortable being the person and curating that experience for each event that happens. >> I mean, I'm always going to say yes. And right now, I love being the person that curates and that is my gift. That is also my joy. And so I love that aspect and I per event could do more than one. I got a second guess there was like I als but I can't do be in two places at one time. So yes, there would be a little bit of need if that were to be the case. I would obviously need to like at least enlist some sort of help. But I don't at this point I don't want to. I want to be part of that hospitality. This kind of marries my love for humans and making them feel amazing with with my profession and and so I want to be the one that's curating it. I want to be the one that's setting the temperature, that's setting the culture on a macro scale, but also on a micro scale at that party, you know, of just being the one to greet these people and and check them in. But like the way I do it, you know, super cash, you know, not that official. you go to side parties and you get checked in and you usually don't know the person and that's not a bad thing but but the fact that people do know me and I'm the one checking them in and I'm like welcome like I'm doing this on behalf of this you know these people but like you and I know each other and it's it feels like you're like I'm welcoming you into my home. So I like that. I like that part. I can do more per events, but the other hard part is like now I don't get to go to all the parties myself because I'm at Yeah. This >> Do do you see again like I know Well, you tell me. >> Okay. >> Prescom was the first You would call that your first product launch, right, for Wonderland Curious? >> Mhm. >> Would you call this like would you >> Yeah, I mean, sure. I guess technically, yeah. I mean, different product obviously, but would be the second. There still is I mean actually my site is finally just about done like I mean just reviewed it and it's like ready to go. So uh I mean and that's going to be part of the package but essentially you know like a conference style like press conf. Press comp is mine but I am far higher for any company that would want me to plan a conference for them. Yep. >> And then and then yes, these side parties on my site will say parties and then I also do group travel which I haven't launched one yet but there is one in the works. Uh and that is strictly unplugging. Well, maybe we might do a co-working sort of week, but the idea is is it's not based around a conference or a tech event. It's just escaping together with some randos or maybe not randos and having an experience together. So that is kind of the the main products, but there's stuff that are in between, you know, like even like a day meetup, you know, could be something I'm pretty open and I know you talk about like MVP. I'm very I own it now. like documentation is not my strong suit but and but experiences are and I'm pretty like come to me with an idea and we will make it happen and the only reason why it won't happen is because it's it's not a good fit. >> Yeah. And I I was just curious, that's where I was going like you already said like there might be what what I'll call this third product which is you know this group travel sort of experience kind of thing and you know to me I see okay you know Wonderland Curious and Raquel can do big capstone events for you. They can do these centro parties or side parties off to the side. We can do this group travel experience thing. So when you go to the website, is it as clearcut in this industry in in your industry to to just have like three distinct products to choose from? Like does that you know obviously you're still putting it together. It's you know been about a year or whatever. But like is it can you do that in this industry to say hey pick from these three choices and this is this is what I do. Um >> I don't know it's that cut and dry. I I mean, who else is doing this in this industry, you know what I mean? And and not to say I mean, now I'm just like bringing on the comp the competitors and um and that I mean and I'm not I've been having this whole personal wrestling with am I competitive because I don't think I that I am. But I think that I am competitive when I know I'm the best. >> Well, yeah, you're competitive if you know you're the best and when you know you need have bills to pay. >> Yeah. So I would say there maybe the the products present themselves when they present themselves and will be added as they present themselves. So if anything there would be four at this point you knowwards capstone events side parties group travel and then uh like a the sky's the limit what's your idea >> option and that is something I love I know anybody who has worked with me over especially events is the collaboration and the ideas that usually I come up with and everyone else just has to hold on and just trust that it's going to work but otherwise I I want to let let's figure out something different. Let's do something that we that we haven't seen yet. >> Yeah. Um here's what we did see. We saw a successful press conf earlier this year back in in April. You started doing the early bird deals. Is that still going on or is that done? >> Yep. >> Still going on >> through the end of of this month. >> Through the end of this month. Early