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Great final paragraph John. Had to look it up:
"semiotician: noun (used with a singular verb) the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior; the analysis of systems of communication, as language, gestures, or clothing. a general theory of signs and symbolism, usually divided into the branches of pragmatics, semantics, and syntactics."
I'm heading to Xerocon, but skipping the parties. Accountants at parties - the whole concept just feels wrong, somehow.
There's a big element of showmanship, which I think Xero does quite well. Hopefully they won't go as far as the Quickbooks event earlier in the year - by far the most hipster-ish event I've ever been to. The speakers fist-bumping each other as they entered and left the stage was decidedly off-putting.
A chance to talk to the exhibitors, some much needed CPD hours, and a break from the office. All looks good to me.
"copious amounts of alcohol"
A excellent environment to make serious decisions about long term commitment to Accounting software.
I'm also skipping the parties. I object to the cost being bundled into the overall conference charge - it should be optional. I wouldn' go to an awards dinner if you paid me - always accepting that there is a (large) figure which might change my mind - but generally they are nauseating
I've worked out which sessions I want to attend and which I don't. The "showmanship" does nothing for me, and if it gets too evangelical I'll be off. I do like the software and have used it for a long time now, but some of the presentation is way OTT
If it walks like a spiv and talks like a spiv, then it is a spiv. Especially when it is losing money, bleeding cash and has an FD who is a wally.
Overall I do welcome the influence the software guys have had on our industry, as they have knocked down a lot of the stuffiness that there used to be..
My idea of hell used to going to institute black tie dinners with a room full of other accountants.
I much prefer the less formal get togethers we have over a few beers these days. A good chance to chat with others and share ideas.
Also as I come form a city that hosts the best night out in the UK, I find London pretty poor if you are on your own, so I will pop along to one of the functions for a steady half dozen on the Tuesday before Xerocon
Tom and Richard from AWEB are also big fans of these events from a purely professional point of view (obviously).
Up until the last few weeks I'd considered the pre-Xero events as an opportunity to talk to software vendors away from the hustle and bustle of the main event.
After the deluge of the 'are you coming to our party' emails over the past 2 weeks I'm reconsidering.
Too many are seeing it as an opportunitty for a jolly.
Sorry but while I enjoy a few beers and good company, I'm going there to hear interesting talks/debates, talk to vendors and share information and experiences with peers.
I'm not interested in getting so [***] at the Excel Centre that:
a) I struggle to get home
b) Get to the main event late
c) Feel so hung over I can't take anything in at the main event.
Looking down from my ivory tower/pedestal I'd say it all looks and sounds a bit juvenile.
Give over Mark, if you had software startup company funded by other peoples money, you would on the Grey Goose bottle service every night at these events.
Here in the Lake District I am doing some Xero accounts. It takes a minimum 30 seconds for every trial balance item to load the detail report when you click on it. A minimum 60 seconds to then edit a journal or other posting.
So call that 2 minutes. The same thing takes about 20 seconds in VT, yet this is supposed to be progress.
When I used to attend Iris World each year (free of charge) 90% of it was, as Mark describes above, concerned with talks, debates, vendor info, roadmaps and sharing stuff with peers and so I was able to grit my teeth through the 10% fluff.
I have never attended Xerocon because my impression is that not only will the fluff be much more than 10% but they expect me to pay for it.
Now they are offering a pre-con con?? All a bit sickly and pre-funny handshakes
Paul
"Now they are offering a pre-con con?"
As John notes the pre-event parties he's referring to are not run by Xero.
Regards,
Gary Turner
Managing Director, Xero
Thanks for the info, I must have missed it in all the fluff.
So, it will be interesting to see if the pre-conned attendees are still up for the main one.
I know, I’m a rude terrible person
So I am now attempting to reconcile the Xero TB payroll to the Xero payroll module reports.
TWO YEARS down the line the reports are still rubbish and still don't run properly.
How on Earth can anyone consider this sort of drivel to be acceptable? Xero is the Emperor's new clothes all over again and I for one would be happy to be on a similar outcome, I've seen this sort of spiv stock hype and crash so many times over the years.
True Xero payroll is the sort of tosh that I would never recommend anyone using.
The accounts package is worthy of attention however.