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	<title>Event Manager Blog &#187; BarCamp</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/category/barcamp/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com</link>
	<description>"Happiness is only real when shared" - Alexander Supertramp</description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 12:02:22 +0000</pubDate>
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	<language>en</language>
			<item>
		<title>Spam @ Barcamps</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/05/spam-barcamps.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/05/spam-barcamps.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 16:41:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/?p=196</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
I am hearing things that should have not happened are indeed happening.
I heard of people going to BarCamps and complaining about 15 minute spamming sessions. I&#8217;ve heard of unattentive organizers preferring the pitch of a product, a software or a blog over discussion and creation.
This is what unconferences should not be. By pitching you are [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Spam @ Barcamps", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/05/spam-barcamps.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/uploads/2008/04/control.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I am hearing things that should have not happened are indeed happening.</p>
<p>I heard of people going to <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9iYXJjYW1w">BarCamps</a> and complaining about 15 minute spamming sessions. I&#8217;ve heard of unattentive organizers preferring the pitch of a product, a software or a blog over discussion and creation.</p>
<p>This is what unconferences should not be. By pitching you are controlling, control belongs to traditional conferences.</p>
<p>A pitch could be a way to start a conversation about some interesting topics, not the focus of a session.</p>
<p>We recently runned <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS8yMDA4LzAzL2Vjb2NhbXAuaHRtbA==">ecoCamp</a>, a user generated conference/BarCamp where lack of control was the success.</p>
<p>If you attend a BarCamp speak out loud when you feel someone is trying to control, because that is not the place to do so.</p>
<p>I will be at BarCamp London 4 on the 30th of May, come there and I&#8217;ll be happy to meet you.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=196" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=Spam+%40+Barcamps&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fspam-barcamps.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>ecoCamp: a case study</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/ecocamp.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/ecocamp.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:57:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[ideas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/?p=177</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Most of my afficionados know that I&#8217;ve worked in the past two months at ecoCamp, a BarCamp about the environment, ecology, sustainability and energy. The event took place yesterday 29th of March 2008 in Conversano - Italy. This post sums up what happened before, during and after the event, from an event management perspective. As [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "ecoCamp: a case study", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/ecocamp.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3BpY2FzYXdlYi5nb29nbGUuY29tL3RvanVsaXVzL0Vjb0NhbXAvcGhvdG8jNTE4MzU2NDE5NDAzMzk4NjMzOA=="><img style="vertical-align: top;" src="http://lh3.google.com/tojulius/R--4K7fUayI/AAAAAAAAByc/HDEH3u8-vqA/s288/CIMG0773.JPG.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Most of my afficionados know that I&#8217;ve worked in the past two months at <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL2Vjb0NhbXA="title=\"ecoCamp wiki\"  target=\"_blank\">ecoCamp</a>, a <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnLw==" target=\"_blank\">BarCamp</a> about the environment, ecology, sustainability and energy. The event took place yesterday 29th of March 2008 in <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL21hcHMuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8/aWU9VVRGOCZhbXA7aGw9ZW4mYW1wO2NkPTEmYW1wO3E9NzAwMTQrQ29udmVyc2FubytCYXJpLCtJdGFseSZhbXA7Zj1xJmFtcDt6PTExJmFtcDtpd2xvYz1hZGRy" target=\"_blank\">Conversano</a> - Italy. This post sums up what happened before, during and after the event, from an event management perspective. As a planner I learned a lot from this experience and I invite you to participate in a BarCamp close to you because it will definitely help the way you approach your career.<br id="bpul" /> <span style="color: #cc3333;"><strong><br id="icsb" /> Why ecoCamp?</strong></span><br id="dop1" /> <br id="how_" /> I organized ecoCamp with <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5saW5rZWRpbi5jb20vaW4vY2FybWVuYm9zY29sbw==">Carmen Boscolo</a>, a fellow <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL25vdGFjb2xvci5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb20=" target=\"_blank\">blogger</a> and environmental consultant, and I will use &#8220;we&#8221; referring to me and her. We both fell in love with the BarCamp formula. Open access, no pre-scheduled sessions, interaction and the Internet sounded like a great mix. In conceptualising the event we came up few things we wanted to experiment:<br id="zh82" /> <br id="gb70" /> - <em>Usually BarCamps host presentations</em>. We didn&#8217;t like that . We thought that presentations are a subtle way to control a session and kill interaction. We decided to tell our audience that we wouldn&#8217;t host any presenter but just &#8220;promoters&#8221;. We borrowed this role from <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS8yMDA3LzEyL29wZW4tc291cmNpbmcteW91ci1ldmVudC1hLWZlYXR1cmVkLWludGVydmlldy13aXRoLWhhcnJpc29uLW93ZW4uaHRtbA==" target=\"_self\">Harrison Owen</a>&#8217;s <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX1NwYWNlX1RlY2hub2xvZ3k=">Open Space Technology</a>. At the beginning of ecoCamp, the promoter suggested her/his topic and got immediate feedback in terms of participation to the session. The promoter had the duty to guide and facilitate the session, collect the names of participants and manage time as well as take responsibility of the room and logistics.<br id="sje4" /> <br id="ro07" /> - <em>Usually BarCamps share the content, in that the organizers publish slides and materials of the presentations</em>. We did not like that as well. We thought that the chance of having a large number of people working together could not be wasted. We were sure that the energy of the event would have been great. In order to collect and funnel that vibe we thought about creating a document, again inspired by Harrison Owen. We called the document &#8220;<a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL2Vjb0NhbXAlNDB3b3JsZA==" target=\"_blank\">ecoCamp@world</a>&#8220;. The promoter of every session was given a template to fill out during the discussion. We asked few questions:<br id="c64i" /> <br id="zz7v" /> - What have you discussed?<br id="pqc4" /> - Why have you discussed it?<br id="b98r" /> - What were your conclusions?<br id="pfff" /> <br id="df4-" /> The participants of the session got their name on the document, which would have been published on the official wiki, open, free and accessible.