bird deals happening through the end of this month. We'll link that up wherever you're listening or watching this episode. gearing up for number two, which I told you was going to be the defining one. Not that you didn't already know this, but I would say that that was going to be the real defining one. Like, let's get through number one and let's really see how number two unfolds because to me, you know, it was quite a feat for you to get number one off the ground as any first sort of version of a product. And now number two, you get to kind of reinvest those learnings from year one into year two. But now we got this freaking word camp which is happening also in is it in Tempe or is it in Phoenix proper? >> Phoenix proper downtown Phoenix. >> It's all right. It's in Phoenix proper for then look here's another word camp that I probably won't be attending because it's the weekend of my son my youngest son's birthday. So it's like here we go with like the planning of these word camps are terrible. How did that make you feel when you first saw it? Did you know it was coming? Did anybody sneak you uh a little inside info before it was announced? No, I mean, if if anyone has seen my reaction caught on camera, I think it looks pretty obvious. And I've always been one to like wear my heart right on my like entire being. I had no idea. I I even harassed Devon Sears and he never even responded to me. I'm going to throw him under the bus cuz apparently he found out an hour before. And Devon is one of like my closest friends in WordPress and so I'm mad at him. He couldn't even have just texted me and be like, "Bro." But no, uh, we had no idea. I I mean, and I have so much to say here. I mean, Phoenix bid for Word Camp US twice when we used to bid to be the host city. And the last time we did was 2018 and that that city that won was St. Louis. And we I I want to be careful individually. I know a lot of these people on the team at Automatic on the events team and I think the world of them. Uh but I also want to lovingly point out where I think there are deficiencies at the same time where they're also doing as you know they're expected to and they're within certain constraints you know and allowances and so I the whole August thing is I think we're it's just the whole December thing. The whole community hated December when Word Camp US was in December. awful month if you have kids and like 90% of WordPress is partnered up and and familied up. So like it just is you can expect it's an awful month and yeah not every culture across the globe celebrates Christmas but most cultures do and have their major holiday in December and even if you don't like the whole world majority of the world is like you know busy. So then we just know it's typically a slow month, you know, because it's so personally busy. We hated it. So now we move it to to August, which is not just the east coast, but the west coast first of school. And especially like that week alone, I'm fairly certain is university move in week most places. You know that it's going to be next year in August. And it's Phoenix in August. And I'm sorry like guaranteed there's no like when they talked about Philly in you know in December and 2015 16 and ended up being nice. It was like high 60s you know 20s. I try to say the Celsius version as well but then that's not the case because that's December. I feel like that's every cold place you guys. It could be nice. It could be cold. Guaranteed in Phoenix it's going to be hot. There's no there's no such thing as August not being like anything sub 140. Uh sorry, not 140, 100° 40°. Um so anyway, like it it's just it it's going to be hot. However, it is dry. It and I've said this ad nauseium if nobody's ever experienced it. Yes. When you feel it at first, you're like that feels like an oven, you know? But it like the way your body handles it is not like the humidity like so like one you will dehydrate so fast because you're just you don't keep the sweat on you like in humidity. It just like flies off of you and the heat index is actually cooler because your sweat evaporates faster than you can make it, you know. And by cooler meaning like a degree, you know. >> Um but anyway, it's just >> I kind of got off and that's what I do. But I I was flabbergasted to say the least because when we applied in 2018, uh it was me, Carol, who Carol is the one that got up and said what she said the very last question of the Q&A and that was all by like literally I mean the team and I were talking the Phoenix team. We're a very very very active community. We are so very active. I mean here's an area Matt where I'm going to like toot our horn. I mean, I don't know a community that stayed together at our level and size that I mean, the way that Word Camp Phoenix has. And I know of other strong communities that have been around, sorry, not Work Camp, WordPress Phoenix. And we have just through pain and agony of life, we have kept this going. And so, there was this part that just felt a little like like like punked, you know, like we got punked. And when we got denied in 2018 and that application was just like gold was gold. It was just there's just no way. And I know to this day was the city that won St. Louis at the time wasn't picked because it was the best. It was picked because it was picked. So it just felt