Topic: Code Camp Seminar

[Peter Jamtgaard]

Hello fellow swamp creatures,

I had a friend mention to me today that there is a pretty good demand for LISP training, but it is hard to find anywhere except maybe at the AU conference or on the discussion groups. Someone mentioned that it would be really cool to have a training session that was economical and personalized with a small group of lisp programmers who want to expand their skills and really utilize Visual LISP/VBA for AutoCAD.

I have been kicking around an idea of a "Code Camp" kinda like a small CAD Camp like AUGI has been doing.

Maybe 20 people who want to spend a couple days in a CAD lab really learning how to program VisualLISP with a little VBa mixed in.

I would be interested in hearing from you if you would be interested. The venue would be just north of Chicago maybe in August and the cost would be ~$200 for a two day seminar, plus room, board, and transportation.

Peter Jamtgaard P.E.

[CADaver]

hmmm... sorry to sound like a wet blanket, but why spend all that money, when we have some of the very best lispers in the world giving free lessons right here every day??

[daron]

I could do North of Chicago, but $200, I don't know. Have fun though. I hope you have a good turn out... Re-read. How much for just the seminar? Room, board, don't think I'd need. Transportation, I got covered.

[MP]

Genuine wishes that the endeavor works well for you; If you're good and you can deliver the content power to ya bro; heck, I wouldn't mind a gig like that myself.

PS - I would suggest ditching comparisons to AUGI, it has zero credibility with me.

My 2¢.

[Peter Jamtgaard]

To use the facility fees, insurance, and etc..., plus the cost of the instructors TA's, it would probably include the lunch buffet...

OK $200 for training to me sounds cheap. You will have two 10 hour days of training. What does your local Autodesk reseller charge for a day of training? I know they don't charge $100 a day.

Also there are things you can do in a class that you cannot do here. I try to help people learn lisp everyday and I know if I could only show them, rather than have to type everything I could teach sooo much more.

AU is $1300 dollars for 4 days (including a few meals and room). and you are only one person in a huge group 4000 attendees. As compared to a small group of 20 people, and I was going to invite a few big guns (total experts) to help out and present. It would be very worth $200 bucks.



Peter Jamtgaard P.E.

[nivuahc]

Peter, I think it's a wonderful idea and I hope it all works out well for you and anyone who takes part. There's nothing else quite like hands-on training. And $200 is very reasonable, compared to some of the brochures I've had come across my desk.

[David Hall]

1200 a day for group training.  20 people @ 100 a day is 2000 so the rate is high. (I used to be a reseller)

[Dommy2Hotty]

There's nothing else quite like hands-on training.

I agree totally.  While LISP, and pretty much anything else, can be learned on ones own, learning is increased exponentially when someone can explain and answer questions on the spot.

[nivuahc]

I've had offers come across my desk that ranged from $400 for 2 days to $2,700 for 3.

So $200 is very reasonable as far as I see it.

And I went to a $1200 "group training" session once. I ended up teaching the instructor... he kept getting things completely wrong. My company ended up asking for a refund and ended up getting half off because the instructor was so lost. This was back when AutoCAD R14 first came out.

If the people who will be teaching are good, solid instructors... $200 is plenty reasonable.

[David Hall]

And I went to a $1200 "group training" session once. I ended up teaching the instructor.

I too have been to that kind of training.  I feel for the guy who is up there flustered and lost.  I quit using Autodesk's canned demos b/c half the time they didn't work anyway.

[Peter Jamtgaard]

1200 a day for group training.  20 people @ 100 a day is 2000 so the rate is high. (I used to be a reseller)

Maybe one instructor, I was planning on 4 to offer training to the individuals levels. Also I was going to try to import a couple top gun programmers to add to the presentation.

 I wasn't planning an making anything on it. If I broke even of made up to ~$500 total I would be happy.

Peter Jamtgaard P.E.

[David Hall]

4 instructers?  That is completely different story.

[Peter Jamtgaard]

If the people who will be teaching are good, solid instructors... $200 is plenty reasonable.

I would consider myself somewhat of an exprert LISP programmer. I you might not know that because I don't post to this forum everyday, but if you would like to see some of my code I would be happy to share. I would do my very best to recruit the best instructors I could find, and I know some of the best. Of course schedules, availability, all that would determine who would come. It is also not that far off, so I would have to really work fast to recruit them.

[SMadsen]

Sounds like a great initiative, Peter. Good luck with it.

[nivuahc]

...you might not know that because I don't post to this forum everyday, but if you would like to see some of my code I would be happy to share.

By all means, Peter, please post more often then. One of the best feelings I know, when it comes to AutoCAD or LISP, is when I can help someone learn something. If you've got a wealth of knowledge and ability, why not share it with everyone else here? None of us takes the same approach to any given problem and it's always benificial to see how someone else might do it.

Anyway, I think it's a wonderful idea. If I lived nearby I might consider trying to convince my boss to pay for me to go

Best of luck!

[Kerry]

Hope you get a good turn out Peter.



Goes looking for passport
 .. though 23 hours in a plane seat is a litle much ...  

[MP]

... though 23 hours in a plane seat is a litle much ...  

Go the opposite direction -- it would only be an hour.

[Kerry]

heh, that might work too ..

oh, wait, ...

[daron]

And I went to a $1200 "group training" session once. I ended up teaching the instructor.