<br id="udcd" /> <br id="m-lf" /><span style="color: #cc3333;"><strong> Promotion</strong></span><br id="e1n7" /> <br id="ru2t" /> I have to say that in our case what worked the most were Social Media. I&#8217;ll go in depth. <br id="n:bg" /> <br id="ee9g" /> - We used a <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL2Vjb0NhbXA=" target=\"_blank\">wiki</a> as the main platform where we put everything about the event. If you want to know more about starting and planning a BarCamp and its wiki, I collected few resources, you can find them <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS8yMDA4LzAxLzIwLXJlc291cmNlcy1mb3ItYS1zbW9vdGgtYmFyY2FtcC5odG1s" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.<br id="lthd" /> <br id="dk-x" /> - We then created a <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VjMGM0bXAud29yZHByZXNzLmNvbS8=" target=\"_blank\">blog</a> to deliver news and updates. <br id="y_jl" /> <br id="rs78" /> - We created a <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL2Vjb0NhbXAjQkFER0U=" target=\"_blank\">badge</a> and put the HTML code on the wiki for other bloggers to grab and paste on their platform. <br id="i4wr" /> <br id="z7:." /> - We coordinated a database of blogs on environmental subjects and sent the invite to use the badge  <br id="fw5r" /> <br id="wscu" /> - We set up a &#8220;posting day&#8221;. We published a round-up article on the main blog and 10 other blogs posted about the event, trackbacking to that article. <br id="y3q:" /> <br id="jv60" /> - That same day we posted on Italian Social Media Networks clones of Digg, StumbleUpon, etc. <br id="mpiu" /> <br id="i4ii" /> - We created a <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL2Vjb0NhbXA=" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a> account for the event and inserted a Twitter badge in the ecoCamp wiki with live updates about the event. <br id="q8yc" /> <br id="y5z1" /><strong><span style="color: #cc3333"> Promotion Results: </span></strong><br id="r30r" /> <br id="fg7-" /> - We generated buzz. We got free press coverage on every single local newspaper. In some instances, we didn&#8217;t even send the press release. Journalists went on the wiki and grab information. I was interviewed by radios and TVs before and during the event.<br id="kqot" /> <br id="pyci" /> - A web TV made a documentary which is going to be online soon<br id="nh:c" /> <br id="fhw8" /> Things to consider about promoting with Social Media<br id="ub9q" /> <br id="aw2:" /> - time to build relationship with other bloggers <br id="lxwf" /> <br id="l_yc" /> - striking content<br id="n5w-" /> <br id="c:bq" /> - knowledge of Social Media Networks and key influencers there. <br id="fd_0" /> <br id="ye5_" /><strong><span style="color: #cc3333;"> Location and Sponsors</span></strong><br id="tuv:" /> <br id="h3-q" /> Most of Barcamps do not take place because of the lack of a location. We managed to find one in two weeks. A <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iZWxpZXZpbmcuaXQ=" target=\"_blank\">business incubator</a> which gave us two big rooms and free internet, plus buffet area and AV equipment. <br id="mw8i" /> <br id="g8q_" /> We set the date of the event the 15th of March. Therefore we had two weeks to work on it. Our approach was: if we get no location or sponsors it means that the event has not to take place. <br id="z:ou" /> <br id="qaip" /> Three days before the event we contacted sponsors. We did not have any urgency to get buffet or gadgets but at a certain point in time we decided to give gifts to the brave participants. We managed to get on board one of the biggest Italian producer of energy saving light bulbs and photovoltaic panels. They gave us an energy saving light bulb for every estimated participant plus tons of promotional materials, block notes and pens. We got on board local producers of organic cheese, organic groceries, patisseries and cafes. We ended up with a huge buffet.<br id="vleb" /> <br id="i-8." /> The great thing was that at no point in time we needed to give numbers or show media releases or participants profiles. The interest of sponsors was proactive and genuine from the very beginning. We told them we managed no money and that we were just intermediaries of the community. <br id="dzhn" /> <span style="color: #cc3333;"><strong><br id="c9i-" /> Attendance and Statistics</strong></span><br id="re.m" /> <br id="vhkh" /> The most successful BarCamps have 300-400 participants (Los Angeles, Toronto - millions of people and efficient public transportation). We are in a 20,000 inhabitants city in Southern Italy, far from transportation. The biggest city nearby is Bari (300,000 inhabitants), we got 80 people attending. We had more than 100 requests to follow online. Huge response. <br id="uebj" /> <br id="bqf4" /> The day before we set up  a streaming on <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy51c3RyZWFtLnR2L2NoYW5uZWwvZWNvY2FtcC1yb29tLTE=">Ustream</a> with 2 webcams in 2 different rooms. The promoter of every section was in charge of the streaming as well. In this way people living far away did not have to use transportation, therefore we got rid of unnecessary carbon emissions.<br id="uzjz" /> <br id="q8-0" /><strong><span style="color: #cc3333;"> Experience and Feel</span></strong><br id="wmb5" /> <br id="v001" /> No one of the participants ever heard before what a BarCamp was. They left the location willing to attend another Camp immediately. We collected feedback such as &#8220;Wonderful&#8221;, &#8220;One of the greatest experiences of my life&#8221;, &#8220;I only wished we had more time to keep discussing&#8221;, &#8220;Thanks very much for putting this together&#8221;. <br id="xcim" /> <br id="wf0." /> We registered people from 10am to 10.45am. You could tell everyone was a bit unsure of what to do and how to proceed. We then gathered in the main room and I illustrated, after thanking sponsors, what was the process. <br id="xk1g" /> <br id="jxud" /> We had two computers in two different locations. At one station, promoters could suggest their topic, give a brief description and tell their name. In the meanwhile participants looked at the projector where the sessions schedule was quickly building up. At the other station we collected participants for each session and their preferred session time for the day (morning/afternoon). We immediately had numbers and it was quite easy to generate the schedule, merge sessions or eliminate those with not enough participants. We printed out and distributed the schedule and then started off. <br id="op.-" /> <br id="indh" /> We did not have a coffee/lunch break, instead we left buffet accessible at all times for everyone to enjoy, respecting the session in progress .<br id="txct" /> <br id="xo10" /> Response was astonishing. Great, quality topics together with pragmatic and inspiring discussions took place. We had,from time to time, to &#8220;hold time and space&#8221; as Harrison Owen would suggest, indicating that there were 5 minutes to go and that the promoter needed to draw conclusions. <br id="azpj" /> <br id="kq8x" /><strong><span style="color: #cc3333;"> Conclusions</span></strong><br id="vltz" /> <br id="cfqm" /> At the end of the day I saw participants cleaning up tables, collecting and recycling waste. They have been given the possibility to return, instead of wasting, unwanted sponsors&#8217; material. It&#8217;s been of utmost importance for us to be consistent with the content of the event. We made sure every bit of ecoCamp was coherent with the theme of the event. From recycling to organic buffet, from promoting carpooling to giving energy-efficient bulbs as gadgets. The ethics of the organization contributed to set up an ethic environment, were people found themselves at ease to interact and produce something.<br id="sim9" /> <br id="u3ql" /> I saw engineers talking with farmers, lawyers engaging in discussions with media and marketing people, students sitting next to business men and accountants.<br id="kyed" /> <br id="kgv." /> We needed to tell people that there was going to be ecoCamp2 somewhere and sometime in the future, because they simply needed to know there was going to be another meeting like that.<br id="zz-3" /> <br id="dprf" /> As a planner and a conference planner I have seen delegates leaving meetings bored and maybe drunk by the buffet. I have seen people sleeping during endless bullet point presentations and showing up just to follow a super guest star and leave the rest of the event to others.<br id="smi-" /> <br id="kk9b" /> This experience is a wake up call for those working with traditional conferences because things are changing, and quicker than we think.</p>