like like arbitrary like why are we even going through these motions of applying to be the host city when it doesn't even matter because >> right >> it's not going to get picked. So then six years later, >> who does the picking? Like who picked this location? >> I don't know exactly. uh when I was on the team uh that part was always super hush hush like you know there was and even I was on the team when there was just like 16 of us like just a tiny team >> and and by team sorry to clarify word camp us team >> and and so there was always like a little bit of of you know we we don't know this part and or this part has to be approved by Matt Mullenweg and so there was always this like section of hush hush not transparency and that frustrating, but at the time I think that's just what I was used to and I just went with it. But it, you know, I just felt like there was an opportunity missed because we're such an involved team because we're honestly amazing. And I don't mean that in like in a personal sense. I mean, we are our community, our love for each other. Like, we're friends. We're friends outside of WordPress. We've lived we've we've gone through some trenches together as a community and we do amazing things. We've always put on an amazing word camp like and I don't mean necessarily in numbers. Yes, we've had high numbers. Yes, we've been like a 750 person word camp, but like but our event itself is just top tier and and so it kind of just felt like like you guys missed out an opportunity to really have some really great consulting and and to that point I I live in downtown Phoenix like the I could walk to the convention center. WordPress is literally coming to my backyard and I mean this is where I these are this is my third place. when I'm not home, I'm out like in this this vicinity and know all the secrets to this place. So, I'm just like, you should have used us. >> Yeah. Yes. And just to be clear, like this isn't like it wasn't like the community. Listen, I there's so much I only have so many brain cells to follow so much of WordPress and like how the events are being chosen are certainly not something that I am watching feverishly every every week as I do other you know trends of technology and like where the product is going itself etc etc so like this wasn't like a community of people had applied and said we want to do it here it was now it's just the mothership decides where the location's going to be and then they go ahead and deploy it, right? It's >> I just want to be clear, it's like not this the way it was in the past. >> There's been no bids for host cities since 2018. We were part of that last call. >> Got it. Whatever happened to doing like September, October events, >> you know, right? >> Why Why not those two months before it's too cold and fall is the best time to do events? Is that because everyone wants to do an event in September, October and you know like HubSpots is starts today which is in San Francisco. Um you know and I know there's a bunch of events happening maybe all the way into November which is host uh cloudfest. >> Cloudfest >> but that's in Miami so obviously you're going to have good weather down there except for maybe rain. So why not like a September October roll out for Word Camp US just well we don't have a say in it anymore I guess right and >> well and it was September last >> thinking those are good months >> I mean I do understand I don't disagree with Matt Mullenwick when he said that it was for budgetary issues because I mean October through May I will I will fight anybody that is you can't complain about the weather in Phoenix October through May in Phoenix and and I mean even if you do get warm you know, in the like even October or May, the mornings and the evenings are absolutely gorgeous. They just are, >> right? >> Yeah. >> And if you get warm, it's a few days out of that 8 month time frame. >> So to that point, it becomes conference central. Once October hits, I swear to God, like you will just see lanyards everywhere. Everywhere. All over downtown. Yes. All over. So yes. So then everything is just, you know, xxx more, >> you know, >> and so I'm sure that they are, and don't get me wrong, we're a conference in August is going to be dirt cheap. It is going to be dirt cheap here. >> Yeah. Yes. Like to do a conference on Mars. How much? >> 50 bucks. 50 bucks a square foot. No, 50 bucks. Just 50 bucks. We'll throw a flag on Mars for you. You can melt. Bring your own ice cream. But it it's it's not to be gone without saying of of the importance of of accommodating the community's needs. Majority this community has children and going back to school is a big deal. And let's say your kids going like it's move in week at university which it'll be move in week at Arizona State which is there's a downtown campus. Parents want to be there for that. That's a big deal. And and I really think October, November are really good months to avoid that cuz it's before the craziness, but also and there's like that whole joke about like October being that like that like calm before the storm of the holidays, you know? So, I'm with you there. >> Do we have I'm going to I'm going to aggravate a lot of people, but this is just like my side. Listen, I Raquel, I hate traveling. I I know you've you've said that >> I hate traveling >> multiple times >> everything. You know, this is just a sidebar to what I'm about to say, but like going to from East Coast to the West Coast for like two or three days, my I can't mentally do it right outside of Boston. If it's I'm an hour on a map, I'm an hour away from Boston. With traffic, it's three hours. If there's traffic, especially if there's an accident, forget it. You are praying that you can get to Logan Airport, park your car, and get to your terminal through the security line in like 3 to four hours. It's stupid, right? It is stupid. Just tack on four hours to everything I do if I have to leave Logan Airport. Providence airport, you can just walk into that one and it's easier. Um, and I hate flying West Coast. 