UnConference? How About McConference in Edinburgh… For Hogmanay.
“The same people speaking at a conference [in the same country], bitched about by the same people.” That would probably be the outsider’s view on the little ripple going around the Blogosphere from the pebbles started by the Supernova Conference Guest List (see here, here and here for starters), and Marc Canter’s declaration of ‘to the bar across the road!!!‘
Now, one of the eternal rules of life (especially when you approach a Warrant Officer) with a problem, is to propose a solution. So hats of to Canter for this approach, but part of me is wary about it. Let me tell you why.
About the timing of this Unconference opposite Supernova… Much as he may not agree with the guest list, these conferences cost a lot of money to put on – and most of that can be blamed on the hotels and venues that ramp up prices to crazy numbers. A recent quote I heard for a US based conference was $30 per head per continental breakfast, $40 per head for lunch, and $50 per head to provide a ‘free’ bar in the evening. And that’s just a few of the incidental costs. Scale this up to a 400 a head conference and you can see how easy Scoble’s numbers scare the complete crap out of a conference organiser.
On the flip side though a lot of naysayers will be in the area, and some may leak and register with Supernova, but the leeching of a location may seem very American Capitalist, but ethically it feels a bit wrong.
Okay, so as I said, what about my proposed solution? Well it goes something like this. You take the best elements of why a full conference would work, a fixed location, the promise of people speaking that are interesting, and the solidity of having something to plan against. Now take the best ideas of Unconference/BarCamp and provide free space, give the delegates the ability to choose the speakers (and a keynote speaker), interact with each other, and generally make the best of having people around they need to speak to.
In the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to a number of people that a Geek Dinner style event would be great if it was scheduled on December the 29th, in Edinburgh. That would mean people could travel up on the 29th, head out to the dinner, meet everyone, mingle, pretend to enjoy the Haggis, and then have the 30th and 31st to experience Edinburgh as it builds up to the New Year – there is nowhere else in the world that does New Year like Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Celebrations.
Okay so let’s take that idea, and tweak it slightly. Lets do a two day conference on the 29th and 30th, with day one being a ‘fixed’ schedule and day two following the ‘BarCamp’ whiteboard strategy. Let’s get a church hall, community centre or other space that’s not going to cost the earth. What it needs is two or three rooms, chairs, and a projector. If you want to speak, then send in a proposal, and after the cut off date, everyone who’s a confirmed delegate will get a vote (probably an alternate transferable vote) to decide who speaks. If you want to sponsor the event, then your company name is going down in the same voting form. Miss the cut, well you can try to get something for day two. That way if people want to hear the same people, they can, and if they don’t then I’d hope ‘the usual faces’ come along anyway and see the new faces and support them.
And people. Because these things are organised so people can meet people. So who wants to come to Edinburgh for the New Year, learn about a million interesting things, then experience the best city in the world. Sure you’ll need to see about your own travel costs and accommodation, but there are plenty Bed and Breakfasts, Youth Hostels and geeks in Edinburgh with floors and sofas that we’ll make space for everyone.
If there are enough people interested then I’ll be more than happy to organise the shindig. What would it take? To start with I reckon if 50 people commit themselves and throw in their £30 ($50) to the pot (which is what I’d love to have as the cost of the event), then we could make the greatest ‘Scratch Conference’ that Scotland could give to the world.
Who’s with me? Let’s start the trackback and comment jungle drum to see if this would fly.
April 8, 2006; Conferences, Personal Posts;
Possibly Related posts:
- Hogmanay Says “Gonnae No Dae That, Bob?”
- Edinburgh London Edinburgh… via Barcelona
- Hacking the TV Unconference for Fun and Infamy…
- A Few Conferences Before Christmas (Nokia World and Le Web)
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Comments
7 Responses to “UnConference? How About McConference in Edinburgh… For Hogmanay.”
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If I’m not working – I’d do it…
Well, why spend time at the CCC congress in Berlin when one can go to Edinburgh? ;)
It seems like a bad time of year to do anything in Edinburgh unless you have a lot of cash to splash, Ewan. Everywhere is rammed with Hogmanay tourists paying over the odds for tiny hotel / guesthouse rooms…
Sounds like a plan with legs to me. The sooner we can get something like this off the ground, the cheaper the flights will be.
Hogmanay Unconference
Ewan is trying to get an unconference up and running over Hogmanay in Edinburgh. Waht could be better – a couple of days learning and sharing and then a night at one of the best New Year Party’s in the…
Sounds like a fun idea. If I can get some time off, then it’d be good to come too. Any further plans/thoughts, feedback Ewan?
I’d be interested, but I think like Martin said it’s maybe a bad time of year with Hotels and all that. Otherwise I’d be interested.