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<td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3BpY2FzYXdlYi5nb29nbGUuY29tL3RvanVsaXVzL0Vjb0NhbXA="style=\"color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;\" >ecoCamp</a></td>
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 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=177" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=ecoCamp%3A+a+case+study&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fecocamp.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>What the Cluetrain Manifesto taught me about events</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/cluetrain-manifesto.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/cluetrain-manifesto.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:40:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[ideas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[psychology of events]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[start event business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/cluetrain-manifesto.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
The Cluetrain Manifesto is almost ten years old. I was actually surprised to see it was written in 1999 for two reasons:
- It is amazing to see how it is still relevant to both Internet and businesses. The words of the manifesto sound like a Web 3.0 startup&#8217;s mission. They got it right. The people [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "What the Cluetrain Manifesto taught me about events", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/03/cluetrain-manifesto.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS91cGxvYWRzLzIwMDgvMDMvY2x1ZXRyYWluLnBuZw==" title=\"cluetrain\"><img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/uploads/2008/03/cluetrain.png" alt="cluetrain" align="top" hspace="10" /></a><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbHVldHJhaW4uY29t"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbHVldHJhaW4uY29t">The Cluetrain Manifesto</a> is almost ten years old. I was actually surprised to see it was written in 1999 for two reasons:</p>
<p>- It is amazing to see how it is still relevant to both Internet and businesses. The words of the manifesto sound like a Web 3.0 startup&#8217;s mission. They got it right. The people who signed it saw 10 years in advance what was about to happen. Few things are yet to come but I&#8217;d bet we&#8217;ll shortly experience them.</p>
<p>- Crazy, crazy, crazy. Companies had in front of their eyes the chance to get the most out of the Internet and treat the customer in new, engaging ways. It was there, clearly written and explained. It is SAD to see how only few organizations have embraced these life changing concepts.</p>
<p>The Cluetrain Manifesto is <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbHVldHJhaW4uY29tL2Jvb2svaW5kZXguaHRtbA==">free to read</a>. How the most popular Italian and world&#8217;s top 10 blogger, <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iZXBwZWdyaWxsby5pdC9lbmcv">Beppe Grillo</a>, would say, download it, print it and start sharing it around. Give it to your boss, to your colleagues, if possible pass it to the person sitting next to you on the underground.</p>
<p>The Manifesto has a lot of things to say to those involved in events. I went through the <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbHVldHJhaW4uY29tL2Jvb2svOTUtdGhlc2VzLmh0bWw=">95 Theses</a> and got few that I thought might be of interest.</p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- Markets consist of human beings, not demographic sectors.</font></strong><br />
I said before than <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS8yMDA4LzAxL21lbi1hcmUtbm90LW1vbmtleXMuaHRtbA==">men are not monkeys</a>. Treating your guests as demographics is a giant step toward looking at them as these animals. The human kind is indeed of the animal genre but of the social one. Social media are a great examples of that. Great conversations, great ideas, great feelings and strong emotions that we wouldn&#8217;t otherwise experienced. <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9vcGVuLXNvdXJjZQ==">BarCamp and Unconferences</a> should be the role models of every event manager. Empower and connect, do not try to divide and lead because you won&#8217;t be happy with results.</p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- The Internet is enabling conversations among human beings that were simply not possible in the era of mass media.</font></strong></p>
<p>What are you doing to allow conversations among the people attending your event. Are you integrating technologies? Are you aware that recruitment now happens on Linkedin? Do you know that there are widgets you can embed in your website to encourage carpooling to your event? Most of the people attending events such as conferences are only interested in networking. Carpooling as well as online forums or wikis enable networking even before the event.</p>
<p><font color="#cc3333"><strong>- The inflated self-important jargon you sling around</strong></font></p>
<p>Be clear, be precise and be real. Rhetoric and Pavlovian stimulus-response tactics belong to the past. It&#8217;s good to have demanding attendees because it means they actually care. Talk to them and tell the truth and do not try to persuade. Allow interaction and hold time and space do not try to be the star of the show.</p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- We are immune to advertising. Just forget it.</font></strong></p>
<p>How are you talking to your audience. How do you communicate your event. I don&#8217;t believe in brochures anymore. Apart from being an environmental disaster (and your customers do care about the environment), I think there are tons of other creative and more engaging ways to get to your audience. Do you have a blog? Have you ever heard of Twitter? Engage, do not try to tell how beautiful your event will be.</p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- We are waking up and linking to each other. We are watching. But we are not waiting.</font></strong></p>
<p>There is not much time left. The economy as a whole is changing. As Seth Godin said this week, during recession times the biggest changes happen such as Google did. Change now because it&#8217;s not sure you&#8217;ll be able to do business tomorrow.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=163" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=What+the+Cluetrain+Manifesto+taught+me+about+events&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fcluetrain-manifesto.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The trade show unfortunate misunderstanding</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/the-trade-show-unfortunate-misunderstanding.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/the-trade-show-unfortunate-misunderstanding.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:13:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[ideas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[psychology of events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/the-trade-show-unfortunate-misunderstanding.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week the blog was fairly inactive as I went to London to attend the 2008 International Confex.
For those out there who don&#8217;t know what I am talking about, Confex is one of the biggest trade shows for event planners, mangers and everyone involved into the industry.