7 hours for two days, 14 hour travel days. >> It's seven hours. Let's map. We can map it from Logan to Phoenix. It's a 7- hour flight. It's a 6 and a half hour flight time. Something like that. >> Oh, maybe it's because you're going against the jet stream. It's okay. Yeah. >> Okay. So, that that's just the sidebar to that is I hate going west coast. For the love of God, why can't we pick Chicago in the middle and let's just Chicago's a beautiful city. Chicago is a beautiful city. In September, >> I was convinced it was going to be Chicago. I mean, my god, it's just centrally located. We're looking at the issues that everyone said about Portland. Portland was a nightmare to get to for me anyway. And like just we got to reset and put it in the middle of the country so it's just easy for all sides to just get to. Anyway, sidebar. >> Am I Are you going where I think you're going with this? >> No. Oh, maybe. Do we have too many Capstone word camps? Asia, Europe, US. Do we need them all? Because when I look at it, I see like a portion of the same people going to all of them, which whatever, that's fine. But then I just feel like, okay, we're just doing three of these things every year across the globe. Like they're not really do we do we need all that? And is that fatigue catching up? And then now it's just like the US event is just like, well, wherever we can squeeze it in. That's >> I think there's multiple responses. I think if you're Matt Maderos then yes, you're just fatigued just period. >> Yep. You're just angry and fatigued 100% of the time. Yes. >> And don't like to travel and you got all your >> kudos to all of you that go to every single like Rima is coming to the US again. I I could not do that. If I'm living in in beautiful Barbaria or Denmark where uh wherever he lives, >> oh, he's gonna he's going to he's going to his pants right now. Yeah, >> he lives in Freezeland. >> Where does he live? >> Netherlands. >> Netherlands. >> Freezeland. Yeah. >> And I had my Mercedes parked out back and I just finished my strongman competition. Fourth one of the day. I don't want to be going to the US. Okay. I want to drive the beautiful countryside after I throw boulders over my shoulder. I don't want to come to So, but but kudos to everyone who does go to all of these events. >> Rimus has got 10 years on you. His kids are grown and you know you and I are the same age and my kids are grown. I started very young and so I I want to go as much as I can. >> I'm the problem. >> I get I do think right now our flagship events are too close. Absolutely. I'm a Word Camp Asia has been in in in February and I mean we haven't talked about that yet but like they changed their dates and they changed their dates because they want to be the largest word camp in the world. Otherwise they could have kept their dates and I if I sound a little sassy while I'm saying that it's it's true. I can't help but be but be upset about that. I don't know if that's the right word. Definitely bothered. I mean we have very different audiences and and anyway I'm getting off. My whole point was is like it was in February and then Europe has always been in June and then US has been anywhere between August and December and really it should be that October, November spot to then spread it out so that now we're all crammed next year it'll be be April then it'll be June and then it'll be August like that just that to me is absolutely too close. >> Yeah. >> Way too close. Now I think what's going on is there are and you've been seeing this a lot you um and you've been commenting a lot about Apac and WordPress. It is a different beast there and they are definitely like they give a rats behind about all the drama, you know, with WordPress and they're just over there doing their thing and and kind of killing it, you know, and so word the whole AP pack community kind of just wants to like separate and I know you have to have seen that and sort of be like we want attention too and we want to be known as the go-to which whatever. I'm I I still just think it's a bunch of guys. And by guys, I mean like I mean that in like an a masculine sense of globally of our inherent desire to just want our ego stroked and and I mean that on a macro scale. I'm not in singling out anybody. Um I I do like to travel but it does get exhausting and I don't know why they I've been hit up reason like people have definitely kind of conspiracy con is that right? Did I say that right? But just like >> conspiracy, >> yeah, conspiracy theory around why Phoenix was chosen. And people have said to me, almost every single one of them was not an American has said, "Do you think Phoenix was chosen on purpose as the host city?" And I and those thoughts like, I mean, I I appreciate it, but then also I'm kind of over here like I I assume the good in everybody and I don't want to think these things, but whatever. It is what it is and our ships are closed now and yeah >> then get it closer to Cloudfest because I look at on least of the hosting and like the the hackathon side I see a lot of people wanting to go to that event and launching a whole WordPress uh I don't know what they call it WordPress tracker WordPress channel whatever it is >> WordPress day. >> Yeah. Like I mean that's that's one like if if Word Camp wants to compete, if that's a thing, well, they're the ones that they would compete with. Anyway, Prescom 2, let's plug the dates. