Pulling back the PodCamp onion skin even further only brings tears

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Photo owned by SantaRosa OLD SKOOL (cc)

PodCamp Ireland is still on the brain. The feedback I got in the comments was cloudy, to be honest. I’m a girl that believes in clarity. Don’t tangle me in mumbo-jumbo. I’m still wondering how a BarCamp-style event fits with Social Media when it is sandwiched between Online Marketing and Social Media Strategies. Had I eaten this sandwich, I’d be reaching for the liver salts right about now.

It seems to me that a SocialMediaCamp that bills itself as a BarCamp-style event would very likely turn into an event chock full of slimy marketeers with Godin’s broad strokes retreaded, supplementing their own hodgepodge, dot-to-dot experience. Anyone for the dodgy upsales?

But, a BarCamp-type event isn’t about the commercial right? It’s not about trying to sell. Wrong for PodCamp Ireland. While there will be no arm-twisting, giving an organisational nod to a table for wares to be pimped is commercial. Commercial, commercial, commercial. But sure, it’s only a little dalliance. A little sin against the BarCamp ethos. Ah, but one step after another, how long will be before a BarCamp-style event has balls-out commercial presentations? Will it be like an infomercial? Can this new swanky gadget given the PCI nod cut a tomato into an accordion while recording a podcast? Will a future PodCamp have sessions that feature product placement? Will campgoers even know? “You mean that X will do everything for me. I’m so enthused after that demo. I really want to buy that.” Sound familiar?

Have you read about the way MeasurementCamp plays out? Experts sharing knowledge openly. No bullshit. I want to pop over and see it soon. I’ve read so much about it and it seems to win on every criticism I have re: Social Media gatherings. I’d love to see how the ‘pin the bullshit Marketeer tagline on a donkey’ game would work over there. Right, you’d be laughed out of the room with any respect you had left in the business.

I’m still mulling Brian’s final comment on the post. Here it is for those of you that missed it:

in camp terms we may reach critical mass having got 60 signed up attendees and they are the early birds, we are more than one month out to PCI 2008. Perhaps we could discuss its 2009 title in September?. I watched the UK podcamp implode due to politics, the spirit of podcamp ireland is preventing anything like that happening here, thanks be to the organisers.

On the first point, I agree. PodCamp is now just around the corner, and a change in focus by the organisers at this stage of the game would be foolhardy and unwise. Now, the second point is interesting…. What is the political myre facing PCI? If it isn’t then why compare it to the UK event? Is this a warning to people like me, people that ask questions, that the asking of said questions is some political play? Since when did asking questions become some kind of political move? Am I supposed to shut up now? I’m still looking for all of the Irish Social Media rockstars. I can count them on one hand, by the way. Oh and has anyone seen Shergar?

September 1st, 2008 at 11:32 am • Filed in Geekery



Comments

6 Comments to “Pulling back the PodCamp onion skin even further only brings tears”

  1. Ken McGuire Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Round table chat in Kilkenny about the future of barcamp style events and the evolution from PodCamps to SocialMediaCamps?

    True enough, last year certainly had a strong podcasting influence, and as one of the organisers on last year’s event gave me a much-needed kick in the arse to focus my podcasting activities.

    While there are podcasters in attendance this year (there’ll be a handful there), this year has taken more of a ‘social media’ angle, embracing much more than podcasting.

    I don’t see any issue in asking questions or raising queries or concerns about an event – that’s how we get feedback, that’s how we understand how things progress for the next time around so I’m glad you’ve raised a few things in the two posts, Alexia.

    I also feel Podcamp, in it’s present form, isn’t a commercial day – while there are possibilities for people to demo products, or companies to give away a few freebies and prizes which are deemed relevant to the proceedings of the day – I still feel the event, as with other Barcamp-type events around the country has a much more social and non-commercial feel to it.

    That said, in PodCamp and Barcamp ethos, we’re to be transparent in funding and finances and any sponsorship or funding details (or the bills incurred by the organisers, a large one of which I’m still carrying after last year). We had a number of kind sponsors last year and again this year who aren’t there to make it a “me me me” event and force products down your neck. There was no sense of it last year and I wouldn’t stand for it this year, especially from the organising side of things.

