I’ve seen and heard this question on twitter a couple of times now…  I don’t think it’s a simple question with a simple answer.  Definitely not tweetable.  SharePoint Conferences and events have exploded this past year.  Let’s break this down. (This is not exhaustive.  If I’m missing important events I’m sorry, put them in the comments and I’ll consider putting it in the body, but no guarantees.)

@ghurlman So if there's to be no #SharePoint conference from Microsoft, what's the best post-2010-RTM conference to hit? Who's going to fill that gap?

@idubbs If you could go to ONE SharePoint event, conference, etc this calendar year, which would it be?

What is the right X and Y axis to analyze the conference to figure out Best?  Is the it the # of speakers, the quality of the speakers, the attendance, maybe you want a massive event, maybe you want a smaller venue with quality speakers.  Maybe it’s the community involvement and night life?  I do think the speakers should always count really high. I find it’s the networking and the dynamics of the speakers along with the evening events help with that vibe.  Location does play it’s part with any event I’ve found, so add that to your matrix or cube for analyzing the various conferences.

Here’s what’s going through my head… I’m not much of an artist, and I couldn’t find any smart art to reflect what I wanted to put on paper.

There are a lot of conferences scheduled for this year.  If you like to travel and can travel, there are even more options.

To actually provide a single answer let me give you this matrix:

If you like the most technologies and see the most people you should choose:

Microsoft Tech Ed. Warning the content is often a lot of overviews and each technology may only get 10 slots or if you are popular like SQL Exchange and SharePoint you may get lucky and get a track owner who can get you 30-40 sessions. Really depends, but the speakers are almost always quality due to the extreme screening.  Preference is given to Microsoft and MVP speakers. There are 10 around the globe, so don’t only look at the US if you’re looking for an adventure.  The upcoming one in Middle East (see me there!) and ones in Africa and Europe last year was better than the one in the U.S. (sorry, I think it was timing) EASILY!  I do have high hopes for Tech Ed US in New Orleans this year (I’ve submitted).  Very high hopes.  Teched Asia in Malayasian one has been a favorite of mine for the last few years, but they dropped it due to budget last year.  The event in Penang was a nice replacement for a 1 day event. Maybe I’ll try China this year?

If you like the most SharePoint sessions for the most people:

SharePoint Conference You should have chosen the SharePoint Conference that we just had in Vegas.  It was incredible.  Over 7000 SharePoint fans who chose well, but that was last year… 

Regional: It may be coming to you… Smaller but significant regional SPC are planned to happen this year, like in Germany (Feb 24-25 I’ll be there), Italy, Slovenia (I think they are trying to make this annual), Peru (more info soon: see tweet from @josemorales), Australia (June16-17), and NZ. Others?

If you are an IT Pro and want deep, fairly intimate in setting meaning a good speaker to attendee ratio, but not just SharePoint:

TEC The Experts Conference might be the conference for you.  With AD/Identity, Exchange, and SharePoint you do have options, but the SharePoint conference side of it will definitely have awesome speakers and a good speaker to attendee ratio and guaranteed 2010 content.  Yeah, I’m biased since I’m running that one this year.  Goal isn’t to make money here either, but to have a great community conference with DEPTH, that’s what keeps being emphasized as the differentiator.  All sessions should attempt to do 400 level IT PRO content.  This rotates between US and Europe.  So expect to see this again in Europe in the fall.

If you want some business, dev, IT Pro and an awesome speaker line up and could convince your company to pay for it, or want to chip in…

SharePoint Evolutions  In London, but you should consider this a global event.  Big fan of the work Steve Smith has already lined up for SharePoint Evolutions.  Incredible speaker line up.  Definitely not making any money with who he’s flying in. Last year I have to disagree, but agree with Spence next to SPC this was it. Incredible conference and venue.  Tracks for Dev, IT, Business and Community.

