As VMworld continues to grow each year with more and more exhibitors, sponsors and attendees, it is evident that virtualization as a technology is taking hold and becoming part of the mainstream IT world.  The show welcomes newbies, experts and veterans alike - and this year, more than 14,000 people converged on the event in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the virtual enthusiasm may have died down after VMworld.  It seems as though the next virtualization event, Virtualization.info's Virtualization Congress 2008 has been cancelled.  And there was a lot of hard work and effort put into creating this event.  

Evidently, it is being cancelled because of low registration and a tough macro-economic climate.  And it's a shame too, because the event was being backed by a number of big names in the industry, with nearly 30 sponsors willing to pony up to help support the show.  That's a clear sign that the vendor community is ready for an independent virtualization event, and after listening to the folks on the show room floor at VMworld, attendees are ready for something new and different as well. 

As virtualization continues to mature, show goers are looking for something more than just marketing slides and case studies.  People understand the value the solution brings, now they want more meat with their potatoes.  At VMworld, people were climbing over one another to get a chance to attend a hands-on lab session.  There just weren't enough of these to go around.  Hands-on labs have become the hot, fast selling ticket at VMworld.  It isn't enough anymore to just explain the benefits or give the high level overviews.  Technical deep dive sessions are in demand.  One-on-one technical discussions are being searched out!  "Give me how-to sessions" has become the battle-cry for many.  And rightfully so! 

So, it's tough to see a new upcoming show like Virtualization Congress cancel like that.  Perhaps part of it is timing as well.  With people traveling and dropping cash and time away from the office to get to Las Vegas only a month earlier, some may have had difficulty convincing the boss that it was time to attend yet another virtualization event so quickly.

Have things matured to the point where we need to have a more technical deep dive, more one-on-one discussions, and more hands-on lab experiences?  I think so.  Do you?  What caused this event to get cancelled?  Why the lack of attendees?