This is the trade show of the trade shows. [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The trade show unfortunate misunderstanding", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/the-trade-show-unfortunate-misunderstanding.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last week the blog was fairly inactive as I went to London to attend the 2008 International Confex.</p>
<p>For those out there who don&#8217;t know what I am talking about, <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5pbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLWNvbmZleC5jb20v">Confex</a> is one of the biggest trade shows for event planners, mangers and everyone involved into the industry.<span style="font-weight: bold"></span></p>
<p>This is <em>the</em> trade show of the trade shows. When you host people who actually work with events, expectations are extremely high and I think Confex did great.</p>
<p>It was a great organizational success. If you go through the numbers, you&#8217;ll notice that more than 15,000 people attended. Furthermore you would have noticed how the organizational machine worked perfectly. My congratulations to those who managed to create such a perfect event.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, during the whole visit I had this persisting idea: do we need trade shows at all?</p>
<p>I noticed by walking around the stands and meeting exhibitors that there was a positive vibe and unprecedented eagerness to network and find new business opportunities.</p>
<p>I also sneaked through seminars and presentations and most of them recorded substantial figures of attendance.</p>
<p>After that, I was amazed to notice how a large number <span style="font-weight: bold"></span>of attendees sat at the bars and restaurants tables actually discussing and debating. Talking about projects, ideas, business insights.</p>
<p>My thought at that point was, what if all of the money spent for the event by both organizers and exhibitors was designated to run an <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9vcGVuLXNvdXJjZQ==">Open</a> event.</p>
<p>So I started to dream of how I would have given huge space to allow people to interact, produce and network.</p>
<p>I also fantasized about seating in comfortable meeting rooms instead of walking through aisles and trying to work out a map.</p>
<p>After that I imagined  the satisfaction of attendees who actually could have evaluated <strong>content</strong> instead of flashy lights, good looking supermodels, free champagne and oysters.  Not that I don&#8217;t like all of the above, <span style="font-weight: bold"></span>but what does it have to do with the way I do business and trade.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I also figured how sponsors would have been more interested in saving money and being allowed to pitch instead of grabbing people as they walked by.</p>
<p>A question then popped up&#8230; How do you do that with 15,000 people over 3 days&#8230;. I don&#8217;t know but put 20 event people together and make them find a way around. You&#8217;ll probably have a new concept in 2 hours.</p>
<p>And then another question&#8230;. What could 15,000 people together create&#8230; Picture if they had gathered to actually produce a document, a project, a roadmap, a publication about the industry. Think about the results!!</p>
<p>I must say that after 45 minutes walking around the aisles and a bag full of promotional materials I went back to my hotel and had a chamomile tea.</p>
<p>My final thought of the day was that Confex was a great trade show, but the only relaxing feeling I had was the dream of 15,000 people together, collaborating for a purpose.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=143" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=The+trade+show+unfortunate+misunderstanding&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fthe-trade-show-unfortunate-misunderstanding.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>linux.conf.au@eventmanagerblog.com</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/linux-conf-au.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/linux-conf-au.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:29:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[ideas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[interviews]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/linux-conf-au.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Few days ago Melbourne hosted the biggest Linux conference of Australia. This event has completely captured for a number of reasons.
- I am a member of the Italian Linux Society
- I&#8217;ve erased from my PC every form of proprietary software, choosing Kubuntu
- I&#8217;ve participated to a &#8220;Linux Day&#8221; in Italy and I think they are [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "linux.conf.au@eventmanagerblog.com", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/02/linux-conf-au.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Few days ago Melbourne hosted the biggest Linux conference of Australia. This event has completely captured for a number of reasons.</p>
<p>- I am a member of the Italian Linux Society<br />
- I&#8217;ve erased from my PC every form of proprietary software, choosing <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5rdWJ1bnR1Lm9yZy8=">Kubuntu</a><br />
- I&#8217;ve participated to a &#8220;<a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5saW51eGRheS5pdC8=">Linux Day</a>&#8221; in Italy and I think they are great events<br />
- I love Australia since I studied there for two years and got life changing experiences<br />
- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9MaW51c19Ub3J2YWxkcw==">Linus Torvalds</a> participated to the event and this is a small event itself.</p>
<p>Therefore, for all of the above I decided to contact the guys DownUnder for a chat on the conf. I asked them if they could share with us a bit about the event and inspire us for the future.</p>
<p>I am happy to say that once again I wasn&#8217;t disappointed by the community. In the person of Donna I was able to find the usual great spirit of sharing great content and empowering the listener. No matter how busy they were with managing the event.</p>
<p>My thanks to the great kindness of my mates in Australia and for you a great interview with heaps of great info.</p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- </font><font color="#cc3333">Tell us how a Linux Conference differs from a regular conference</font></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2xpbnV4LmNvbmYuYXU=">linux.conf.au</a> is a mix of tradition and innovation. Each year, a different team of volunteers works tirelessly to put on the conference, and each team does it differently.  One of the features of LCA is the social events, they are almost as important as the talks themselves. Developers who usually work together online over the year seem to enjoy socialising and letting off steam. For some of them, this is a once-a-year opportunity to meet face to face.</p>
<p>The AV and Networking aspects of the conference are huge projects within project. <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2xpbnV4LmNvbmYuYXUv" target=\"_blank\">linux.conf.au</a> provides wireless network coverage to speakers and attendees, and the AV team attempts to record all the sessions so hat others who can&#8217;t attend the conference can still share in the knowledge exchange that makes <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2xpbnV4LmNvbmYuYXUv" target=\"_blank\">linux.conf.au</a> so special.</p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- What should be the primary scope of every conference about Linux?</font></strong></p>
<p>I can&#8217;t speak for every conference about Linux.  Linux itself is so many things to so many people, and the conferences that choose to focus on linux should reflect that diversity.<br />
<strong><font color="#cc3333">- How do you integrate the open approach to such an open event?</font></strong></p>
