The UnConference That Isn’t
There is something that nobody is saying, that needs to be said, so I’m going to say it. Lately, it seems that unconferences are looking more like regular conferences and it’s starting to bug me.
For those of you who may not know, “unconferences” (as I understand them - feel free to correct me in the comments if I’m wrong) are loosely organized events with no set agenda, speakers or topics. The overall theme is understood in advance (technology, blogging, podcasting, etc.) but the topics for discussion are chosen the day of the event by the participants and everyone who comes is expected to participate. Except for vendors or companies. They can contribute dollars or space or food/beverage but are NOT allowed to talk because as greedy profit-centric enterprises they cannot help themselves from pitching their product and would inevitably ruin any discussion in which they were allowed to give an opinion. (I disagree with the premise although I understand the logic.)
In essence, the unconference is suppose to be the antithesis of a regular conference - regular conferences where sponsors are given exposure and bore the attendees with uninspired PowerPoint slides and sales-pitch-infested panels. Here, the attendees choose the “discussion leaders” (remember - no speakers) rather than the conference organizer.
The problem is that events like Podcamp NYC these days seem to have everything else a “regular” conference has. But because it’s called an “unconference”, they get to say things on their website like, “Unlike a regular conference where speaking slots are allotted only to the highest bidder, Unconferences are by you, for you.”
Nonsense.
Podcamp NYC has 38 sponsors, a website that sure looks a heckuvalot like a regular conference website (sponsors, agendas, schedules, press/media pages, registration, etc.), speakers who are from vendors & sponsors, and even conference tracks. Hardly what Dave Winer describes as an unconference and 180 degrees from the first unconference I had heard ever heard of - Bloggercon (although I am sure there were variations of the idea before that).
Now, as someone who represents the evil empire of a regular tradeshow organizer, I can see the angst of attendees who pay $895 for a conference only to endure panelists who have nothing really unique to say and are there only to promote themselves and their company. I’ve said many times before that panels filled with sponsors are a disservice to the attendees.
But c’mon folks - lots of unconferences these days are regular conferences in disguise and need to come clean. I remember seeing one unconference offering an “overall event sponsorship” for $10,000!
I have no problem with having events around the country that promote podcasting - every one of them that gets the word out makes my job of explaining it to potential exhibitors a whole lot easier. And I’m not picking on Podcamps. In fact, we’re working on having an Podcamp the day before the Podcast and New Media Expo starts because I believe in the concept and want it to succeed.
But let’s call a duck a duck. Some of you are in the conference business and you need to admit it. I welcome you to the industry and I hope to see you at the Society for Independent Show Organizers meeting later this month in Miami and encourage you to become a member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:33 pm |
tim, though i can’t speak for any other event but the one (Podcamp) that we ran in Toronto, i would like to say a few things:
1) since anyone can sign up, any individual could in theory put up a session about their product.
2) podcamp NYC is different from most Podcamps. they have so many attendees it’s almost out of control. Podcamp Toronto had about 300, but as I understand it, they’re about to hit 1,000. a lot of the extra stuff, like the sponsors, has surely gone to deal with this massive influx of people.
i suspect that the largest difference, as the Wikipedia page confirms, is that the sessions and general direction of the conference is led by participants (attendees, whatever) instead of organizers. to that degree, podcamps (including the NYC one) have remained pretty true to the idea– especially for people who, let’s admit it, mostly have never done this before!
March 20th, 2007 at 5:03 am |
Tim
I fully appreciate the feedback! Your points are both thought provoking and useful insofar as they keep the unconferencer in check.
The one issue I have with your post (and this is by no means an attack, rather it is a way to help me better understand your concerns and reconcile them in my own mind) is when you say this:
“But let’s call a duck a duck. Some of you are in the conference business and you need to admit it.”
I have taken a bit from Wikipedia about the word business and would like to layer it on this statement:
The etymology of “business” refers to the state of being busy, in the context of the individual as well as the community or society. In other words, to be busy is to be doing commercially viable and profitable work.
…and so lies the essence of my concerns about your statement.
If we were to call a duck a duck, and call Podcampnyc a part of the traditional conference business, there would need to be an underlying motive towards profitability.
