Conferences and Classes

Cloud Computing, SQLBits

At SQLBits, I’m hosting a panel discussion called 20 Years of the Cloud: What Changed, What Didn’t, and What’s Next. I’m excited to share the panel lineup – all of the links go to their LinkedIn profiles: Amy Abel – aka the Database Reliability Spotter and a senior consultant at Straight Path. Ásgeir Gunnarsson –…

SQLBits Bonus: Free Fundamentals + Mastering Bundle for My Training Day Attendees

Last Updated April 10, 2026

Good news! My training day workshop, Dev/Prod Demon Hunters, was sold out, but Bits just moved me into the auditorium with way more capacity and space for you to stretch out. Plus, there’s power and tables at each seat. Feel free to bring your charger, gadget, and laptop. You don’t have to follow along, but…

I’m Coming to the PASS Summit in Frankfurt!

Last Updated March 27, 2026

#SQLPass

The pre-conference lineup for the PASS Data Community Summit Frankfurt event was just released, and I’m proud to share that I’ll be teaching my new all-day pre-conference workshop. Dev-Prod Demon Hunters: Finding the Real Cause of Production Slowness Production is slow. Development is fast. The same query runs in both. Somewhere between the two, a…

Building My Dev/Prod Demon Hunters Session, Part 1: The Strategy

Last Updated February 10, 2026

For SQLBits this year, I wanted to submit a performance tuning session about one of the most classic, timeless problems I run into: why is the same query fast in development but slow in production? All of my regular readers – if there is such a thing – are now yelling out, “Parameter sniffing!” And…

I’m Coming to #SQLBits! Here are My Sessions.

Last Updated January 30, 2026

The annual SQLBits conference is April 22-25, and they just announced the session and speaker lineup. This year’s theme is Cartoon – something I love deeply to begin with – and I decided to lean into that theme, big time. Here are my sessions: Training Day: Dev-Prod Demon Hunters: Finding the Real Cause of Production…

Thoughts on PASS’s Bankruptcy, Redgate’s Acquisition, and Private Equity

Last Updated January 15, 2026

#SQLPass

A private equity (PE) company recently acquired the majority of Redgate Software, the current owners of the PASS Data Community Summit and SQLServerCentral. Everybody in tech has private equity stories, some good, some terribad. Private equity hands money to companies not out of generosity, but because they believe they can turn it into even more money…

SQLBits Session Voting is Open Now! Wanna See My Sessions at Bits?

Last Updated January 9, 2026

I’d love to come over and speak at SQLBits this April, but for that to happen, the organizers need to hear from you that you’d come see my sessions. If you’re going to Bits, you’ll need a login, and then you can vote on these sessions – but only if you want to see them!…

Next Week, Start My Mastering Classes for Free!

Last Updated November 4, 2025

You’re a developer, database administrator, or DBRE who’s been working with SQL Server, Azure SQL DB, and Amazon RDS SQL Server for yeeears. You’re jaded. You’re confident. You’re pretty sure you know what you’re doing. You’ve never taken my Mastering classes because you’ve been reading my blogs and watching my live streams, and you think…

Fundamentals Week 2025 is Coming This Month! Get Your Tickets Now.

Free Fundamentals Classes Are Coming Next Week! Register Now.

Last Updated September 25, 2025

You’re a developer, analyst, database administrator, or anybody else working with SQL Server, Azure SQL DB, or Amazon RDS SQL Server. You want to learn how to make your databases go faster. Good news! Next week, I’m teaching totally free half-day versions of my classes from 9AM-1PM Eastern time, 8AM-Noon Central, 6AM-10AM Pacific: Monday: Fundamentals…

Announcing Free Fundamentals Week 2025!

Last Updated September 16, 2025

You’re a developer, analyst, database administrator, or anybody else working with SQL Server, Azure SQL DB, or Amazon RDS SQL Server. You want to learn how to make your databases go faster. Good news! In October 13-16, I’m teaching totally free half-day versions of my classes from 9AM-1PM Eastern time, 8AM-Noon Central, 6AM-10AM Pacific: Monday:…

Your Developers Need Cheap SQL Training.

Last Updated September 16, 2025

Your developers haven’t ever been to formal Microsoft database training on SQL Server or Azure SQL DB. They’re struggling with trying to tune queries and indexes. Your apps keep getting slower as the data grows, and your queries keep getting more complex. They’ve exhausted their free resources like YouTube videos and blogs, and they’re just…

Free Webcasts Tomorrow & Wednesday

Last Updated September 5, 2025

I’m teaching my two most important classes live, online, completely free! These are the two fundamentals classes that I think everybody should start with, regardless of their experience with SQL Server or Azure SQL DB. I’ll teach you the most important parts about how the database engine works, plus how to use free scripts to…

Free Live SQL Server Classes This Month!

Last Updated September 5, 2025

This month, I’m teaching two of my classes live, online, completely free! These are the two fundamentals classes that I think everybody should start with, regardless of their experience with SQL Server or Azure SQL DB. I’ll teach you the most important parts about how the database engine works, plus how to use free scripts…

Why Aren’t People Going to Local and Regional In-Person Events Anymore?

Last Updated August 27, 2025

Steve Jones recently posted an update about SQL Saturday’s status, and it includes some news we need to talk about: However, this year the number may stagnate or even decline slightly. Running events has become challenging for many communities. Organizers are busy, space is hard to find, and costs are rising…. The biggest challenge in…

SQLBits 2026 is Going Back to Newport, Wales.

Last Updated August 21, 2025

SQLBits 2026 will be back at the International Convention Center Wales in Newport on April 22-25, and I’ll be there! Bits was there in 2023, and they’ve got a recap video showing the venue. This location is a little tricky for us Yanks: here’s where it’s at on Google Maps. For international visitors, you’ve got…

Save $150 on the Summit with Discount Code BRENT25

Last Updated August 13, 2025

#SQLPass

The PASS Data Community Summit is the biggest conference in the Microsoft database industry, and over the last few years, they’ve expanded to cover other databases as well. It’s in Seattle on November 17-21 this year. It costs $2195 for the Weds-Fri general sessions, plus $595 for each pre-conference session on Monday or Tuesday. Register…

Want Me to Train You & Your Coworkers Privately?

Last Updated July 15, 2025

Your company doesn’t want to send you off to conferences or training classes in other cities. You’ve looked around locally, but the local options seem to be irrelevant to your needs. It’s generic stuff like how to pass certification classes, or boot camps to get your first DBA job. Perhaps you’ve even talked to some…

Free Webcast Next Thursday: Tuning Indexes to Avoid Blocking

Last Updated June 7, 2025

Indexing can make or break your SQL Server performance. You need just the right balance: enough indexes to speed up your queries, but not so many that they drag down your inserts, updates, and deletes. Join me as I introduce the “5 & 5 indexing guideline” — a practical approach to tuning indexes for maximum…

SQLBits Added More Capacity to My Workshop! Move Quick.

Last Updated June 7, 2025