Autodesk University 2006: Day 0 -- Why Las Vegas?

Everyone should see Las Vegas once -- but only once. However, it has been my misfortune to have to come back repeatedly. You see, Las Vegas has become a favored destination for Autodesk University, the annual conference for AutoCAD users. I've also had to come here to cover a SolidWorks convention and several Comdexes (thankfully, they have ceased to exist).

Why host a CAD user meeting in such an unlikely locale? "Lost Wages," as the airline pilot referred to Las Vegas, is America's self appointed sin capital. What other city would have as it's marketing slogan "whatever happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas?"

Surely, Autodesk hopes that the pearls of wisdom gleaned by the thousands of AutoCAD users gathered here will leave Las Vegas and profit companies all over the world. After all, those companies have gambled [pun intended] thousands of dollars in sending these users here. But the sad truth of the matter is that despite the best intentions of the companies and the conventioneers, the knowledge is only undermined by a backdrop of a city that seems hell bent on catering to the basest all human desires.

It's not enough that the city's reason for existence (gambling) greets you as you step off the airplane in the form of hundreds of slot machines. In the short cab ride to the Venetian (the hotel/casino where AU2006 is being held), I got quite an eyeful of the city's fleshier pleasures such as the semi-nude cabaret showgirls on billboards and the newspaper vending boxes filled with sex tabloids. Inside, the casino gives you free drinks as long as you are gambling. Outside the hotel, a legion of men press leaflets in your hand espousing every kind of sex worker.

Perhaps it is cost that endears CAD vendors to Las Vegas. I expect that conference hosting costs are on the low side. Below-market costs are probably more than offset by gains made by the casino by the conventioneers' losses at blackjack, slots, roulette and the like. Also, flights to Las Vegas are generally inexpensive. Ditto, hotels.

But what of the true cost? What's the cost of a fuzzy recollection of the yesterday's classes because of all that cheap liquor? How about the ATM debits to feed the slot machine that is just about to pay off big? What about skipping the last day of the conference because of the cumulative effects of late nights? How about another trip to the buffet, surely you've earned it? What of all the trips denied because the boss who just can't believe you'd want to go to Vegas to learn CAD?

There's gotta be a better place for a CAD user meeting. Please.

Comments

[Las Vegas Hotel]

i dont understand why you think we should only visit las vegas once? i mean its a really nice place for all kinds of people. i booked a flight via easy click travel today and they gave me a great price. im going there!!

[wendell]

Why not a city with culture?

And a lot more spouse- and conservative-friendly activities?

A city with a location amenable to all the world.

Each of us is thinking of their idea of a preferred location. Surely Adesk can come up with a venue that doesn't reek of cigarette smoke and urine, that offers the same level of service and classroom space.

Come on Adesk, put AU 08 somewhere better!

[Melanie Perry]

You know, my first four AU's were at the MGM Grand in Vegas. As a mostly-conservative young female, there were a few things that I wasn't thrilled about, and was itching to see the conference move to another city...

Orlando... STANK as a venue. More expensive to fly into. You're trapped on this hotel property unless you're willing to pay for a cab to take you someplace to get some affordable food and coffee. The classes were great, but, the venue was horrid. I was happy to get back to Vegas. Transportation is simple, food can be had for cheap and there was plenty of room in one venue so I didn't have to skip classes because I would have been late had I walked to another hotel to get to them.

As to employers who don't let their employees attend based on the venue... ~shrug~ either they don't trust their employees, or their employees aren't trustworthy.

Conservatives ignore what they don't find useful as everyone else does. I'm there for the conference, and as long as that is good, I don't care about the rest of the city outside of the class walls.

:) I enjoy your blog, thanks for writing.

[KChristm]

I see this post every year. It is so predictable… someone will play up all the slogans that go along with Las Vegas to make issue of the location and downplay the fact that Las Vegas is a major Convention Center. In fact the Venetian, once construction is completed, will be the largest convention center in the world (1 million square feet).

Why do we want to focus on the negative? What makes us think that everyone that attends AU is swayed by Satin to give up their sole? I have been attending AU for many years and I am there to learn. Not that I do not socialize after the classes, but I also try to exhibit some self control. When the legions of men offer a leaflet, I do not accept. I don’t know what’s in the newspaper vending boxes because I don’t open them. I seldom gamble, so I usually only enjoy the alcohol I purchase. As for the billboards…give me a break…there is more skin in most TV commercials.