Podcampnyc would, in essence need to doing, “commercially viable and profitable work”.
I do agree that Podcampnyc is profitable but, profitable in the sense that users will walk away with a wealth of knowledge for no cost. That is indeed profit.
Holding a conference that speaks about any type of media in the media capital of the world is destined to draw a large crowd and command a greater degree of organization still; do you posit that this sense of organization takes away from the essence of the unconference?
I sincerely think your comments are helpful and this comment is not an attempt to change your mind. I am admittedly one of the organizers of podcampnyc but this comment is not on behalf of the group.
This comment comes directly from my heart and from my passion for the movement started by Chris Brogan. If you sincerely feel that we are compromising the integrity of this movement, I would like to know.
If you are a supporter of this movement and feel podcampnyc has not strayed to far from the path you think it should be on, and are dedicated to help steer it back, please call me and I promise your voice will not only be heard but appreciated.
After all, this is OUR unconference. Not mine, not John Havens (who she be praised for his undying devotion to making this happen) and not Chris Brogan’s. This is something that belongs to all of us.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:46 am |
Hi Tim - This is Eric Skiff, one of the planners of both BarCampNYC and PodCampNYC.
Let me start off by saying that the “slots go to highest bidders” statement on our site is needlessly antagonistic, and indeed nonsense. It’s a holdover from the early days of Podcamp (when we were scrappy and still getting our feet under us, and getting informed). It needs to go, and we’re working on it right now.
I’ll be the first to admit that due to the size of the event and the cost of NYC, this is the most “conference-like” unconference I’ve worked on.
That said, there’s still some important points that make PodCampNYC different from a traditional conference:
Were all volunteers
None of us are making money here. In fact, several of us outlay cash to make the event happen, hoping to be reimbursed by sponsorships by the time the event goes off.
I’m not against for-profit conferences, but being a community organized event means we’re all focused solely on making the best event possible.
Anyone can speak
This includs sponsors, although we ask everyone to share knowledge, rather than pitch a product.
Anyone can come
The event is free for attendees and speakers.
To me, the unconference model is more about saying “hey, there are experts right here in our back yard - lets get together!” than deliberately trying to be the ‘anti-conference’. We do our best to make the event accessible and help facilitate the exchange of knowledge.
Because everyone is encouraged to speak, you get a very different set of voices than at a traditional conference, for better or worse. I personally love the passion that speakers bring to barcamps and podcamps. The main incentive to speak is that they love what they’re talking about, and they want to share.
If an unconference becomes profit-driven, starts arranging keynote speakers or hand-picking who can talk, then I’ll be right here with you debating the “un” in their name, but from where I sit right now, PodCampNYC is still much more “un” than “conference” in all the ways that matter.
Of course, being one of the organizers probably makes me a little biased
March 20th, 2007 at 6:28 am |
Hi Tim,
First off, let me say that the ““Unlike a regular conference where speaking slots are allotted only to the highest bidder” language is unfortunate and I very much appreciate your bringing it to light. It does not reflect the spirit of collaboration I became so enamored with at Podcamp Boston and certainly is not fair to anyone who runs a “traditional” conference inasmuch as it presents a “we’re better than you” attitude, which again, is the opposite of the core philosophy of Podcamp (as I understand it) so I’m removing said language from the site and apologize on my behalf and the team’s for having it up there in the first place. As someone who attended PMEII and fully understood how hard you/your team worked to put together a great conference, I would never want to demean your efforts and the speakers I heard were top notch. Plus the booths on the trade show floor were done very tastefully and although people talked about their services I didn’t feel overtly pitched to (where someone held out a credit card machine or what have you). The energy at PMEII was really vibrant, and the content extremely useful.
Beyond which, and I’d like to say this because it’s true, PPME put podcasting conferences on the map to a large degree. At least from my perspective as the About.com Guide to Podcasting. Having a “traditional” conference present speakers and sponsors around the subjects of podcasting and new media validated to certain circles the fact that these technologies were not simply fads but lasting tools to enhance business and life alike. Keep in mind, however (and I hope this is obvious since I’m helping to run PodCamp NYC) I do NOT mean to imply that Podcamp or any Barcamp for that matter does not have a legitimacy and validity of its own; I just mean that many traditional media outlets and corporate circles will not take certain new media seriously until it’s presented within a framework and paradigm that they’re used to. And this is not wrong, bad, or evil. It’s about connecting with people where they are.
