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How our show is going to go on

Rebecca Waters

Chairperson

I’m sitting in my office on a public holiday, with the family baking bread in the kitchen and freshly brewed coffee at my fingertips. I’m also, incidentally, in the middle of a 3-day lockdown; Perth recorded community transmission of COVID-19, and the city was quick to respond.

When our committee started to plan what DDD Perth could look like in 2021, we had a few things on our minds. Our hometown's strict response to any transmission was forefront because it can mean we’re exposed to shutting down the conference with a few hours' notice. Simply put, this could mean the end to the conference in any form. Being a not-for-profit, we run on very slim budgets, and having to postpone another year would be a hard thing to do.

We were also very aware that another year of silence wasn’t what we wanted to do. The conference in 2019 was something very special, and we wanted to reconnect with our community. We also felt like the community wanted an in-person conference.

Volunteers in yellow shirts standing around a 6 metre long registration desk with name tags spread out all over it.

The registration desk at DDD Perth 2019, just before opening.

So, we decided we’d move ahead with an in-person conference, but that if we needed to, we’d pivot to an online conference. Cancelling is not on the cards for us.

This has meant the committee has its work cut out for it this year! In order to succeed with our plan, we’ve had to make some big calls.

Limiting the conference to 300 delegates

Room capacities in Western Australia were up to pre-COVID levels before this latest lockdown, but in the height of restrictions, we were limited to around 70 people in a room we’d usually fit 130 into.

We took the cautious approach here; we have limited the conference to 300 delegates initially, and as we draw closer, we’ll look at opening the conference up to the waitlist.

People sitting in the front row of a room full of chairs. They are smiling and laughing. People behind them are standing and sitting, some are reading their phones.

Attendees at DDD Perth 2019 getting ready for a talk.

When limiting our space, we have kept in mind some key points though. We’ve kept the theatre, because it allows us to grow, and the accessible stage is a must for us. Similarly, we’ve ensured our conference rooms are on the one level. The lift is close to speaker preparation rooms and parenting rooms.

Takeaway: Buy your tickets early, and if you miss out, get on the waitlist. Our mailing list and socials will let you know when tickets go on sale.

Pre-Recording Successful Talks

We’re fortunate to have many experienced conference speakers and delegates in our committee. They were instrumental in providing insights on what has worked for online conferences, and what we could improve on. One key point for us was that we can reduce the pressure on speakers (and the reliance on their internet connection!) by pre-recording our agenda lineup. This will have multiple benefits; our talks released online will be of higher quality, and our speakers will have a chance to practise in front of a real live studio audience ahead of the day.

An almost birdseye view of the AV mixing desk in a large theatre. There are two people sitting in the space, and there are hundreds of people in front of them, seated in the theatre.

The AV desk in the theatre at DDD Perth 2019.

Of course, this requires more setup and organisation by our dedicated committee and AV volunteers. It’s also going to require our speakers to be a little bit more prepared, but we feel this is a definite step change for our in-person conference as well as online backup to warrant the effort.

It also means the mentor team, who ensures that our speakers are prepared and confident, have a tighter deadline.

Takeaway: Submit away to DDD Perth, and be prepared to have your talk recorded ahead of time.

Keeping it local

You might recall that we announced our 2020 keynotes, both from North America. Christina Aldan (opens in a new tab) and Henri Helvetica (opens in a new tab) were scheduled to bring some amazing content to our shores.

Of course, this just isn’t possible this year, at least in person. We remain committed to bringing both of these amazing people out to WA when we can. For 2021, we’re looking a little closer to home, showcasing amazing WA talent on our main stage.

Takeaway: Expect some exciting news in the coming months about keynotes.

Online Platform

The absolute key part about an online backup is having an online platform ready to go. This is a monumental task for our committee, and I want to take this opportunity to give a shoutout to Mo, Sham, Anton, and Rob who are creating this crucial foundation for us.

This is a completely new area for us. We need to serve content, interact with delegates, and ensure the conference day is still fun and engaging even as we sit apart. We’ll be dedicating a lot of time and effort to finding ways to make the day a fun day regardless.

Takeaway: The conference is going ahead, so keep the date free.

Prioritising our time

With the change in direction, we’ve had to make some hard calls, owing to the capacity limits of our dedicated committee. I like to say tireless committee, but the truth is, we do get tired, and part of our strength lies in the ability to prioritise what needs to happen to bring the conference into being.

Over 50 people on a large stage all wearing yellow shirts that say “DDD Perth 2019 Team”. Some people in the front are kneeling. The majority of people are standing in multiple rows. There is a lectern in the front with a DDD Perth banner on it.

DDD Perth 2019 Volunteers.

What this means in practical terms is you might hear less about extra workshops, and we might not get to any DDD By Nights. This is freeing our team up to work on the core conference. We’ll try to keep you updated as much as we can as we pull this conference together!

The last year has shown me the genuine importance of our professional community in Perth. The regular online catchups with the committee, the informal check-ins with each other, have been irreplaceable. Understanding that importance has meant we’re all committed to bringing the conference to life in 2021.

Two people on stage, hugging side on and facing the audience who are not visible. They have their arms wide open and are smiling. The photo is in black and white.

Volunteers on stage at DDD Perth 2019.

It's such a privilege to be able to run this conference and DDD Perth would love to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land in which DDD is created, presented, and shared, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.