As PodCamp Evolves

November 13, 2007 · Comments

PodCamp Evolution Conversations are happening all over the place about what new opportunities and challenges might face PodCamp and the social media space in general. Recently, the successful execution of PodCamp EDU, focusing on education and set in Washington, D.C. made for another change in the way we look at PodCamps. Here are some thoughts, from my perspective, based on conversations, blog posts, and overall musings on where PodCamp might go next, or, because it’s a fairly open-sourced brand, where YOU might take PodCamp next:

Deep Dives

Blog Hacks PodCamp There are opportunities to take any one specific part of the PodCamp experience and go deeper on it. For instance, I’d love to do a PodCamp about Blog Hacks. We could discuss everything from the 101 of getting a blog started, offering “Make a Blog at PodCamp” for the newcomers and “CSS Demystified” for folks who don’t scare too easily. There are lots of other topics to dive deep on. Why keep it scattered? You could start one tomorrow all about audio, if you want.

Social Networks PodCamp Certain aspects of PodCamp don’t get as much attention, or get lost in the shuffle. What if we start bringing out sectors, like EDU, groups of professions, like PodCamp for PR and Marketing, or something similarly niche-focused? Why not plan a Social Networks PodCamp that focuses completely on how to get the most out of Facebook, MySpace, Ning, and all these other platforms? Workshops for the advanced could be buffered by profile tips for newcomers. (Note the recurring idea of blended content and learning).

iPhone PodCamp Perhaps not just iPhones, as the graphic suggests, but what would PodCamp be like with a focus on equipment, or mobile, or specific blends of technologies? Imagine spending some time working simply on the applications and strategies to tackle the far-less-served markets of mobile users in the US, or showing folks just how to format for other country’s systems for future distribution ideas.

Local Blending

PodCamp Philly did a really great job of integrating the local community into the event, including doing some charity work. It would be interesting to see other models here, including “take a small business owner to PodCamp” or “take an educator” or “take the Mayor.” Imagine the variations on using the best of your local community as a backdrop for learning more about social media and understanding real world problems.

In the Coming Months

We’ll write up some very basic runbook ideas for how to get PodCamps up and running in more lightweight, manageable configurations. There’s nothing wrong with running the massive events, but for me personally, I’m interested in helping the smaller events flourish while perhaps having room for two or three flagship larger gatherings of the minds.

Further, I’m interested in seeing PodCamps get deeper into the nitty gritty and further away from the slide decks. Let’s hack stuff. Let’s make things. Let’s teach each other at keyboard and behind the lens. Let’s learn how to make better photography. Let’s see what Kaneva and Second Life do differently.

Why this matters to me: PodCamp has come to represent a thirst for knowledge married to a desire to share. We seek to push the boundaries and explore what we know, and then share this information in a lightweight, flexible way that permits others to feel comfortable to learn, and with attention and focus, gives us a more educated group of participants across the globe. Further, we want to break the fishbowl on some fronts, getting the word out to more people, and on other fronts, we want to gather the leading minds in our space and learn from shared experiences what has worked well for others and what needs more exploration.

How You Can Help

PodCamps work when everyone contributes. Don’t just ask to volunteer. Consider ways you can contribute and bring them forth. For instance, we always need venues. If you have a place that could house 200 folks, offer them up. Ask ahead of time to as many places as you can touch. With venues secured, the other things come easily.

Onsite, seek out grunt tasks that need doing. Picking up cups, greeting people, whatever needs doing.

And find ways to share, be helpful, and grow the experience.

What Do YOU Think?

How do you see the future of PodCamp?

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  • Dave Beaudouin
    I agree, Chris:
    One of the most wonderful features of the PodCamp model is its scalability of focus and purpose. Combining more niched content with linkage to local resources and groups can make for a powerful and empowering mix--PodCamp EDU certainly proved that to me. Rather than try to manage an "all gizmos to all people" mega unconference, let a thousand PodCamps bloom! /D
  • Completely agree. Would love to see more focused PodCamps. But before I go into any of your ideas here, my first aim is....a PodCamp Singapore.
  • I'm liking the Social Media PodCamp. Certainly plenty of topics there to fill at least one day, I'd think. It wouldn't hurt to narrow the focus like this, even if fewer people came. Frankly, a camp experience should feel fairly small, in my opinion.
  • Hi Chris,

    It was great to meet you at PodCamp Boston, and best wishes in your future endeavors.

    I think that more smaller local PodCamps or SocialMediaCamps (not nearly as catchy a name) are the way to go. That's why Tish Grier (Constant Observer), Jaclyn Stevenson (WriterJax, TravelJax), and I are going to see if we can get PodCamp WesternMass off the ground for the Spring, and bring together isolated pockets of bloggers and business people who may not be familiar with the revolution that is ongoing.
  • After attending 2 "camps" in 2 weeks (PodCampAZ and BarCamp San Diego 2) One thing I would love to see is more effort made to collect the material created at these events (slides, video, audio) so that others can use it, even if they couldn't attend a particular "Camp". This weekend at BarCamp, I only ended up being able to record 2 other sessions, besides my own, even though there was great content there they should not be lost.

    I have even thought about an IT Conversations-style system to collect and categorize all the material and act as a clearing house. That would be sweet.

