I’m just back at my desk, after 4 amazing days in Paris for WordCamp Europe 2017! To make it easier on you, I’m now going to tell you my opinion without spending too much time.
Reading time: 5 minutes!
Organizers did a great job
Putting 2,000 people in a room and keep them happy for a weekend is more difficult than getting a $100,000 freelancing contract. Well, maybe 🙂
At #wceu @johnmaeda is speaking about the three types of design. pic.twitter.com/WFcy4osmMv
— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) June 16, 2017
WordCamp Europe 2017 Draws 1900 Attendees from 79 Countries https://t.co/Gfl8xKjnWd #wceu
— Sarah Gooding (@pollyplummer) June 18, 2017
WordPress people… amazing as always
No tweet embed needed. If you were at the event, you spoke to at least 50 nice people on average. Hope you talked with me too 🙂
Paris is great, but a little too expensive
You can’t beat Paris…
This is exactly how excited we are for #wceu today. Can’t wait to see you all in a bit 🙂 pic.twitter.com/R5x7xKwdyA
— SiteGround (@SiteGround) June 16, 2017
Despite the WCEU tickets were cheap, us freelancers struggled a bit with accommodation and food/drinks prices.
No problem though, as someone made the most of it 🙂 Congrats!!!
https://twitter.com/Kasikovicka/status/875853723741933569
Content might have been better
In my opinion WCEU Vienna 2016 had more interesting tracks.
My highlights were 3 (within the ones I attended of course, so please don’t take this badly): John Meada, Marina Pape and Morten Rand Hendriksen.
In 3 words: inspirational (J Meada), storytelling (M Pape), revealing (M R Hendriksen). If these 3 rules could be applied to WCEU Belgrade 2018, content will be king – again.
On developers and designers not talking to each other: “Eat together” #WCEU @johnmaeda #lol pic.twitter.com/cyYstgdP70
— Tutor Aspire (@rmelogli) June 16, 2017
So grateful for the opportunity to speak at #wceu today 🙏. Slides are up, will blog full content in the next weeks! https://t.co/ikVWH8YXdD
— Marina Pape (@marinapape) June 16, 2017
This is your mantra. #wceu @mor10 pic.twitter.com/hGMfi0klOa
— Jenny Wong 🐝 (@miss_jwo) June 17, 2017
Food and coffee were awesome
I hate so many pastries.
Breakfast time #wceu #MannyHelps pic.twitter.com/k36xws7tRO
— Manny (@manny) June 16, 2017
Realtime transcription was unbelievably helpful
Kudos to the team!
Kudos go to #WCEU live captioning team. They are doing an amazing job to make the event as inclusive and accessible as possible. pic.twitter.com/JG1rqoVaNq
— WordCamp Europe (@WCEurope) June 16, 2017
Swag was good
I like swag when I actually use it. On Sunday, I wore WCEU 2017 t-shirt and socks (great idea), as well as using the WooCommerce travel swag.
The rest was not exciting. Call for sponsors: re-think your swag for next year. Make sure it’s helpful and does not go to waste. Also, consider our luggage is small – one t-shirt is enough. Be unique, be remembered.
Ready for Day 2 at #WCEU?
Let’s make it a greatay d with amazing people! #WordPress pic.twitter.com/sakRVD2zZp— Sucuri (@sucurisecurity) June 17, 2017
Come and find us at #wceu 😎 pic.twitter.com/uEIKEFl87A
— WooCommerce (@WooCommerce) June 16, 2017
Venue was great
Area was not the best in fairness, but I understand where organizers were coming from. WP would have gone bankrupt if venue was in the city center 🙂
This is amazingly awesome #wceu @WCEurope 👌👍😍 pic.twitter.com/iKftgnoxz7
— imath (@imath) June 15, 2017
Weather was perfect
Don’t you love summer?
Another sunny day for #WCEU pic.twitter.com/VhAjVoahCT
— Steven Watts (@bboywattsy) June 17, 2017
Having said that, Sunday was too hot!
Too hot even for an Italian 🙂 #WCEU #WPHangover #Paris #WordPress pic.twitter.com/K9dHnBzfA1
— Tutor Aspire (@rmelogli) June 18, 2017
Afterparty venue was great
Good location, big space, 2 music rooms, beer garden, clean and beautiful.
There was a boys choir at the after-party #WCEU @WCEurope @TacoVerdo @schlessera @inpsyde pic.twitter.com/YHqXTTIkLU
— Carole Olinger 🤘🇪🇺 next at Google I/O Connect (@CaroleOlinger) June 18, 2017
Thanks for sponsoring a great afterparty @sucurisecurity and @gravityforms #wceu pic.twitter.com/p9GFKdnPH4
— Marcel Bootsman (@mbootsman) June 18, 2017
Afterparty music & theme were OK
Given the advantage of having two separate music rooms, more variety would have been appreciated. Maybe a live music band? Let’s help Belgrade team with some ideas – only constructive feedback is allowed.
The “Paris 1930’s” theme was announced slightly late, so not many were aware of it. Location and theme didn’t have anything in common.
Like this tweet if you think team Yoast won the best costumes at the #wceu afterparty, retweet if you think we didn’t. pic.twitter.com/CuXfGrFnVc
— Michiel (@michielheijmans) June 17, 2017
But hey – I danced a lot 🙂 DJ was great. People were awesome. I don’t recall seeing drunk or tired people. Just a happy bunch of WPDiscoDancers!
The end: 2000 web enthusiasts from more than 70 nations celebrate the grand final on an awesome party #WCEU pic.twitter.com/bWMVGc99kb
— Marc Büttner (@mph_b) June 18, 2017
Afterparty food was tasty
Pity about the waiting time 🙂
Live at the WordCamp Europe After-Party @WCEurope #wceu pic.twitter.com/I7wmfUU7Vh
— Kevin Muldoon (@KevinMuldoon) June 17, 2017
Drinks were a little expensive. But hey, it’s Paris. Looking forward to next year now, based on what I’ve been told 🙂
WCEU Belgrade 2018 is going to be legendary
Go and get your tickets, flights, VISAs. I want to see you there. I want to see our community grow. I’d like simple swag, great content, inspirational speakers, more sponsors, a once again inclusive event, more affordable food/drinks and the same EXACT people.
I love you, WordPressers. Keep it up.
Au revoir.
Belgrade, Serbia to host WordCamp Europe 2018! #WCEU https://t.co/9HKGy2G8HR pic.twitter.com/hKmfg08wLm
— WordCamp Europe (@WCEurope) June 17, 2017