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about what you're preparing for that. And that way we can get people to go to an event that's actually doing some really cool stuff for WordPress and the WordPress uh business community. >> April 8th to 11th next year. And the I mean all last week was meetings almost every single day with potential speakers with sponsors and it's definitely going to be bigger, better, better at this and we're innovating and thinking outside the box taking in feedback that we took we gathered during press conf. just literally the team we just verbally went up and asked everybody and then that is the beauty of a more intimate event where you have a bunch of like sea levels founders you know decision makers where you you've established relationshipships with a lot of them and so then there's something about that you know you and I talk and I remember some things but like someone else I don't know that well I maybe might not remember you know and and so we took the feedback that you know this is the business of WordPress us. So, let's also get a little bit more businessy, you know, but still keep that raw vibe, you know? I still want to some degree I want to like I think about this. I think and it's silly when you know Matt Madias is up there cussing. It's like that's what I want up there. I want like these people we're friends and let's learn from each other. Some of us aren't friends and we're just meeting but that's the vibe. You're in the trenches together. So that's still we're still keeping that but but trying my best to do different speakers you know but the the goal essentially is like if you're a Jake Goldman you know a SID like what brings those types value what will get that person that persona there at this conference that's not because they're necessarily speaking you know and that's what I'm shooting for I'm shooting for this high value intimate event that is going to just blow the socks off of everybody again. That's what >> any radical change that you like, hey, there is one thing we don't want grilled cheese sandwiches next year and you're like, okay, we're taking those off the menu. Is there like one thing that you learned from last year that you're like, okay, that's definitely not happening happening this year or one thing that you're implementing that you kind of missed last year? Anything that you could share it? >> Sure. I don't know if it's that huge. We're going to do less talks and more space, more padding in between and find a clear way. Every everyone's saying we need to get a a gong, but a clear way to get everybody back in when sessions start back up. That's cuz I appreciate it. I I don't typically go to sessions at a word camp, but but I do go to sessions that are about to drop the mic and that's the idea with press conf. And then one thing we're doing very different this year, um even though the ticket prices are essentially the same, uh uh the fourth, it's an all it's an all four-day ticket. We're not making fun day, field trip day an option now. I mean, of course, we're not making people go, but I was so I was was in love with the fact that like 90% of the attendees went to to the funday last year. And I'm like, if that's the case, because I really made a push. I wanted it to be more because in the past it was maybe just like I don't know, maybe a third of the attendees did the fourth day. And this time I'm like I really want us to go. So the fact that we got so many to come out, I just was like, no, it's part of the ticket. And and we're going to do more with that day as well. We're going to have more options on that day. Uh yeah, I certainly won't be leaving on the red eyee, which was the largest mistake I have ever made in my entire life, was leaving Phoenix at midnight to go back east coast, the worst decision I've ever, hands down. So for those of you thinking, I'll take the red eyee back, don't do it. It's you're going to hate your life. You're going to hate everyone around you. And >> I think you're just Matt Maderos. >> I am. I am. Yeah. No, I from last year I I would agree with that that takeaway of having some more padding in between the sessions because the sessions were great obviously because it's it's press conf but like you wanted to just get a minute to get outside and like oh yeah you start talking to somebody and then you're just like wrapped up in that conversation. >> I met a lot of great people that I've never met uh at word camps or you know through through all the you know stuff that I do. people