Idera Blog

What a day!  Microsoft has a slogan for the launch of Windows, SQL and Visual Studio 2008...Heroes Happen {here}.   By the way, we think we saw Wolf Blitzer last night from CNN...but we really looking for Maria Bartiromo from CNBC...never saw here...Anyway!  Over 2,000 Attendees looking to be Heroes in NYC in many ways and since Idera builds tools specifically for SQL Server 2008 naturally they are a prime sponsor (only company there dedicated to building the best SQL Server tools for DBAs) of the event...After all, Heroes Happen with {Idera}

Idera was a sponsor at the SQL Server 2008 Launch Event in NYC on March 4, 2008 and I got the chance along with three of our award winning New York area sales executives (Chris Heffernan, Harry Corcell,  and Scott Smith) to represent Idera at the event.  For those of you I haven't met, I am Jeremy Gaige, one of 6 Sales Engineers at Idera.  We came here with the mission of helping folks like Simon and turning them into SQL Server SuperHeros.

Interesting factoid:  NYC was where Idera reiterated that it was the first company to publicly commit to support  for SQL Server 2008.  You can get that breaking news {here}.

NYC Notes:  DBA's everywhere you turned...it was so crowded with people almost like being in NYC's hottest clubs (IF you are cool enough to get past the doorman!) dancing with Jessica Simpson and Paris (or did she stop going out??)  Speaking of hot, there were so many people in the partner pavillion, the air conditioner could not catch up.  It was about 80 degrees in there the whole day, but with the humidity from all the overly excited attendees it felt like 90 degrees.  Anyway, you get the idea, great turnout with some high interest in the upcoming features of Windows-Visual Studio and SQL Server 2008.

There were a ton of giveaways...when you looked around, it was wristbands, pens, highlighters, or even ducks!  'Keep your SQL server ducks in a row' was the theme at the Idera booth and the Heroes were getting a kick out of that one!  Everywhere you looked, bags were overflowing with goodies.  But, there was work to be had and things to learn..so after the morning Hero 'rush' hour, they were off to the sessions including 'Mission Critical applications of SQL Server 2008' and 'Exploring Business Intelligence and SQL Server 2008'.

Back at the Idera booth, we did over 100 demos of various Idera tools, gave away over 300 get your SQL Server ducks in a row, and 40 T-shirts...Most of the demos were over our SQL diagnostic manager and the SQL mobile manager tools although there was a lot of buzz and interest about the security and compliance tools SQL compliance manager and SQL Secure.  If you have not seen these lately, you should have a look, because Idera is focused solely on SQL Server all the tools mentioned have been updated in the last few months and have some really exciting new features and functionality and that is what kept delegates entertained at the booth.  We have even more updates coming in the next few months which will surprise and please our 70,000 license strong worldwide fan customer base..If you missed the demos in NYC...that is OK!  Lucky for you can see a demo of any of our tools for SQL Server, feel free to check them out at your convenience, simply go to the Idera website and click on any of the products and there you will find links to short demos (only about 15 minutes).

Well, that is it from here, the show is wrapped up and the booths are getting torn down.  I guess everyone now is looking to hang with some of NYC's finest, but I also heard Simon and some of his friends were headed out for some Ray's pizza..we may join 'em to see if some of their SuperHero mojo will rub off on us.  Look forward to seeing everyone at the next launch event!

Idera was a sponsor at the SQL Server 2008 Launch Event in Toronto last week and I got the chance to represent Idera at the event.  For those of you I haven't met, I am Bullett Manale, Manager of the Sales Engineering Team at Idera.  However, I can’t say that I had the chance to show off much of my technical knowledge at the Toronto launch event!  It was simply too busy and too crazy to do any demos at the show!  So, if you'd like to see demo of any of our tools for SQL Server, feel free to check them out at your convenience, simply click here! 

• It was the coldest day in a 2 year history in the Toronto area on the day of the event.  (That’s really saying something since we are talking about Canada.)  I think the temperature got around -15 degrees.
• I learned that SQL Server Superheros are a very popular item – everyone wanted them.

  

• We also got the chance to meet some "real" superheros -- from Microsoft.

 

• The bad news: Our original giveaway was going to be a Nintendo Wii.  However, Microsoft was none too happy that we were giving away a competing product. (Oops.) So we decided to change our strategy right before the show started and giveaway a Zune.

 

• The good news: The Microsoft Zune is not yet available in Canada -- so our new giveaway (a Zune) was very popular! Maybe even more popular than a Wii (as evidenced by this guy at our booth!) 

• I learned how to speak like a real Canadian.  To describe anything that is cool, you simply say “Sweet, eh?”  For example, “Those heroes are sweet, eh?”

• I managed to get a ski trip at Blue Mountain – which was great.

• We were visited by the "famous hat man" while at the show.  I guess he travels around having everyone try on his hat.  Maybe this is my fifteen minutes of fame!  Here's a link to his blog http://www.rowsell.org/

• Did I mention it was really cold?

Wow! Microsoft really knows how to put on a show!  Idera recently sponsored the Worldwide Microsoft 2008 Launch Event in Los Angeles.  We were really excited to be part of this event... and were lucky to be one of the few SQL Server tools vendors in attendance. 

From our small tabletop stand we were able to say hi (and give superhero squeeze balls) to over 1200 people in four and 1/2 hours.   For those of you that don't stand at many tradeshow booths -- that's ALOTTA squeeze balls!  Not much time for conversation!   We were also very pleasantly surprised to meet quite a few real-life SQL Server superheros (SQL Server DBAs and managers) at the event. Thanks for stopping by!

I also had the chance to hear the keynote the morning of the event presented by Tom Brokaw and Steve Ballmer.  I found Brokaw's message inspiring -- he said "hitting the delete button will not eradicate world poverty and hunger," adding that "it will do us little good to wire the world if we short circuit our conscience."  During the keynote, I had the honor of sitting with Microsoft MVP and editor of SQLteam.com, Bill Graziano. He has some great coverage of the event here.  (The pics from my phone just didn't work!)  Also, the music Microsoft played before the keynote addresses was great! Does anyone know how I can find out what the play list is?

To continue with the great music, Microsoft followed with a party at The Mayan with music from the Bare Naked Ladies.