<p>There are lots of ways to get involved in creating linux.conf.au. For instance, any group of people in Australia or New Zealand (perhaps further afield!) could band together and prepare a bid to host the conference in their town or city.  The conf is large enough now that it has pretty demanding requirements, but it also generates a fair amount of economic activity, so local councils and convention boards can be called on to assist.</p>
<p>The papers review committee is usually made up of a core group of people who have done it before, along with some new faces invited by the organising team. Whilst the process is not public, it&#8217;s very collaborative.</p>
<p>Video of almost all the conference sessions is available <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2xpbnV4LmNvbmYuYXUvcHJvZ3JhbW1lL3ByZXNlbnRhdGlvbnM=" target=\"_blank\">here</a></p>
<p><strong><font color="#cc3333">- How do you promote a Linux conf?</font></strong></p>
<p>Mostly online, mostly word of mouth.  A few press releases. We ask the speakers to blog about their talks, we have a couple of media partnerships, but we do very little advertising. The conference practically promotes itself based on its reputation amongst Free software developers. This year the conference sold out 5 weeks before it opened.<br />
<strong><font color="#cc3333">- What&#8217;s the role of sponsors and how do you ensure that the community will control the event?</font></strong></p>
<p>The community does control the event. Most of the sponsors know this, appreciate this, and wouldn&#8217;t want it any other way. Our Emperor sponsors in particular view supporting linux.conf.au as a way to support the community rather than a marketing exercise.  This is very much a community driven event for developers.  That said, linux.conf.au would not exist in its current form without the support we receive from sponsors. They help make so much more possible - and that greatly adds to the fun.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2xpbnV4LmNvbmYuYXUvcHJvZ3JhbW1lL3ByZXNlbnRhdGlvbnM=" target=\"_blank\"></a><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2xpbnV4LmNvbmYuYXUvcHJvZ3JhbW1lL3ByZXNlbnRhdGlvbnM=" target=\"_blank\"><br />
</a></p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=141" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=linux.conf.au%40eventmanagerblog.com&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F02%2Flinux-conf-au.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>20+ resources for a smooth BarCamp</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/20-resources-for-a-smooth-barcamp.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/20-resources-for-a-smooth-barcamp.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:33:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[templates]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/20-resources-for-a-smooth-barcamp.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently engaged seriously in running a BarCamp called ecoCamp (the page is in Italian but I&#8217;ll be more than happy to answer questions about it). In the process, I noted that there is no page where you can find most of the resources available on how to run a BarCamp. Therefore, I started to [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "20+ resources for a smooth BarCamp", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/20-resources-for-a-smooth-barcamp.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently engaged seriously in running a BarCamp called <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL2Vjb0NhbXA=" target=\"_blank\">ecoCamp</a> (the page is in Italian but I&#8217;ll be more than happy to answer questions about it). In the process, I noted that there is no page where you can find most of the resources available on how to run a BarCamp. Therefore, I started to collect a few that helped during the processes.</p>
<p>This list is not complete and needs your participation to become thorough. So if you feel you want to add a link just <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jb250YWN0LW1l" target=\"_blank\">contact me</a> and I&#8217;ll put it straight away pointing out the person that sent it. Please use the <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jb250YWN0LW1l" target=\"_blank\">contact me section</a> also to report bad links and I&#8217;ll immediately try to solve the problem. Should you have general comments or want to suggest new sections, please use the comment form below. Do not post extra links in comments as I&#8217;d like to make the list complete.</p>
<p>There we go:</p>
<h2><span style="color: #cc3333;"> Basics</span></h2>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9CYXJDYW1w"id=\"j6cx\" title=\"What is a BarCamp?\" >What is a BarCamp?</a></p>
<p>Official Wikipedia description of what is a BarCamp</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3JlbWFya2suY29tLzIwMDcvMDIvMjUvZXNzYXktd2hhdC1pcy1hbi1vcGVuLWNyZWF0aXZlLWNvbW11bml0eQ=="id=\"sl3i\" title=\"What is an Open Creative Community\" >What is an Open Creative Community</a></p>
<p>These guys are my personal heroes. They organized the Toronto Transit Camp and got this article published on the Harvard Business Review.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL1doYXRUb0V4cGVjdA=="id=\"mphb\" title=\"What to expect at a Barcamp\" >What to expect at a Barcamp</a></p>
<p>The official BarCamp wiki gives info. Two articles about the Preparation and the Event day.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL1RoZVJ1bGVzT2ZCYXJDYW1w"id=\"zj_8\" title=\"The Rules of BarCamps\" >The Rules of BarCamps</a></p>
<p>Few rules that I personally suggest to integrate with <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX1NwYWNlX1RlY2hub2xvZ3k="id=\"a0lx\" title=\"OST\" >OST</a></p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL1ByZXZpb3VzQmFyQ2FtcHM="id=\"pasw\" title=\"Previous BarCamp events\" >Previous BarCamp events</a></p>
<p>You need to have a look at what has been previously done. What tools have been used? How has the wiki been modified?</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldS5zb2NpYWx0ZXh0Lm5ldC93ZWIyb3Blbi9pbmRleC5jZ2k/dGhlX29wZW5fZ3JpZA=="id=\"kw.l\" title=\"The Open Grid\" >The Open Grid</a></p>
<p>Some BarCamps have adopted this method to run the camp. I really like it personally.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2dyb3Vwcy5nb29nbGUuY29tL2dyb3VwL2JhcmNhbXAv" target=\"_blank\">The BarCamp official Google Group</a></p>
<p>Where I got most of the inspiration. You&#8217;ll find great people in the group!</p>
<h2><span><span style="color: #cc3333;"> Get things done</span><span><span><span style="color: #cc3333;"> <span style="color: #cc3333;">new!</span></span></span></span></span></h2>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL0hvd1RvR2V0U3RhcnRlZA=="id=\"wlq9\" title=\"How to get Started\" >How to get Started</a></p>
<p>Great info for the planning stage. Sets you clear objectives and an idea of to do&#8217;s.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL0JhckNhbXBUZW1wbGF0ZQ=="id=\"nt-v\" title=\"The BarCamp Template\" >The BarCamp Template</a></p>
<p>A great starting point. Not only for BarCamps but for any kind of event. Gives you a clear picture of what you need to evaluate.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iZWhpbmRlcnRlbnBhcmtwbGF0ei5kZS9jbC8yMDA3LzEwLzEyLzg1MC8="id=\"m8c8\" title=\"Making your BarCamp accessible\" >Making your BarCamp accessible</a></p>
<p>The most important for me. The concept behind Open Source is accessibility. You need to ensure that if you&#8217;re hosting any kind of event but even more if you&#8217;re up to a BarCamp.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL0NhbXBLaXQ="id=\"nywj\" title=\"BarCamp Kit\" >BarCamp Kit</a></p>
<p>Great information on what you should bring along when planning a camp</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL0JhckNhbXBMQS00UGxhbm5pbmc="id=\"j:dw\" title=\"Planning and Budgeting\" >Planning and Budgeting</a></p>
<p>Again BarCampLA planning and budget. Great information on what you need to consider.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXBsYS5vcmcvMTEvMDIvMjAwNy9oaXRjaGhpa2Vycy1ndWlkZS10by1iYXJjYW1wbGEv"id=\"n04e\" title=\"BarCampLA guide\" >BarCampLA guide</a></p>