I appreciate the fact you think the site looks like one a “traditional” conference might have. That was part of the PodCamp NYC’s mission; to engage “traditional” media types and an audience away from
the core new media community to introduce them to the ideas/philosophies we hold so dear. Plus, we’re in NYC; not inviting folks from the traditional media to learn how they tell stories and connect
with people effectively didn’t make sense to us, especially since there are often so many calls to “get the word out” about new media/podcasting. Keep in mind, however, that we (PodCamp NYC or any Podcamp) cannot “sell out” in terms of who our speakers are or what they say inasmuch that if we were to actually violate the central tenets of Podcamp (charge for the conference, have keynotes,
etc.) we’d get so flamed online and such a bad reputation that we wouldn’t be Podcamp anymore. The Boston founders created a brilliant model in numerous ways because it’s self-patrolling; the community provides more checks and balances that any board of directors ever could. And that’s a great thing.
Big point here, however: PodCamp NYC, like all podcamps is very different from other conferences inasmuch as we do NOT charge for the event. That is sort of a major differentiation point, yes? And
due to that model, the barrier to entry of money is removed which is a pretty big deal to a lot of potential participants. This does not mean that paying for a conference makes it unworthy, “corporate” or less valid/meaningful than one where you don’t. It just means more people may show up who wouldn’t otherwise. (Although our team debated for a long time at one point about the mentality of a free event and how people may not show up on the day because they haven’t paid).
This factor, and it’s not minor, is why we’re not technically a business. No PodCamp NYC organizer is getting paid. Anything. And our team has worked for the past six months to organize PodCamp NYC for free, many of us working three or four nine hour days a week to make the event happen. We do have sponsors and I’m proud and flattered they’re willing to take a risk on giving us money/resources
to make the event happen because although the Podcamp model is now so firmly established, PodCamp NYC is in its inagural year. If you or anyone else comes, are you potentially going to see
someone speaking who sounds like they’re pitching? Most likely you will. As I did in Podcamp Boston, PPME, and any other large gathering of folks I’ve attended. Hopefully at PodCamp NYC our telling them to please not pitch will alter the way they present their material, but this is why the “law of two feet” is such a great tenet of Podcamp; if you are offended, irritated, bored, put off, no worries. Just leave. We’d ask you to do it without fanfare/grumbling, but there is so much content taking place from so many amazingly talented people you’re bound to find someone you want to listen to, pitchy or not.
And there are folks speaking who are also our sponsors or from sponsor companies. Did they “buy” their slots? Technically, no, since we don’t pay anyone. But we also didn’t hold spots for sponsors and
promise them slots if they gave money. We told them the same thing we told everyone else: “sign up now before all the spots are filled.” And, by the by, we closed off the sessions list (unlike other Podcamps) because we didn’t want to dilute the audience more than they already are, and we’re keeping spaces open (a number of them) for folks to network and hang out, and start impromptu “lighting sessions” of their own.
Let me say once again, Tim, that I really respect what you do and value your conference and show very highly. You/PPME (and I know the name has changed, by the by; referring to when I
originally got involved with podcasting) have been providing value added, solid information with top notch talent all along. So thank you for that and best of luck on all of your conferences, and I would
personally love to speak at an event you chair. I’d be honored.
But in conclusion, let me firmly state: PodCamp NYC does not charge and never will if we continue in future years. Speakers and organizers are not paid. We do have sponsors and want to appear
“professional”/organized to them so they can see Return on Investment BEFORE they come to the event (and if they’re like me, become evangelists for the community). I am certain I’ve made many
mistakes in organizing PodCamp NYC and am the first to admit to my fallability and lack of judgement at times. But bear in mind we have a group of amazingly talented organizers (including Jason Van
Orden, Laura Allen, Howard Greenstein, Adam Broitman, Sara Steigerwald, Eric Skiff, Whitney Hoffman, Dr. Kathleen King, Ken Jamieson, and multiple folks at the New School) and we all keep each other
in check. I am only “lead” organizer in the sense that I try to move everything forward with the big picture versus being “in charge.” We’ve very much an organized “ad hocracy” (Eric Skiff’s great term,
I think) and I am very proud of our work so far and hope you, Tim, and other folks of your standing in our community can support us by emphasizing the great content and folks attending so “newbies” who
come (whether from traditional media or a large contingent of teachers also attending which I’m thrilled about) will not just become enamored with the words that session leaders say, but by the
overwhelmingly positive energy I believe will be there on the day from a mass of people excited about being in an atmosphere that I first experienced at Podcamp Boston.