My hat’s off to Autodesk for not falling into this hysteria surrounding Las Vegas and for realizing that the thing most appreciated is an affordable learning experience. I am also thankful that my company has the good sense to trust in its workers and not use the location as excuse to prevent us from getting quality training.

I can’t imagine what it must take to pull-off such an event, but instead of airing my prejudice, I want to commend those that make attending AU a pleasure year after year. Many of us are most appreciative of you efforts.

[Karl Christman]

I see this post every year. It is so predictable… someone will play up all the slogans that go along with Las Vegas to make issue of the location and downplay the fact that Las Vegas is a major Convention Center. In fact the Venetian, once construction is completed, will be the largest convention center in the world (1 million square feet).

Why do we want to focus on the negative? What makes us think that everyone that attends AU is swayed by Satan to give up their soul? I have been attending AU for many years and I am there to learn. Not that I do not socialize after the classes, but I also try to exhibit some self control. When the legions of men offer a leaflet, I do not accept. I don’t know what’s in the newspaper vending boxes because I don’t open them. I seldom gamble, so I usually only enjoy the alcohol I purchase. As for the billboards…give me a break…there is more skin in most TV commercials.

My hat’s off to Autodesk for not falling into this hysteria surrounding Las Vegas and for realizing that the thing most appreciated is an affordable learning experience. I am also thankful that my company has the good sense to trust in its workers and not use the location as excuse to prevent us from getting quality training.

I can’t imagine what it must take to pull-off such an event, but instead of airing my prejudice, I want to commend those that make attending AU a pleasure year after year. Many of us are most appreciative of you efforts.

[Bill Fane]

Whhy Las Vegas? Because it seems to work. If it is such a terrible place for a CAD convention, then how come attendance this year soared beyond expectations, causing a few problems.

...and before you complain about the gambling, the free booze, etc just remember; these are all self-inflicted injuries.

[anon]

My management hears the location of the conference and denies the request; assuming that this event is an excuse for a company paid vacation. They are jealous of an employee going to a desireable location to learn and this is typical of most managers I have worked for. Have the conference in Amarillo or Detroit (no offense intended) and it is an easier sell, even if the cost is more.

[Mike Stanfield]

I have been attending AU, most of the time each year, since 1990. I agree that Las Vegas is not my choice of location, nor is the date. I remember the earlier days when AU would occur during the summer, most often in August, and be located in a different city each year. I found that my interest, as well as the interest of several of my co-workers, was at a higher level than it is now. To participate in a gathering of so many ethnically diverse individuals to enhance our knowledge of AutoCAD was quite heady. Additionally, to do so in a different city each year was just as exciting. During the times that I wasn't in class or on the convention floor I took advantage of sightseeing. Sightseeing in Las Vegas, particularly in late November just doesn't have the same appeal.

[Beth Powell]

I'm not attending this year and I realize that there have been many complaints over the years about the Vegas location. I would be happy to see the date and location changed, but I can tell you that somewhere and sometime better would have to be available.

Users have complained over the years for as long as I can remember about the date being the week after Thanksgiving in the U.S. and being in one of two places (HI being the other) that a company is not likely to pay to send you. That's one reason why the CAD Camps have taken off so well.

This week in Vegas give Autodesk the cheapest possible rate on the largest possible single places available in the U.S. to host such an event for such a large number of people.

Even with those two things against the event, the numbers are still breaking records with more and more attendance each year. It's expensive (too expensive for many to be allowed to attend). It's in a place that raises question about whether you'll really learn anything. It's bad timing when most firms give their employees 4-5 days off the week previous to AU. But it is still successful. Go figure!

[Wes Macaulay]

Vegas is a central location and high volume air travel destination: it's cheap to get there and stay there. ($99 a night gets a great room in Vegas). Sure, whenever I got back to Vancouver after AU I'd kiss the tarmac, but the cost to go to Orlando meant few from our office could go, and by all reports it was not a better location for the event. At Vegas you might have to walk for a mile to get to class but at least you can walk. (It sure makes having a light laptop a good idea!)