<p>BarCampLA has been a successful BarCamp. I was very inspired from their work. Have a look at how they managed audience education.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub25saW5lZ3JvdXBzLm5ldC8=">Set up a free Mailing List</a> <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub25saW5lZ3JvdXBzLm5ldC8="> </a></p>
<p>BarCamp Online Groups allows you to do that</p>
<h2><span style="color: #cc3333;"> How to&#8217;s</span></h2>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbGV2ZXJjbGV2ZXJnaXJsLmNvbS8/cD0xMA=="id=\"mmyk\" title=\"10 Steps on how to run a BarCamp\" >10 Steps on how to run a BarCamp</a></p>
<p>This is a great post with practical information. It really helped out. Great tips for promotion and wiki setting</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2NoaW1wcmF3ay5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb20vMjAwNi8wNy9hZHZpY2UtZm9yLXBsYW5uaW5nLWJhci1jYW1wLmh0bWw="id=\"euxg\" title=\"Advice on how to run a BarCamp\" >Advice on how to run a BarCamp</a></p>
<p>A great post with great information. I&#8217;d suggest it is more about telling you what your approach should be. It worked for me.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWl0cmFuamFuLmNvbS8yMDA2LzAzLzE3L2R1bW15cy1ndWlkZS10by1vcmdhbml6aW5nLWEtYmFyY2FtcC1pbi15b3VyLWNpdHk="id=\"d6vx\" title=\"Dummies Guide to BarCamp\" >Dummies Guide to BarCamp</a></p>
<p>Every respectful discipline has its own dummies guide. This one is particularly comprehensive and gives you precise tips based on an BarCamp experience. I loved the local approach of the post.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #cc3333;"> the (Pb)wiki</span></h2>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL1VzaW5nVGhlQmFyQ2FtcFdpa2k="id=\"dwb8\" title=\"On using the wiki\" >On using the wiki</a></p>
<p>If you&#8217;re hosting a camp you&#8217;ll probably end up using pbwiki</p>
<p>-  <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3l1bW15LnBid2lraS5jb20vV2lraVN0eWxl"id=\"ylg-\" title=\"How to format the wiki page\" >How to format the wiki page</a></p>
<p>Pbwiki formatting can be tricky I suggest to have a look at previous BarCamp events to get inspired</p>
<p>-  <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3Bid2lraWNlbnRyYWwucGJ3aWtpLmNvbS9BZHZhbmNlZFdpa2lTdHlsZQ=="id=\"a0ih\" title=\"Advanced Pbwiki Formatting\" >Advanced Pbwiki Formatting</a></p>
<p>If you want to customize, insert a table of contents, change color of font and so forth.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #cc3333;">Videos<br />
</span></h2>
<p>-  <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3lvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9YXowRTEtc2dYTjQ=" target=\"_blank\">BarCamp Nashville</a></p>
<p>More than 530 people. They claim to be the first unconference!</p>
<p>-  <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3lvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9RHNHV3VYeXdaNm8=" target=\"_blank\">BarCamp Orlando - What is a BarCamp</a></p>
<p>A great video to explain what is a BarCamp. I&#8217;d use on of them to explain crucial things such as the wiki, the blog, the culture and the approach.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3lvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9N1hscUVESUp6Znc=" target=\"_blank\">BarCamp SF - What is BarCamp</a></p>
<p>Great interviews with people talking about BarCamps</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL291cm1lZGlhLm9yZy9ub2RlLzM4MDEzNz9mb3JtYXQ9Zmx2">BarCampMilwaukee2</a></p>
<p>I really love this video. I think it gives you a clear idea of what happens ina Camp</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb25zdW1pbmdleHBlcmllbmNlLmNvbS8yMDA4LzAyL2JhcmNhbXBsb25kb24zLWxpc3Qtb2YtdmlkZW9zLmh0bWw=">BarCampLondon</a></p>
<p>A very useful collection of videos on this Camp as well as the future of BarCamps</p>
<h2><span style="color: #cc3333;">External resources</span></h2>
<p>-  <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudGJyaXRlLmNvbS9zcGxhc2g="id=\"hm7l\" title=\"Eventbrite.com\" >Eventbrite.com</a></p>
<p>A lot of BarCamps have relied on this platform to manage subscriptions. You can also set a price for the ticket if you wish.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL21lZXR1cC5jb20v"id=\"i2c5\" title=\"MeetUp\" >MeetUp</a></p>
<p>Some camps us MeetUp to manage interaction and meetings</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9wcm9qZWN0LW1hbmFnZW1lbnQ="id=\"o:74\" title=\"Project Management Resources\" >Project Management Resources</a></p>
<p>What I&#8217;ve collected for your project management needs.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy51c3RyZWFtLnR2">Ustream</a> <em><strong><span><span style="color: #cc3333;">new !!</span></span></strong></em></p>
<p>We&#8217;ve set up and run 2 rooms to broadcast the event. Nice and easy with the chance to moderate comments and to interact in a chat. If viewers have their own channel they can be added to the show making it a video conference.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=134" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=20%2B+resources+for+a+smooth+BarCamp&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F01%2F20-resources-for-a-smooth-barcamp.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Why my blog is useless&#8230;or is it?</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/why-my-blog-is-uselessor-is-it.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/why-my-blog-is-uselessor-is-it.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:21:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[psychology of events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/why-my-blog-is-uselessor-is-it.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I started this blog I had clear goals in mind. I wanted to share whatever I learned when organizing events. I thought that it could have been a great resources blog for those seeking for tips, tools, templates and solutions.I had to surrender to communities. While I dove into the blogosphere I discovered new [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Why my blog is useless&#8230;or is it?", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/why-my-blog-is-uselessor-is-it.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS91cGxvYWRzLzIwMDgvMDEveWVzY29tbXVuaXR5MS5qcGc=" title=\"yes community\"><img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/uploads/2008/01/yescommunity1.jpg" alt="yes community" align="left" hspace="5" /></a>When I started this blog I had clear goals in mind. I wanted to share whatever I learned when organizing events. I thought that it could have been a great resources blog for those seeking for tips, tools, templates and solutions.I had to surrender to communities. While I dove into the blogosphere I discovered new approaches, I started new conversations. Most of all,  I discovered <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX1NwYWNlX1RlY2hub2xvZ3k=" target=\"_blank\">Open Space Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9CYXJDYW1w" target=\"_blank\">Barcamps</a> and User Generated Conferences.</p>
<p>The thing is <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9vcGVuLXNvdXJjZQ==" target=\"_blank\">two heads are better than one</a> and there&#8217;s no doubt about it. Therefore, I started to include other&#8217;s opinion with featured interviews. It felt better&#8230;</p>
<p>After that I came to a couple of conclusions:</p>
<p><strong>1.</strong> The great thing about being open is that information is available. It is there. If you check the <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3Jn" target=\"_blank\">Barcamp</a> wiki, you&#8217;ll probably find 75% (well maybe 80%, let&#8217;s say 85%) of the information you&#8217;ll get in an Event Management Diploma/Course/Master/Degree.</p>
<p>For example you might want to check:</p>
<p>-<a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL1Nwb25zb3Jpbmc=" target=\"_blank\">http://barcamp.org/Sponsoring</a><br />
-<a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL0JhckNhbXBMQS00UGxhbm5pbmc=" target=\"_blank\">http://barcamp.org/BarCampLA-4Planning</a><br />
-<a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2JhcmNhbXAub3JnL0JhckNhbXBIb3N0aW5nUG9pbnRz" target=\"_blank\">http://barcamp.org/BarCampHostingPoints</a><br />