March 20th, 2007 at 7:08 am |
John and Adam,
Thanks very much for the comments. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what you both are doing. Putting together an event like Podcamp NYC is a lot of work.
I think the point I’m trying to make is that there is sometimes all conferences are painted with the same brush in which we sell our conference sessions to our sponsors. In my case it’s absolutely not true and I work hard to make sure we don’t fall into that category. But I also think some of the unconference organizers are realizing that large events cost money and having sponsors is a necessary part of putting them together. But it doesn’t have to mean “selling out.”
Thanks for your posts - I do appreciate it and hope to see you both in September.
Tim
March 24th, 2007 at 2:29 pm |
I love this, Tim. Excellent points all the way around. You’ve hit quite an interesting bunch of notes, and I support your point of view immensely.
I’m sure not going to write a vast missive like some of my other friends. Instead, I’ll say this:
*You are a prince among “traditional” conference venues, and your commitment to community shows in all the outreach you do ahead of the event.
*As I currently am paid 60% of my salary from a “traditional” conference, VON (Video on the Net, specifically), I can’t throw stones. Events are events, and “unconference” should just mean lightweight planning method, assuming a certain level of transparency.
*I look forward to PME in September, and hope we can have a moment to chat. : )
–Chris Brogan…
co-Founder of PodCamp
March 28th, 2007 at 6:52 am |
[...] Tim Bourquin, producer of one of the most important conferences in podcasting called the Podcast & New Media Expo (PME), wrote a lengthy post on his blog surmising that the unconferences, in particular Podcamp NY, is operating under the guise of a conference. [...]
March 29th, 2007 at 12:38 pm |
Hi Tim!
I am also a Podcamp NYC organizer, and a Podcamp Philly organizer. My sponsorship of PC NYC is sweat equity, not cash. HOURS of registering people on the wiki; HOURS of trying to schedule things so there is some sort of flow for close to 1,000 people; I am fortunate my family is still talking to me. My hourly rate as a consultant or attorney is far beyond what anyone putting together a podcamp could afford, and I donate my time because I love the sharing, the simple amount of information I get in a short period of time, and a bottom-up atmosphere with minimal Important Folks Versus The Unwashed- everyone is a participant. I present to share, not to promote.
The line between unconferences and conferences gets blurry when the numbers get huge- a different level of planning and thought and space are required. Should we just stop taking people? When? I don’t know the answer to this… this is the biggest podcamp so far.
And believe me- I want to see podcamp NYC do well, because it helps us all, and letting it turn into an unorganized bar brawl rather than barcamp is doing no one a service- least of those experiencing an unconference for the first time.
I;ve been to 2 podcamps so far, and I like the intimacy of groups between 200 - 300- we’ll have to see how this one goes. But because it is a podcamp, we’re not afraid to make mistakes, either. And admit them, learn from them, and make each new podcamp just a little better than the one before.
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:19 am |
Wow what a great thread! This is what it’s all about -getting the conversation going. Nice work Tim.
Chris Brogan hit the nail on the head for me. The PME is a commitment to the podcast community that I really enjoy being a part of. I have met so many cool people at the PME’s of the past. But I also met some great folks at the San Francisco Podcamp. I am disappointed I cannot be a part of the Podcamp NYC this year but I did throw a few dollars in as a sponsorship for them. Something a small company like ours has not been able to do at the PME each year. I really do think Pod camps have a place as Tim stated. The landscape is really changing for events & media. Bar camps, Pod camps, Second life, meetups, who knows what’s next. I myself have been flamed ferociously for talking about Second Life, podcasting, videocasting applications for real life events in the meetings forums.
I appreciate the conversation Tim.
A duck is a duck especially with a nice wine.