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.
In particular, Bourquin says that:
“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).”
John C. Havens, the lead organizer behind Podcamp NY, posted a lengthy comment. Havens reiterated that Podcamp NY is a volunteer driven, free event where no one gets paid, not even the organizers. In fact, Havens writes:
“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.”
Here’s my disclaimer before I comment on this issue – I spoke at the PME last year and I respect Tim because he runs one of the best conferences ever. I typically tell people if there’s one podcasting event you should attend, it’s the PME in California. I was the lead organizer behind Podcamp Toronto and I love the Podcamp model. I’ll be attending Podcamp NY in 2-weeks and will be speaking on 2 topics. Plus, John and I are friends, often checking in with each other over the phone at least once a month.
Okay, now for my thoughts. I believe this conflict is happening because the sessions led at the various Podcamps are the very presentations that are being pitched to PME. At the end of the day, why would Susie Que pay to go to California in September to hear Leesa Barnes present on Podcasting for Profit when she heard me do that presentation at various Podcamps over the past year? Susie Que would save her money.
I pitched a topic to PME. I won’t tell you what the topic is because I’m waiting to see if it will be selected it, however, I can tell you that it’s not:
- Plan a Killer Podcast which I did at Podcamp Boston & Podcamp Toronto.
- Nor, Limited Edition Podcasts which I did at the Corporate Podcasting Summit & Podcamp Boston.
- Nor, Podcasting for Profit or Podcasting 101 which I’ll be doing at Podcamp NY.
Some of you may see this and say:
“Okay, Leesa. It seems like you’re not putting any effort into your Podcamp sessions if you’re doing the same one over and over.”
Valid observation. The reason why I present the same topic at every Podcamp I attend is based on many reasons:
- Because not everyone can attend every Podcamp. Hence, I did Plan a Killer Podcast in Boston last September and again in Toronto in February. Two different audiences because of geography, plus those who already heard me could just mosy on over to another session taking place at the same time.
- Also, I use the questions I get from participants to refine my ideas, modify my approach and what people get at future Podcamps is a better presentation. Each time I do it, I get less and less questions because I’ve refined it to the point that I include people’s answers and confusion from previous Podcamps.
- Plus, I need more material for my book. Yes, it’s self-serving, but what isn’t in life?
Podcasting is still too young to have people picking money out of each other’s pockets. So, in order for Podcamps to co-exist with PME, each should make an effort not to duplicate content.
Both have a place in helping to advance people’s perception and understanding of podcasting. However, because each serve a different purpose, it’s critical that these differences are preserved and honoured for the good of podcasting.
Tags:
pme,
tim bourquin,
podcasting,
podcamp,
podcampnyc,
podcast expo,
john c havens
Hi Leesa,
Hear hear. Tim runs an amazing conference, and if asked to speak there, I’ll work to create content people haven’t heard verbatim at PodCamp NYC. That said, (as I know is the case with yourself) I never do exactly the same talk anyway. Never reuse slides, and I always try to keep content fresh. So my hope is even if you see me at PodCamp NYC you’d want to pay to see me at Tim’s Expo because you know I work to make all my talks fresh versus repurposed. I don’t think our community really appreciates the repurposed thing anyway and rightly demands more.
I hope people understand that Podcamps and Expo’s like Tim’s can coexist and both offer real and unique value. If you haven’t been to Tim’s Expo, (I only went last year versus both years) it was amazingly well run. Running a conference is VERY HARD WORK and Tim does it with aplomb. It’s organized well, he gets great speakers, and I had a blast on the expo floor where sponsors were. People tend to think that all sponsors/exhibitors want to do is pitch to you. And I get it, sure, they’re their to sell their stuff and that’s what they’re paying for. But that does NOT mean they won’t give you value – anyone who goes knows the best way to sell anyway is to prote a strong relationship. Plus, as a journalist (went in my role as The About.com Guide to Podcasting) I had the chance to hear about a whole new slew of fun tech stuff to try out, many of which were free. Remember a lot of service-oriented firms in the new media space let users play for free and hope to monetize via ads.
My point-I TOTALLY agree with Leesa and will always try to make my content unique in every speaking venue I go to. Plus, I firmly support Tim’s expo and any event that promotes podcasting/new media in a positive light. At the end of the day, if you can’t afford to go to a certain event (and keep in mind, PodCamp NYC is in NYC over a holiday weekend, so I’m very aware some folks can’t afford to come to us either for money or family reason), find the one nearest you that you can. If possible, try to curb your judgements of content/quality based solely on what they charge, etc. Money is a factor, but shouldn’t be a determining factor. There’s nothing wrong with charging for an event – I can’t speak for Leesa, but I’m involved with PodCamp NYC because I love the paradigm created when people don’t have to pay; there’s simply just one barrier to entry (cash) that people don’t have to worry about. But it’s not everything.
Again, hear hear, Leesa. A fine statement from the First Lady of Podcasting.