-<a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2dldHNhdGlzZmFjdGlvbi5jb20vYmFyY2FtcA==" target=\"_blank\">http://getsatisfaction.com/barcamp</a></p>
<p>And this is just a small portion of what you can get.</p>
<p><strong> 2.</strong> I am submerged of requests asking how do you get involved into the business? How do you get work experience? How can you practice?</p>
<p>If you get involved in a Barcamp you&#8217;ll get Event Management experience. No catering, no staffing, but you&#8217;ll be able to test yourself with managing, coordinating, work under pressure. The question here is do you want to be an event manager? If so <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2dyb3Vwcy5nb29nbGUuY29tL2dyb3VwL2JhcmNhbXA=" target=\"_blank\">join your local Barcamp</a> and start contributing.</p>
<p>Getting back to my point, I don&#8217;t think this blog is useless as long as it contributes to the conversation. I found new motivation in sharing open contents with <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS9uby1hZHMtdGhhbmsteW91" target=\"_blank\">no ads</a> and for free, now that seems to me like a good use.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=130" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=Why+my+blog+is+useless%26%238230%3Bor+is+it%3F&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fwhy-my-blog-is-uselessor-is-it.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>These feet were made for walking</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/these-feet-were-made-for-walking.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/these-feet-were-made-for-walking.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:33:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Event Planning 2.0]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[psychology of events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/these-feet-were-made-for-walking.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Picture this. An important conference/meeting. An endless bullet point presentation of obvious things you already know. Boring minutes waisted, but you have to stay there. Maybe your boss forced you to, or maybe you&#8217;re there because you are waiting for the big name, which has been wisely scheduled at the end of the day. Or [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "These feet were made for walking", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2008/01/these-feet-were-made-for-walking.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS91cGxvYWRzLzIwMDgvMDMvZm90b2xpYV8zOTgzNzg4X3MuanBn" title=\"fotolia_3983788_s.jpg\"><img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/uploads/2008/03/fotolia_3983788_s.jpg" alt="fotolia_3983788_s.jpg" align="top" /></a></p>
<p>Picture this. An important conference/meeting. An endless bullet point presentation of obvious things you already know. Boring minutes waisted, but you have to stay there. Maybe your boss forced you to, or maybe you&#8217;re there because you are waiting for the big name, which has been wisely scheduled at the end of the day. Or simply you thought that maybe that subject might have been of interest, but after all it turned to be a boring experience.</p>
<p>On the other hand, think about coffee breaks and the great networking you&#8217;ve been able to do. Think about when you were able to discuss cool subjects with a person that shared your same interests.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS8yMDA3LzEyL29wZW4tc291cmNpbmcteW91ci1ldmVudC1hLWZlYXR1cmVkLWludGVydmlldy13aXRoLWhhcnJpc29uLW93ZW4uaHRtbA==" target=\"_blank\">Harrison Owen</a> should be acclaimed as the <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9MaW51c19Ub3J2YWxkcw==" target=\"_blank\">Linus Torvalds</a> of events. He insists in his great <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL09wZW4tU3BhY2UtVGVjaG5vbG9neS1Vc2Vycy1HdWlkZS9kcC8xNTc2NzUwMjQ4L3JlZj1zcl8xXzE/aWU9VVRGOCZhbXA7cz1ib29rcyZhbXA7cWlkPTExOTczOTEyODYmYW1wO3NyPTgtMQ==" target=\"_blank\">book</a> (a must read for every event manager out there) that he was amazed to see how the most popular part of his (and our) events were coffee breaks, the true moment when people were left to themselves and thus able to interact.</p>
<p>He started <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX1NwYWNlX1RlY2hub2xvZ3k=" target=\"_blank\">Open Space Technology</a> (OST). OST is what turns a boring conference in an endless coffee break which actually produces something.</p>
<p>I think that the greatest innovation of OST is that it has only one law. The Law of the Two Feet:</p>
<blockquote><p><font face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Briefly stated, this law says that every individual has two feet, and must be prepared to use them. Responsibility for a successful outcome in any Open Space Event resides with exactly one person &#8212; each participant. Individuals can make a difference and must make a difference. If that is not true in a given situation, they, and they alone, must take responsibility to use their two feet, and move to a new place where they can make a difference. This departure need not be made in anger or hostility, but only after honoring the people involved and the space they occupy. By word or gesture, indicate that you have nothing further to contribute, wish them well, and go and do something useful.</font><br />
- Harrison Owen from <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5vcGVuc3BhY2V3b3JsZC5jb20vdXNlcnNfZ3VpZGUuaHRt" target=\"_blank\">http://www.openspaceworld.com/users_guide.htm </a></p></blockquote>
<p>Can you think of developments of such statement.</p>
<p>The great thing about this law is that it gives boundaries, should you want to apply the <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX3NvdXJjZQ==" target=\"_blank\">Open Source</a> approach to events. When you are very open to share there will always be someone who will  try to take advantage of the situation. The Law of the Two Feet tells you that you are free, should you not like what you are listening to, to walk away. That is a right and a duty. If you feel you are not collaborating, you might want to go somewhere else where your contribution is needed.</p>
<p>Regular conference attendees might feel lost because they do not know what collaboration is in a meeting context.</p>
<p>OST aims to produce something and no session is previously scheduled. Several people gather and decide what to discuss and then produce a report or a project. The Law of the two Feet is what keeps everything together.</p>
<p>I invite everyone of you reading this post to start introducing these concepts in small doses in your next event. I am convinced that allowing participants to collaborate and to use their feet will raise satisfaction of participants AND sponsors to the roof (and now is talking the marketer in me).</p>
<p>If you want to discuss how to introduce OST to your next event, comment on this post or simply email me I&#8217;ll do my best to help you out.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=128" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=These+feet+were+made+for+walking&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fthese-feet-were-made-for-walking.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Open sourcing your event. A featured interview with Harrison Owen</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/12/open-sourcing-your-event-a-featured-interview-with-harrison-owen.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/12/open-sourcing-your-event-a-featured-interview-with-harrison-owen.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:18:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Julius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[event management]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[famous event planners]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[interviews]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[psychology of events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/12/open-sourcing-your-event-a-featured-interview-with-harrison-owen.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is a great honor for this blog to host Harrison Owen as a part of the featured interviews section.
