Ok, so you’ve missed it this year, but next year…
Go to SQLBits!
I can’t say it enough. It is the best conference in Europe for learning SQL, it is extremely cheap. it is non-profit and it’s a lot of fun. I’ve been going for the past 5 years and have never regretted it. This year was no exception, the conference itself runs from Thursday to Saturday with (this year) a pub quiz night (attended by several hundred people) on the Thursday and a big party on the Friday. All of Saturday is free to attend and of course lunch and drinks are provided.
As a professional developer I consider it essential to attend conferences and try to make it to two or three a year, if your company considers itself professional too, it should pay for you to go. Speak to your manager, colleagues, friends, pets – whomever it takes – and get yourself a place at SQLBits next year, you won’t regret it.
Highlights from this year for me included Brent Ozars excellent session ‘Watch Brent Tune Queries’, David Morrisons ‘SQL Tips, Tricks and Misconceptions’ and Peter Ter Braakes ‘Power BI from Zero to Expert’.
See you there next year!