I saw this post over at Dave Hamilton’s blog saying that PodCamp wasn’t really taking podcasters seriously, because we schedule the event on weekends.
The problem is that we — the podcasting community — are repeatedly sending the message that this is nothing more than a hobby. We’re supporting this concept of podcasting happening in back rooms and basements late into the evenings and on the weekends and at times when it doesn’t interfere with “real work.”
Now, I gave Dave *my* thoughts on this, but you might consider sharing YOURS, because maybe he’s right and I’m delusional. I could be wrong. I did mention that PodCamp got me a job. Two jobs.
I hate speaking for others. Why don’t you tell Dave what YOU think.
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Business does not happen 9-5. Business happens 24 x 7 x 365. So does new media.
What stood out to me in his blog pos is how he only saw podcasting in business terms. Podcasting is really about communication. This is a format that is used by artists, educators, activists, scientists, and public servants.
I know that the business side is important, but I think he’s being short sighted.
Actually, I realize there’s a lot more to podcasting than business. After all, I got started doing it out of love for the technology and the medium — and especially the message — and it slowly morphed into business. I think you misinterpreted the message in my post. I said that PodCamp is a great thing, and if one (minor) change was made (that being the scheduling) it would be taken a LOT more seriously by the world-at-large.
As for business happening 24×7x365… that’s true only to a point. The lion’s share of the world sees business happening 9-5, and it’s those people we need to convince of this. I’m already a convert (and have been for two years! :-).
Then all I can say is rally the troops and we can start a PodCamp during the week!
I just think we need to have a “Pod” “Camp”- Grab everyone, go to some camp in Maine, The Poconos- wherever- for a week ,with family, geek out during the day, as if it were TED, and sing songs (podsafe of course) and roast marshmallows at night. The only trick is getting wi-fi in the woods.
I understand what Dave is saying, but I also think that given the grass roots nature of things, the whole unconference nature where it’s not about who the big fish are and who the little fish are, this makes weekdays more of a challenge.
Podcamp is an evolving thing. Its open source nature is its strength. And take it from me, the big kids are noticing what we’re doing over here in the sandbox- not to worry.
Interesting thoughts. I’ll comment there shortly, but I wanted to mention I’ve just blogged about the underlying nature of what I believe makes PodCamp work, and it has a lot more to do with the conversation than the timeframe.
Justin, I agree. There are those of us for whom this podcast stuff is done on our time, and that free time now is nights and weekends (unless we take vacation time). Just creating a weekday PodCamp won’t get it any more credibility than it is already building on its own, the hard way, a little at a time.
One way to settle this might be to experiment by holding one of the many PodCamps during the week. As I do a lot around podcasting and social media for my job, I would welcome a weekday event, but have always been accepting of the weekend schedule, and the idea that this is a community more than a business atmosphere.
My prediction for a weekday PodCamp? More business interests might attend– not entirely a bad thing, as corporate podcasting and the business of podcasting are just as worthy topics as content, community and podcasting as a personal pursuit (just ask Paul Colligan).
I think “personal pursuit” gices everyone more credit than the word “hobby,” or am I thinking too much about it b/c I am a PR guy?
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