devopsdays Baltimore - Propose

Call for proposals opens Saturday, Dec 1, 2018.
Call for proposals closes Sunday, Feb 3, 2019.
Selected proposals will be announced on Monday, Feb 18, 2019.
Proposals are closed for 2019. Please consider sending a proposal in 2020!

There are three ways to propose a topic at devopsdays:

  1. A 30-minute talk presented during the conference, usually in the mornings.
  2. An Ignite talk presented during the Ignite sessions (scheduling varies). These are 5 minutes slots with slides changing every 15 seconds (20 slides total).
  3. Open Space: If you would like to lead a group discussion during the attendee-suggested Open Space breakout sessions, it is not necessary to propose it ahead of time. Those topics are suggested in person at the conference. If you would like to demo your product or service, you should sponsor the event and demo it at your table.

Choosing talks is part art, part science; here are some factors we consider when trying to assemble the best possible program for our local audience:

  • local presenters: Preference will be given to presenters who live or work within 100 miles of Baltimore, MD.
  • broad appeal: How will your talk play out in a room of people with a variety of backgrounds? Technical deep dives need more levels to provide value for the whole room, some of whom might not use your specific tool.
  • new presenters: You are the only one who can tell your story. We are very interested in the challenges and successes being experienced in our local area. We are happy to provide guidance/coaching for new speakers upon request.
  • underrepresented voices: We want to hear all voices, including those that may speak less frequently at similar events. Whether you are in a field not typically thought of as a technology field, you are in a large, traditional organization, or you are the only person at your organization with your background, we are interested in your unique experience.
  • original content: We will consider talks that have already been presented elsewhere, but we prefer talks that the local area is not likely to have already seen.
  • no third-party submissions: This is a small community-driven event, and speakers need to be directly engaged with the organizers and attendees. If a PR firm or your marketing department is proposing the talk, you have already shown that, as a speaker, you are distant from the process.
  • no vendor pitches: As much as we value vendors and sponsors, we are not going to accept a talk that appears to be a pitch for your product.