that had attended that just had random businesses that I was like this guy was selling websites to to local governments and he's killing it and I was like wow like that's amazing like and I had a long conversation with him about how he does it. So it was great to see that non word pressy kind of person. >> Yeah. >> Like just have those conversations. So yeah more a little bit more room there is is fantastic in my book. That's one thing even I saw last week a lot of the the conversations I was having most of them were not that known in the community and I love that. I love that. So and that just shows that the space needed something like this, you know, something different and something that like brings people together to learn and grow together, get better together. So I'm excited for that cuz we do get comfortable with each other and that's a good thing. I very much appreciate my deep friendships. I appreciate that I have word pressors who have sat in the mud with me and throughout my life and cried with me, but but I also love meeting new people. I know that not everyone has the capacity to continue to grow that, but I do. >> It's almost like you wanted to name names that you were just like, nah, I'm not even going to say it. Raquel, this has been fantastic. Press confr. Anything else you want to cover before we sign off? >> Yes. So, have this idea. Since Word Camp US will be in Phoenix for 2 years, I think that means I might have to shake up Press Comp 2027. I don't think I could have it in Phoenix. I will say I am planning on also 2027 bringing another version like so two a press comp America or press comp should I say no promises but probably Europe 2027 but the the states version I just I feel like I got to give the community a break. We can't come to Phoenix again or the valley. We got to go somewhere else. So what do you think? >> East coast. There's this city. It's called Providence, Rhode Island. It is 25 minutes from me. It is fantastic. >> Okay, then you need to tell your wife. You guys will be hosting anytime I need to come and check spaces out. >> There's a lot there. Listen, there's still people out here. >> Jesse Freriedman lives in Providence, right? So, you got WP Cloud as an immediate sponsor, right? Who else is out here? Jeff from works at Automatic. John Jonathan Rogers used to work for me. He's a core. >> He's like your neighbor, isn't he? >> From Blue Host. Yeah. I mean, we got a crew out here with some deep pockets. Brands with deep pockets is what we need at Wonderland Curious. Okay. >> And where does Providence fly to? That's easy. So, you could fly out of Providence if necessary on the east coast. >> What do you mean? Where does it fly to? >> You know, cuz like it's just not easy. >> There's no direct from from or to Phoenix. No, I meant like an east coast city that Providence that way I could consider other cities for the sake of my friend Matt Maderos. >> Boston. No, it'll go >> Australia to Boston. >> I know it goes it goes all over the place. Yeah. I mean, we do direct to obviously Florida. There's a lot of direct from Providence. It just does. Phoenix doesn't go direct. Although maybe that changes by 2026. I I don't I don't know. Be JetBlue and Delta. JetBlue. I'm just thinking for 2027 though cuz I'm like okay well like >> Yes. >> But now I just feel like the sky's is the limit. I could take it wherever I want. >> Mhm. >> Of course within reason. >> Yeah. Maine. I brought this up to Chris Badget with Lifter >> LMS because he he talked about doing like a I think I might have talked to you about this, but anyway, he talked about doing a Sonichcho thing for for his company and I was like, man, you you have the best like the, you know, Portland, New Hampshire and and Maine uh >> are fantastic places like just north of Boston. they have large enough airports for people to fly in and out and the weather's awesome September October like if he did a you know something like that that would be great. So I don't I don't want riff on that for too much but anywhere in the east coast Chicago in fact >> I just think it's it's just perfect. I don't want to take it from from the valley just because it's oh it's just been so endearing to have it there. But I don't also want to make WordPress come to this area multiple times. And hopefully 2027's word camp dates. Let's just hope it could be October or November cuz then that'll be great. >> Yes, because they could still change the dates, just not the location. >> Yeah. Which and and don't get me wrong, we didn't go into that too much. I I I had a visceral reaction to it, but I'm ecstatic. Like, I'm so ecstatic. I cannot wait. I'm make I don't I mean, I'm definitely going to like give what I can to this team and formally apply as an organizer because it's my city. It's like my backyard. Like literally, you guys could come to my house right here in downtown and and I'll be I'll be you will there's no reality that exists where I'm not going to pour my heart into making this amazing and I kind of good at that. >> Pres the conference for professionals driving the WordPress economy is back April 8th through the 11th 2026 Tempe Arizona in a much better time to visit Tempe Arizona. Press comp.events events. Press comp. Raquel, thanks for hanging out today., More WordPress Events, YouTube, 01k9fywarsvxa925dts9sdqzs8.