SharePoint Best Practices If you’re in the U.S. these events are awesome.  Great speaker line up, usually focused around a big hotel so you get everyone fairly close. Not lots of travel, unlike a TECHED where everyone is often spread out. There’s one of these planned for the Fall. Ben Curry did an amazing job on the last few that rotated between DC and San Diego. Personally I really enjoyed the SD one. Great networking.

If you want focused dev content and a lot of people and most cutting edge:

Microsoft PDC the professional developers conference.  Clearly the best dev conference, most of the sessions are Microsoft RDs and MVPs as it is a Microsoft run event.

If you want lots of dev with more workshops and sessions:

Dev Connections.  Visual Studio, ASP & Silverlight & SQL, but NOW Penton is trying out a special SharePoint Pro (as in professional, not IT Pro) Summit out next month a technology focused event.  Dan Holme (IT) and AC (Dev) are running the tracks and have lined up a lot of MVP speakers.  Should be good. I heard the recent connections in Amsterdam was pretty good.

SharePoint Focused events

Sptechcon – SharePoint Technical Conference, SDTimes run event has been bouncing between Boston and California.  Greatly influenced by working early with Shane Young and crew.  I’m excited to be going this next week.  Really good mix of community and MVPs with nice workshops and support from the vendors as well. This is my first time, so I don’t have as much to say, other than they have done a decent job this time around reaching out to bring in great speakers and sponsors. :)

SharePoint Summit Montreal – an Annual event designed for technology mangers, executives, and analysts with focus on the decision makers.  Nice regional conference with good vendor support

SharePoint.org (Non Profit) Conference – Sessions, workshops and classes driven SusQtech.  It’s focus is mostly on education, government, and other non profits.  Obviously it has good stuff for others as well.

SharePoint TechFest – Regional events usually with regional speakers, organized by TekFokus.  Dallas Mar 2.

Don’t forget the various AIIM, Gartner, and other Analyst Conferences including Analyst focused SharePoint workshops Burton SharePoint workshops including SharePoint Analyst Michael Sampson’s SharePoint Masterclass workshops.  If you’re into social media, there are a ton of specialized conferences.

There is a lot of places where you can go for SharePoint 2010 Training, but that’s different.

Other Microsoft Big Conference

Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) – Microsoft Love for the ISVs and SIs including lots of networking. This year it’s in DC.

MIXX – Web focused conference usually in Vegas.  Usually a few SharePoint sessions.

Invitation and Restricted Events (Many of these if you get the chance, don’t miss it!)

TechReady – Internal MS only. Good SharePoint Content by MS for MS. Rarely will an external speaker be invited. Often there are pre conferences that might be more open.

Best of SharePoint Conference – Smaller Microsoft driven regional conferences that are often Microsoft’s EPG invite only.

MVP Summit – name is fairly descriptive.  Has good cutting edge content.  MVP only… often on NDA topics. Timing is important as pre release these can be the best for getting early info, or if you’ve got feedback no better time than the present to effect future releases.

Office & SharePoint Partner Council or Customer Council – Very special events, very early mostly driven for product feedback.  Restricted to those on the council.

Occasionally you’ll see something with the term airlift.  Those special early beta preview conferences are awesome.  Go to those if you can.  The SharePoint 2010 Airlift this year was TAP only.

If you don’t can’t get budget or time off to spend and you want Community Involvement or even if you’re going to the others you should NOT MISS!

SharePoint Saturday – These are coming to a location near you.  Don’t miss them!  Many travel to them, and if you’re wanting a chance to speak at Teched sometime in your life.  Start with this or a code camp.  I’ve been to SPSaturdays that are over 200 speakers.  The upcoming one Dux is planning for SharePoint Saturday DC on May 15 is planning to support 800 attendees!  I don’t plan to list them all here as just last year there were more than 20 and more are popping up all the time.  Feb 27 there are 3 all going on simultaneously from New Orleans, Boston to Amman, Jordan (where I’ll be.)

SharePoint Code Camp – Developers will enjoy these.  Smaller free venues usually driven by user groups and very open to providing opportunities for new speakers.  Here’s an example of a cool SharePoint camp in Germany called ShareCamp