CompoundSemi Online - The Original Compound Semiconductor Industry Newspaper

March 24, 2003...On Thursday of last week, after putting a fresh issue of CompoundSemi News "to bed" (using the age-old newspaper-speak), I cruised up to Dallas for a firsthand look at our chosen venue for our Blue 2003 -- Behind the Hot Apps "Media Event", slated for June 11-13th (and no... it doesn't get "hot" in Texas until July or August!). The 3.5 hour drive from the ranch is a breeze as one only sees about 10 other vehicles on the road until hitting the outskirts of The Metroplex. Even then, Dallas makes it easy to find downtown, which is where the famed Fairmont Hotel is located (a mere 20 minutes from DWF Airport). I must say, our ace venue planner, Patsy Kay, found us just the right spot with just the right chemistry and hotel management people it takes to pull off this kind of event. Between the mid-continent location, and the superb $135/night room rate she negotiated for attendees, we've hit a great balance in the time/travel/money equation that will allow everyone to be there. When asking if the hotel staff was comfortable dealing with the press, their credentials outshine most all of ours. It seems the Fairmont was the venue for that big Catholic Bishop's Council that attracted 600 members of the press corps. Coverage pools had to be set up and "only" 60 per day were admitted to the proceedings at any one time, with the rest having to amuse themselves with the live feeds into the hospitality centers. Now that's a media event... but it wasn't created to be a media event. One could say that coverage of the war on Iraq (which coincidentally started that very Thursday during my drive) is a "media event" as well, but again, that also isn't the objective of "holding" the event.

One of our speakers put it this way: "Is this one of those 'hype' things?" Our answer: "YES! And in the good sense of the word." Speaker's response to "YES" was... "Cool !" Another inquiry asked: "Will "the Paparazzi" be there?" Our answer: "WE WISH!" The facetious answers are tailored to make you smile. We need more smiles right now, and something more positive than a scandal or war to catch the right attention of the media. To make that happen, we all need to do precisely what we're doing, marked most visibly by this week's impressive OFC meet in Atlanta. We need to focus on our respective businesses (and everyday lives) and inject them with a renewed feeling of positive energy, expectation, and excitement. What we're doing is sharing with "the media" at Blue 2003 our industry's exceptional accomplishments, and the positives that come with it. In a challenging economic climate, we're leveraging the message of a truly bright, fresh underlying technology that really does makes our world a better place to work and live. While we're not expecting (nor inviting) throngs of press people (and especially not those types that give the press corps a bad reputation and have come to be known as "paparazzi"), we do intend to generate something advanced technology sectors normally can't manage. This Media Event will demonstrate... visually, verbally and emotionally... a robust infrastructure, supporting real devices, supporting real applications that together are the mark of a "completed" industry that's doing exceptionally well. Our stars are the ideally typical "20 year overnight success" and we intend to shine the spotlight on stories well worth hearing.

The basic structure and setup of the Blue 2003 event, to be centered in the Regency Ballroom at the Fairmont, will be something we haven't before seen at the plethora of traditional trade shows and tech meets. This particular ballroom is large enough to do something to really up the interaction and access by housing the exhibits in the same room as the speaker and panel sessions, with plenty of room for the heavily expanded attendance that comes with an event that spans the entire vertical range of the "food-chain".(And don't worry about the single-room creating a distraction... provisions will be made so that the exhibits don't run while the session does, as well as "serious consequences" for anyone unfortunate enough to forget to put their cell phone on "stun" mode.)

The media is starved for fresh, uplifting technology stories and their readership is crying for uplifting news. The reception we're getting thus far from companies wanting to participate says we're right on track. The agenda, which is very complete and nearing finalization, tells the kind of cohesive, understandable story anyone and everyone can appreciate. The way it's going, the theme is being drafted with little help from us because the message threads are simple, straightforward, and as strong as the people behind the technology feats: "Here's a technology that literally changes everything. It's innovative, it's cool, it's environmentally sound, it's blindingly bright, and... it's wanted, needed, and already appreciated." Those are the binding threads.

The blue spectrum triumphs are far from smoke and mirrors. The applications are already obvious and real, and are right there for the discerning eye to marvel. All one will have to do is look around that huge room at the Fairmont and see for themselves. "So this is what "the blue spectrum" industry is all about. So these are the people who made it possible." And if that isn't enough, guess what we have in store as a topper? Thursday evening, June 12th, we'll break briefly at the end of the day and in the time it takes for attendees to go to their room and return a few calls, that very same room will be transformed into the biggest bash you've ever seen, colorfully lit by our industry's own, outstanding blue spectrum displays. We're calling the evening a "Celebration of the Blues." The evening's program will include great food and casual party atmosphere, featuring a top flight performance band called Texas Wildfire (superb veteran musicians playing classic rock and blues in the style of Freddie King, ZZ Top and Led Zepp). A highlight of the evening will be an awards program at which time we'll introduce to our attendees and the press, the blue spectrum pioneer technologists who made the greatest, most pivotal contributions to the field.... and their stories will amaze even those who have been in this business for years. During the final wrapup sessions of Blue 2003 on "dress down" Friday, the recipients of The Pioneer Awards will be featured at an open press conference.

If you're into the blue, you know you need to be there In fact, even if you're not working directly in or for the blue spectrum sector, you probably should attend. With the VIP speaker roster, members of the working press and analysts (who we'll be bringing onto 2-3 person panels to quiz the speakers after each presentation), the venture capital community and leading senior management of our most notable companies in attendance, Blue 2003 will be great "schmoozing" (aka "networking") for anyone and everyone involved in the compound semi industry. After all, each compound semi sector shares the same core supply and financial infrastructure and any press looking for good "blue" stories might want to keep on going once they've gotten a taste of what the compounds are doing. Whether you're in the blue now or not yet, but not sure you can make it, take advantage of our no-obligation "reservation form" while you figure it out, and lock in your discounted rate now. Plan to be seen, and we'll see you in Dallas, June 11-13th!

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What's a "Media Event"?