Our next attendee is David Levy (Blog – @Dave_Levy), a SQL guy who got started as an app developer about a decade ago and then moved into database administration two years ago.

Mr Levy! Seems like only yesterday that we were at SQLSaturday Chicago. What made you decide to sign up for the SQLCruise?

Dave Levy

I have to admit that when I first saw the SQLCruise announcement I did not take it very seriously. I clicked around on the site to see what it was all about but could not see any way that I would be going. Clicking around, I ended up following a link to the Carnival site and saw that cruise rates started at around $400 per person. I had no idea that it could be so affordable. Throw in the $295 for 15+ hours of top-notch training, which hopefully my company will cover anyway, and it was the deal of the century.

Since I was pretty well sold on the idea, I sent my wife a link to the site to see what she thought. She insisted I book the cruise that night.

Have you ever been on a cruise before?

Yes. Way back in the year 2000, and yes I sang that in a high pitched voice just like on the Conan O’Brian show. My wife (girlfriend then) won an 8 day cruise from New York to Bermuda from the salon she works at. The cruise was sponsored by The Wella Company to get a boat full of hair stylists trained up on their newest products.

It is really strange now that I am thinking about it, our first cruise was HairCruise and our second cruise is SQLCruise.

Who are you bringing?

My wife Marisa. She is definitely looking forward to swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel and getting some sun while I am in class. (Write down enjoying the sun without me whining about my sunburn)

I see that you’ve submitted a session to SQLSaturday South Florida. Sounds like you must have liked presenting at SQLSaturday Chicago! How did it go?

I am still waiting for the evaluations to come in but I think it went really well. It was an amazing experience to be able to connect with a large audience like that. I honestly cannot wait to do it again.

What would you say to somebody out there who’s thinking about whether or not they should present at their local PASS chapter or SQLSaturday?

DO IT. Pick something you know or better yet feel passionate about and submit it for a local SQLSaturday. Spend time getting your slides right and practicing your presentation. My presentation was 45 minutes long and I spent around 45 hours putting the slides together. I also spent another 10-12 hours practicing my presentation. I emphasize all of the time spent on preparation because it carried me through the first few minutes when I was completely freaking out.

As far as where to start, I prefer SQLSaturday because the attendees have less invested. If a presentation does not live up to their expectations they still have 6 or 7 more chances to get value out of the trip. Local user groups tend to only have time for 1 or 2 speakers so there is a lot more pressure to be good. That said, if the first presenter is a rock star then presenting after them is probably a great opportunity to get your start.

You have been on FIRE since you started blogging at AdventuresInSQL.com – you’ve been really banging it out with the example scripts. Why do you do it?

I started out blogging scripts more because I needed something to say. As it evolved I realized it was also a great way to document my scripts. Lately, I am finding out that it is a great way to get other opinions on the way I am doing things. It has really allowed me to see that the true power of the SQL community is that we no longer have to live our lives in a vacuum, feeling our way in the dark. We can get high quality advice, honest opinions or even just a sympathetic ear from a huge group of people that really love this stuff.

The SQL Community is like bacon smothered in awesomesauce and I am proud to be a part of it.

And we’re glad to have you!  Looking forward to seeing you again in Miami.

Want to join Dave, Karen, and Yanni on board?  It’s just $295 for some great SQL Server training, and rooms are still available for $399 per person!