Harrison has worked on virtually every continent with  organizations ranging from small villages to large corporations and NGOs. His  major concern has been to assist organizations as they negotiate a transforming  world. In [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Open sourcing your event. A featured interview with Harrison Owen", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/12/open-sourcing-your-event-a-featured-interview-with-harrison-owen.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is a great honor for this blog to host Harrison Owen as a part of the featured interviews section.</p>
<p><font><font face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Harrison has worked on virtually every continent with  organizations ranging from small villages to large corporations and NGOs. His  major concern has been to assist organizations as they negotiate a transforming  world. In some cases his role has been little more than holding the hands of the  anxious. In other situations his function was more overt, assisting  organizations in the sometimes painful process of self-understanding and  renewal. In all situations the organizational mythology and culture was the  focal point, and the power of self-organization the ultimate driver.</font></font></p>
<p>For what concerns events Harrison Owen is the voice of <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX1NwYWNlX1RlY2hub2xvZ3k=" title=\"What is Open Space Technology?\">Open Space Technology </a> which he has theorized and discussed in his masterpiece <em>Open Space Technology: A User&#8217;s Guide</em> which I invite you to <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL09wZW4tU3BhY2UtVGVjaG5vbG9neS1Vc2Vycy1HdWlkZS9kcC8xNTc2NzUwMjQ4L3JlZj1zcl8xXzE/aWU9VVRGOCZhbXA7cz1ib29rcyZhbXA7cWlkPTExOTczOTEyODYmYW1wO3NyPTgtMQ==" title=\"link where you can purchase the book\" target=\"_blank\">read</a>  if you approaching the world of Barcamps, Unconferences or simply if you want to add a flare of Open Source concepts to your event.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s see what Harrison has told us.</p>
<p><em><font color="#cc3333">- What is the role (if there is one) of event coordinators in Open Space Technology (OST) events?</font></em></p>
<p>Pretty much the same as in all other events - taking care of space, logistics, and meals. But it is a lot simpler because the meeting basically runs itself (self-organization) and the participants take responsibility for their needs and actions. Even with very large gatherings (1000-2000+) this is true. In a curious way, the real trick is NOT to do stuff.</p>
<p><em><font color="#cc3333">- What are the first steps we should take to integrate OST practices in our next event?</font></em></p>
<p>The very first step is to really make sure that you actually want to use Open Space. Open Space is marvelous when you have highly complex issues and a great diversity of participants. It is absolutely the wrong thing if the sponsor wants to remain in control of what is going on, both in terms of the happenings during the gathering and the final results. Control resides with the participants who will decide what they want to talk about, how they want to do that - and the conclusions that result will be theirs. This may sound like total chaos and pandemonium but the experience is that the people will take charge of what they care about and the results can be almost mind-blowing. For example a group of engineers at Boeing re-designed the manufacturing process for making doors on their airplanes. They did this in two days when everybody &#8220;knew&#8221; that doing something like this could take several years. Not every Open Space produces results like that, but after 20 years and several 100,000 iterations in 134 countries it has become quite clear that the Boeing experience is not unique.</p>
<p><em><font color="#cc3333">- Three attributes of the perfect OST event</font></em></p>
<p>I hate to say it, but every Open Space is perfect J And the common attributes are 1) High Learning - folks regularly think impossible thoughts and come up with unthinkable solutions. 2) High Play - everything takes place in a playful, albeit respectful environment. Even when the central issue is deadly serious (as with Palestinians and Israelis working on the issues of war and peace) - it is quite common to hear laughter breaking out followed by hugs. 3) Appropriate structure and control - the level of structure and control in the typical Open Space event is so complex that no planning committee would even dare suggest it, but that structure and control is all emergent. It comes from the people themselves. In a gathering of 2108 German Psychiatrists, the participants created 236 concurrent sessions which all ran over the course of a single day and each session produced a written report. That is complex structure and control! 4) Genuine Community - One of the curious things about Open Space is that even mortal enemies (literally people who have been killing each other) will treat each other with respect, and most often end up liking each other (hugs).</p>
<p><em><font color="#cc3333"><br />
- Why a sponsor would like to support an OST event?</font></em></p>
<p>The predisposing conditions for an Open Space are as follows: 1) A real business issue, however you might define &#8220;business - that people really care about. 2) Enormous complexity in terms of that issue such that no single person or even a very smart group could possibly get their arms around it. 3) Great diversity of the participants in terms of points of view, disciplines, economic status, education etc. 4) Lot of passion and conflict. 5) A Decision time of yesterday - in short this is an issue that needs to be dealt with NOW!</p>
<p><em><font color="#cc3333">- What is the role of volunteers in OST?</font></em></p>
<p>If by &#8220;volunteers&#8221; you mean people that help out, but don&#8217;t participate - that role is minimal to non-existent. Everybody there should care to be there - and if they don&#8217;t care about the issue, no reason for them to come. And if they are there, and do care - the will take care of just about everything. Seems to work every time.</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=65" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=Open+sourcing+your+event.+A+featured+interview+with+Harrison+Owen&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fopen-sourcing-your-event-a-featured-interview-with-harrison-owen.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The death of the conference oligarchy</title>
		<link>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/09/death-of-conference-oligarchy.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/09/death-of-conference-oligarchy.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:37:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>tojulius</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[BarCamp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[open source]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/?p=42</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the recent post on how conferences and events should be more unconferences and unevents, I realize few parts of the above need more information.
So here are the links that Wikipedia makes on Unconference, Foo Camp, Open Space, Dynamic Facilitation, Appreciative Inquiry , Speed Geeking, 
- The Unconference Blog- The Open Space Technology- Introduction to [...]<script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The death of the conference oligarchy", url: "http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/2007/09/death-of-conference-oligarchy.html" });</script>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Following the <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldmVudG1hbmFnZXJibG9nLmNvbS8yMDA3LzA5L3Rvd2FyZC1kZWZpbml0aW9uLW9mLW9wZW4tc291cmNlLWV2ZW50cy5odG1s">recent post</a> on how conferences and events should be more unconferences and unevents, I realize few parts of the above need more information.</p>
<p>So here are the links that Wikipedia makes on Unconference, Foo Camp, Open Space, Dynamic Facilitation, Appreciative Inquiry , Speed Geeking, </p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3VuY29uZmVyZW5jZS5uZXQ=">The Unconference Blog</a><br />- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL2VuLndpa2lwZWRpYS5vcmcvd2lraS9PcGVuX1NwYWNlX1RlY2hub2xvZ3k=">The Open Space Technology</a><br />- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5rYWxpeWFzYmxvZ3MubmV0L0ludHJvT3BlblNwYWNlLnBkZg==">Introduction to Open Space</a><br />- <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV3b3JsZGNhZmUuY29tLw==">World Caf</p>
 <img src="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/wp-content/plugins/feed-statistics.php?view=1&post_id=42" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;" />                                                        <p><center>&copy; by Julius Solaris  - visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com">my blog</a> for more great content.</center></p>                                          <p><a href="http://sharethis.com/item?&wp=2.5.1&amp;publisher=ebd0c462-133b-4622-9ccf-7a65a95c6ffb&amp;title=The+death+of+the+conference+oligarchy&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventmanagerblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fdeath-of-conference-oligarchy.html">ShareThis</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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