Dave Winer is right. Again. Still. Some more.
Why most conferences suck Scripting News
[I]f you want to have a truly useful conference that everyone gets something out of, structure it so that everyone has something to do at all times. Hopefully things that involve other people or the venue, if not, what’s the point of going somewhere to do this stuff?
We try to fill the time with sessions so people will have something to look at, but that’s not the same as having something to do.