    I would hope that the open nature of the event and the shared experiences of others there on the day, whether with lessons from last year’s PodCamp or otherwise would encourage people to try social media services online regardless of who provides them.

    At the core of things, Podcamp for me is very much about the community and not the commercial – as was last year’s PodCamp and CreativeCamp in March, both of which I had an organising hand in. If it was about the commercial, the marketers, the force-fed products and wares, I wouldn’t be here an wouldn’t get myself involved. That’s just not cricket(camp).

    Rumour has Shergar was spotted at Electric Picnic on Sunday, but I can’t be certain.



  2. Chris Brogan... Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    As a co-founder, I tend to watch the various camps all over the world with an eye towards ensuring they hold true to our original intent. PodCamp has six rules ( you can see them here). Beyond that, the actual CONTENT of the camp usually comes from who shows up and what they choose to talk about.

    Because of the “law of two feet,” it’s usually not horrible if someone wants to try and do something commercial. Most of us just get up and leave the room, leaving that person to be pitching to an empty room of chairs. That’s why as long as the event’s organizers understand that commercial isn’t the goal of the event, the people who come usually sort it all out.

    But if you’ve never gone, and you’re throwing stones at something where you’ve never participated, how will you know?

    And my folks hail from County Kerry. They used to like onion sandwiches, I’m told. : )



  3. Alexia Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 am

    @Ken

    Thanks for coming by to comment and adding some clear thoughts to the discussion.

    I understand the financial pressures on you and the rest of the team to deliver on the day. My questions, however, are pitched on how the commerciality of camp might change when Social Media gets added to the mix. I believe this is changing PodCamp already.

    I’m still a cynic on demos and sessions/tutorials that preselect certain devices. There’s been a lot of trumpeting about on specific brands on Social Media channels by some people. Sneaking selling can happen in all arenas. The law of two feet might not be exercised…

    @Chris

    I’ve been to a BarCamp-style event before, so I understand the law of two feet. Hmm, but how does this work when permanent demos are set up in camp? What does it mean when PodCamp moves to being a SocialMediaCamp, a full-on commercially-bent event focusing on marketing and strategy.

    As a progenitor of PodCamp, how do you feel about PCI not wanting to be a PodCamp anymore? Did you see the title tagline? You can argue that the content comes from attendees, but the central theme of the day is set by the organisers.

    As you are well aware, there are many Social Media “experts” pimping their experience about. People that live to sell, but sell very little.

    I’m asking questions here. Not throwing stones. Questions only become stones where they have something to hit, right?

    Onion sandwiches are fine, but don’t they repeat on you?



  4. Ken McGuire Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am

    @Chris

    A slice of cheese with the onions in the sandwich and you’re laughing… that and a bag of Tayto, make sure it’s on the menu next time you hit Ireland.

    @Alexia

    Happy to provide some kind of comment and I’m happy to see you raising questions! You’re right in saying there’s a change in the flow of PodCamp for this year, with the broader ‘social media’ in the mix. The tagline had changed from the ‘new media community unconference’ to the ‘social media community unconference’.

    I’ve likened it in my head to the ‘Podcast and New Media Expo’ changing to the ‘New Media Expo’ but still embracing podcasting as it’s become so integrated in both audio and video form into the world of new and social media (then again, how long can something remain ‘new’ media before it becomes ‘social’).

    Chris is right though, commercial isn’t the goal of the event and I would hope people see similar about PodCamp again this year. God forbid it ever descends into the ‘new media commercial unconference’ etc.

    If it came to the demoing of handsets, devices, or products, would you feel it more open to allow those in attendance request what is shown, prior to the event (e.g. run a poll… who or what would you like to see etc.), knowing that people are getting something they’re more interested in that something they’re being force-fed.



  5. Alexia Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am

    @Ken

    Perhaps that’s a good question for your round table. It seems like a sensible move (to ask it there).

    edit – just clarifying..



  6. Ken McGuire Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am

    @Alexia

    Might just be :) Might organise a few onion sandwiches from the hotel as well to have on the table during the talk!



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