I too have been to that kind of training.  I feel for the guy who is up there flustered and lost.  I quit using Autodesk's canned demos b/c half the time they didn't work anyway.

I was in one of those too. I also ended up teaching the teacher and later, he offered me a job. I didn't take it. I had people during break asking me questions.

--------------------------------------------------------

For those who don't know, Peter is one of the guys who teaches at AU. I feel that he has a great deal of knowledge in what he is offering to teach and I believe Stig can vouche for the guy too.

-------------------------------------------------------

Peter, I know it would be pretty tough to get some of the Swamp's big guns to help you, like Stig, but if you look around a little bit, MP (Michael Puckett) is one heavy hitter.

Just a thought.

[Peter Jamtgaard]

Peter, I know it would be pretty tough to get some of the Swamp's big guns to help you, like Stig, but if you look around a little bit, MP (Michael Puckett) is one heavy hitter.
Just a thought.

I was considering asking Stig, but Denmark is a little far for a weekend seminar.

I sent an email to a couple friends of mine: Bill Kramer and John Gibb, maybe I can get some other "big guns" that would attract the programmers.

In order to make this work I would want to get at least 4 presenters, I was thinking of Bob Bell too, but I haven't contacted him yet either.

So far I have only heard of ~10 people who are definitely interested. I would need at least 20 to contract the speakers.

Peter Jamtgaard P.E.

[SMadsen]

... and I believe Stig can vouche for the guy too.

Absolutely .. anytime  

As for helping out .. well, would love to but I can't speak your language, only write it  

[SMadsen]

What'd you mean Denmark is far away? It's only a 16 hour ride!  Oh yeah, and a $500 ride, too

Thanks for the consideration, Peter. It would indeed be a grand company to be placed amongst.

[Peter Jamtgaard]

Well it seems that this seminar (mini conference) might actually become a reality. I have been given the nod from the school to use the labs and have had two potential lectures give the tenative ok.

I think this is going to be really cool. Maybe I can get stig to TA?

Would you consider coming Stig?

We might be able to help with the travel (if we get enough participants).

Peter

[SMadsen]

Thank you for asking, Peter. Appreciate it very much. August is usually a busy month here, so I doubt the time and of course the finances will allow it.

Thanks again, though.

[JohnK]

Well i think this camp is a great idea.

Stig, im gonna TRY to make it to this. IF the stars and planets align and you do end up making it to this endevor, I will buy you ONE beer of YOUR chioce. *Se7en whispers: under three dollars.*

[SMadsen]

Oh that is very tempting!  

[JohnK]

Code: [Select]

(defun Payback ( / square print base)
  (defun square (n) (* n n) )
  (defun print (x) (princ x) )
  (setq base '(1 . 3))
  ((lambda (x)
     (print "\nI will buy ")
     (print (square (car x)))
     (print " beer for SMadsen.  ...under ")
     (print (cdr x))
     (print " dollars.")) base )
  (princ)
 )

[whdjr]

... I will buy you ONE beer of YOUR chioce. *Se7en whispers: under three dollars.*

Cheap skate!

               :arrowd:

               :arrowd:

               :arrowd:

 :arrowd:

 :arrowd:

cheap skate

A stingy person, as in He's a real cheap skate when it comes to tipping. This idiom combines cheap (for "penurious") with the slang usage of skate for a contemptible or low individual. It has largely replaced the earlier cheap John. [Slang; late 1800s]

[CottageCGirl]

Great idea, but I dont even get to see my projects, forget about flying CT to IL for training (we dont even get in-house) This is why I love the Swamp

want to come to Danbury?

[JohnK]

Cheap skate!

Code: [Select]


(defun Cheepskate?! ( / print)
   (defun print (x) (princ x) )
  (set 'base '((lambda () (print 0))))
  ((lambda ()
     (print "\nHey I'm a broke man. In fact I have ")
     ((lambda ()
        (princ ((lambda () (eval base))))))))
  (print " many dollars!")
  ((lambda () (setq base '()) (princ))))

[Peter Jamtgaard]

Group

Just to let you know.

I wasn't able to secure commitments from the other instructors, or sponsors in a timely matter to move forward with the seminar.

I would still like to do it but it may take some more pre-planning to put it all together.

So, unfortunately I am unable to put it on this August, but I think we should do it next year.

I will do some networking during AU this year and hopefully get a sponsor to commit, and maybe some speakers too.

I will keep you on the list and keep you informed as plans are put together.

Peter Jamtgaard P.E.
www.waun.org

[dubb]

any idea where this seminar will be held at?..how about the mid US?

[LE]

Is this was intended for beginners? and only two days?... 20+ hours?, you need to provide more details.

There is a lot info about auto/visual lisp now and vba... for free; I know, a class for this programming language(s) has to be very good in order to compete with all the stuff out there as open-source.

Good luck.

[adalea03]

Peter,
Your offer is generous at the very least. Perhaps even philanthropic.
I suspect that the reason many come to the lisp forums may be that there are few other options.
Nonetheless, the type of seminar you offer will always provide better and longer lasting results.
So, if you can pull this together, count me in. Good luck.

Furthermore, a word to the young of our community, if I may:
  "Opportunity has knocked"
   Invest in yourself, the $200 will seem a pittance a year from now, when you've added
    these new strings to your bow, and developed routines like the masters here or other similar sites. You will be happy to do it again; but it may not be offered again.