Over five years ago, Walt Mossberg and I sat down to discuss a conference that he was starting. We talked about his vision for bringing in some of the top names in technology and media, in an interview-only format that would avoid the "bloviating panels" he saw in many other events. He thought he had a great idea - but he was concerned that people might not come.
But the fact is that the meltdown of the post-Boom world took down a variety of venerable events, such as IDG World Expo's Agenda (and, more recently, PCForum). The result is that there was a watering-hole vacuum for high-level decision-makers in techdom.
I told Walt that the problem for he and co-host Kara Swisher wouldn't be year one; enough people would come to make it a viable event. The problem was year three or year five, when he would find the event so popular it would be significantly over-subscribed.
Now in its fifth year, that is indeed D's high-class problem. With a rumored waiting list of 400, D has clearly hit its stride as far as the audience goes. A scan of the attendee list shows near-maximum CxO density. In the past, I've used a "Yossi Rating" to describe the schmooze factor of hi-tech events (named after Yossi Vardi, the godfather of Israeli angel investing, who spends events networking in the lobby, not listening in the ballroom). Yossi rates this year's D as a 5 on a scale of 5.
D started last night with two separate receptions, then an interview by Mossberg and Swisher of Arizona senator and presidential candidate John McCain, then another reception. I'll post separately about the McCain discussion, and jump into day one.
Unfortunately, connectivity challenges have kept me from posting until now, at the end of the day. So, I'm one of the last in a line of other bloggers, including Josh's Tumbles and D's own blog. But the following posts will offer a recap.
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