Blockchain Unbound, what was originally supposed to be Puerto Crypto (back when I paid and signed up for the conference in January 30) ... apparently then had its conference name changed to its now current one around March 6, when I received the first email from them.
But then got changed to the name below at last minute:
I attended the first day of panels and speaker sessions, and quite honestly ... very disappointed.
Like EXTREMELY disappointed.
The talks weren't really relevant at all to the original conference purpose that I had signed up for.
It basically became a "general" cryptocurrency conference, instead of a cryptocurrency conference with the main focus on talks that describe "how to" with tax regulations, or details on how long you'd need to stay in Puerto Rico to benefit from the tax incentives.
None of that.
Just being their on the first day basically made me NOT want to waste my second day, Friday going to that conference.
That being said, I had paid around 1,000 USD back in Jan 30. There's NO way I'm letting that entire amount go without at least an effort to get a refund or partial refund. I can't get back the airline, hotel, or my own personal time, but I sure as hell can try to get back whole or parts of my conference ticket fee. That's the beauty of booking those tickets on a credit card, especially putting it on a premium based credit card that will help you dispute it.
Well some may say ... you are paying the price to "network". I get the value in networking, but the darn fucking conference better at least be half as good. I mean FUCK ... I didn't spend all that personal money on conference ticket, flight, and hotel for nothing. For some, their companies paid for it, but for people like me, traveling all the way from Hawaii out of pocket ... its a big chunk of change.
Couple of the Talks that Got Axed:
The governor of Puerto Rico decided last second not to show up (probably for political or personal reasons) ... and a talk by Dan Larimer on EOS was something I really wanted to hear, but he was axed at the last minute.
Fuck it, I'm getting my money back.
The upside is that I at least got to meet a couple of SteemIt folks randomly, during a panel session that was boring as fuck (bunch of old white dudes talking about how regulation is extremely necessary and that privacy coins are shit, fuck 'em).
Check out these awesome Steemians at their profile @cybercodetwins
What other cryptocurrency conferences are worth going to that are on the West Coast of US?
I'm sticking to closer to travel from Hawaii.
This was me before attending the conference all happy and excited:
Yea, you don't want to see me angry and frustrated with the after photo.
DAMN man, this is very shitty to hear. Hopefully you were able to enjoy your time in Puerto Rico outside of the conference. I’d be getting my money back as well, very shady business it sounds like. I’m glad I didn’t fork up all that cash, I knew it was massively overpriced. I am still going to PR in a few weeks, but this will be purely for leisure.
Perhaps Dan Larimer’s talk was canceled due to the break off between Eos/Block.one & Brock Pierce. It happened less than a week ago I believe. That may have left them with no reason to be in PR. Still no excuse for the sudden & dramatic changes. What a shame.
There is a Facebook group I am in that has some legitimate info on all of the tax incentives if Puerto Rico. It is a closed group, but I can add you if needed. Or you may just be able to search for “Act 20 / 22 Puerto Rico Tax Incentive Forum”.
I'm glad you didn't pay for the conference ... it wasn't worth it at all ... the information they gave you could have just known in any case. Nothing special at all with regards to cryptos and PR specifically.
There was still EOS people there ... I wish I spoke to some of them to ask them why Dan Larimer didn't speak, but the few SteemIt I did speak with mentioned that some kind of internal conflict with conference might have gotten him axed.
And yes, I'd be very much interested in joining that FB group. Let me know how I should best connect with you off from here. I forget ... isn't there a private Steem Chat that I can privately message you stuff? Remind me again :)
Always worth following with interest your wonderful publications
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