    I too, feel a need to keep camps small and focused to prevent "big conference syndrome" from taking over. I want to hear new, unique voices and not necessarily speakers I have heard online or F2F several times before.

    Douglas
  • Chris, each of your examples focuses on the "Pod" part of "PodCamp." Let's create an example that focuses on the "Camp" part of "PodCamp." Imagine taking a bunch of geeks out in the wilderness in cabins or under the stars. What can the organic world teach us about technology? Let's find out! I can easily picture the large discussion circle that happened at PodCamp Boston II in the hallways happening around a campfire!
  • Great article Chris!

    This was kind of what I was trying to get at when I wrote my piece about Podcamp UK back in July - http://blog.neilcford.com/?p=58

    I didn't unfortunately make it to MediaCampBucks in October due to an emergency at home, but I definitely want to look at running a focused, locally targeted, new media event in Brighton next year.

    Thanks for starting this conversation.

    - Neil.
  • You are talking about segmentation vs non-segmentation, therefore I believe you need multiple podcamps in areas each year. Think of the proficiency levels as well.

    If you are a novice, wouldn't you want to attend a general podcamp?
  • i'd be into a podcamp on social networks, especially Ning, which i think is amazing. I'm building one for Gardenfork.tv and RealWorldGreen.com, and I'd like to share my experiences and learn some stuff, esp domain mapping anyone?
  • I suppose my biggest concern about PodCamp in general is it's obvious move away from podcasting. Obviously, there's huge overlap between podcasting and blogging, social media, learning, gadgets, etc - but is it the intent to keep podcamp oriented toward podcasts.

    If so, then I'm not sure that the above suggestions work as there is already BarCamp, DemoCamp, etc.

    If not, then maybe a name change is in order.

    My first PodCamp was in Philly. I went expecting a focus on podcasts and got podcasts and video. That was cool, but unexpected. I kept telling people I didn't podcast and they were okay with that. Cool.

    My second podcamp was Boston 2. There I had a better idea of what to expect and my approach was as a social media guy there to support the podcasting movement. What I got was more business, PR and social media.

    I was confused.

    So now I just don't know what Podcamp is anymore. If someone could tell me then I'd be happy. How is PodCamp different than BarCamp? Social Media Club? Why are these groups not putting their heads together more efficiently.

    PodasocialPRabizCamp?

    Come on.
  • Love this idea of more focused and smaller camps. Also, the idea of just a few large, regional camps would be good. Like, Boston, California, Chicago, and Texas maybe.
  • I like this idea of separate niche Podcamps, or at least having different streams of sessions focusing on a particular thing.

    Personally, I've been trying to think up ideas about how to make Podcamp Toronto more useful to music podcasters because I think there's a lot of information to be learned about where podcasts fit into the music promotion ecosystem.

    To be honest I don't know jack about music promotion, but I know there are people out there who do and I want them to come to podcamp.
  • Thomas
    Please, Chris, don't use terms like "deep dive." Please.
  • Aaron's point is valid: what IS PodCamp?

    I think the name, like all things "pod," was obsolete the moment it was created - but, as a brand, it now has traction.

    I don't think PodCamp is meant to be ONLY about podcasting (and, as Aaron's comment shows, there's still confusion as to what podcasting itself means, since video IS "podcasting"). I think PodCamp is meant to be a conversation about all things related to social media.

    That's a gigantic playing field. If PodCamp wants to have a hand in all of it, perhaps a name change IS in order.

    (Bottom line: I agree with diversifying, specializing AND swirling it all together. We just need to be clear about what PodCamp IS, and therefore what each variation is ABOUT.)
  • I like the idea of take an educator to podcamp. I figured I did the "take your son to podcamp" thing, and educators need to learn new media as well!

    I actually did record my presentation on using podcasting in Supply Chain education, and posted it over at my site(s).
  • Chris,

    Podcamp EDU was a success because it was small. I got to meet everyone in the room and we were able to have the entire room in the discussion all at the same time.

    Even though I like presenting - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of moving away from slide decks and more toward a workshop approach. I think this combined with a more specific focus for the day (podcasting, audio, video, blogging, etc) would yield great results.

    During one of our sessions we delved into a giant twitter discussion - which was really insightful for people.

    The biggest issue I saw was the fact that we had a very polarized audience. We had about 40% complete geeks that knew everything - 40% complete newbies that had never heard of twitter - and about 10% in the middle. So sometimes the geeky crowd would begin talking a mile a minute about stuff that the new crowd was sitting there saying "huh?"

    Anyway - to sum it up - it would be helpful to have a couple moderator type personalities that could keep the meetings and pod(focused)camps moving along to meet everyone's needs and goals for the day.

    Just some thoughts...

    Joel Mark Witt
  • Hey Brogan!

    Here's my great idea for a future podcamp: Podcamp Xtreme! (bad name, but not joking.) Just to take a little footage skiing, I've had to learn which waterproof sports cameras work well, about memory cards that perform well under extreme temperatures and the effectiveness of different batteries in cold temperatures.

    I'd like to share this with other people, in a hands-on Rocky Mountain Podcamp Xtreme. I'm imagining that maybe a little over a year from now, we could get together a great group of podcasters for a vacation filled with snowsports, shooting, editing and 'Apres-ski' fun.

    Maybe someone who lives in a warm costal climate could follow-up by sharing their love of watersports in a summer version of PodCamp Xtreme?
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