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Every year I compile a wish list of conferences and events I’d love to go to, if only I had the time and funds (and, <ahem> I’m wide open to any benevolent sponsors, of course!). Some I’ve been to in the past, some I’ve just read about and drooled over for awhile.

Most tend to be smaller, tech or marketing-focused, as like so many others I’ve found that’s where the learning and networking really happens. The mega conferences that revolve around the expo halls and massive quantities of free stuff are what I consider “work” rather than places where I salivate at the thought of attending.

So what conferences are on your wish list for 2009? Looking at mine, any glaring omissions?

Tech Conferences

An Event Apart Seattle 2009 - Seattle, WA May 4-5, 2009
I’m an amateur hack when it comes to web design, though an enthusiastic one. I change blog templates more often that I bother to write actual posts, or so it seems. Sometimes I fantasize about going back to school at night to pick up a Web or Graphic Design certificate, even if solely for personal satisfaction. In the world of design, the folks at A List Apart are top tier, and An Event Apart is the companion conference. The fact it’s in my town this year makes it all the more appealing (and frustratingly still out of reach…arrrgh). Then again, if I can’t make Seattle, I’ll hold out hope for Boston, Chicago, or San Francisco later in the year.

Mesh 2009, Canada’s Web Conference - Toronto, Canada April 7-8, 2009
Mathew Ingram and the guys behind Mesh have really built a high quality tech industry conference, at least from the reviews I’ve seen and heard (never been…yet). Mesh consistently seems to draw a good crowd, great speakers, and innovative programming. Plus, I hear Toronto is beautiful and the city itself is high on my list of places to visit at some point in my life.

Gnomedex 2009 - TBD
Whenever Chris and Ponzi pull the next one together (usually in Seattle), I hope to be there. This is perhaps the marquee “geek” conference in the US each year, and is known for a freewheeling style of audience participation, avoidance of over-commercialization, and generally rockin’ hallways conversations.

Web 2.0 Summit - San Francisco, CA October 20-22
Though it’s a bit on the “we’re exclusive, so we’re better than you” side, O’Reilly and team still pull together a fairly impressive Who’s Who of the tech business. I attended once as a sponsor in 2006. From my understanding it’s still heavy on the suits and light on the real geeks who make the engine of the Web run. Kind of an anti-Gnomedex in practice, but worthwhile to see some of the larger business trends. If you can score an invite, of course.

TechCrunch50, Somewhere, Fall 2009
Nothing like seeing a massive parade of tech hopefuls put on their best rapid-fire demos, both on stage and in the DemoPit. Again, never been but as a geek and a participant in the broader tech industry I’d rate this as one of those “reignite the fire in your belly” kind of shows, perfect for combatting the Great Dpression Part Deux doldrums.

WordCamp - Any of them…
Wordpress is my hobby, and tinkering with it has taught me more about how web apps function and some basics of design and coding than every book or event I’ve attending put together. I’d love to drop into the middle of a pack of WP experts and keep the fun going.

Marketing, Communications, and PR Conferences

Forum One Community Events:
Online Community Summit, Sonoma CA, October 8-9 2009
Online Community Business Forum, Sonoma CA March 19-20 2009
I had the pleasure of attending the Marketing and Online Communities 2008 event in NYC – Forum One pulls together excellent attendees and speakers, wrapped up in programs that maximize small group conversations with loads upon loads of networking, idea sharing, and all the hallway goodness you could want.

MPlanet 2009 - Orlando, FL, January 26-29 2009
The annual conference for the American Marketing Association. Never been but based on the amazing speaker list, sessions, and the vast amount of career networking opportunities this ranks up there as something I’d love to attend at least once in my career.

Search Marketing Expo – West, Santa Clara CA, February 10-12 2009
Vint Cerf, Danny Sullivan, piles upon piles of SEO and SEM discussions – pretty critical skills for any marketing or communications professional. I want to sit down in the middle of the show, achieve a Zen-like trance state, and just absorb.

Word of Mouth Marketing Summit & Research Symposium 2009. Las Vegas, NV, November 2009
I like what the WOMMA crew have been pulling together over the years, and I am especially interested in the focus on research – adding a hard core of supportable evidence to an emerging marketing concentration that can too easily fall into the “if you ‘get it’ you just know it’s a ‘good thing’” trap.

ad:tech San Francisco, April 21-23, 2009
Learn a bit about where the trends are heading in digital marketing, with a heavy focus on advertising.