I’ll admit that I did not know what to expect in regards to Sunday’s “Unconference” event. I was even more unsure when people started showing up and I saw what a small group was participating.
I found myself outside talking to the hotel manager about the hotel and about the helicopter bringing construction equipment in to a work site on the next block (this caused traffic to be shut down all around us – both walking traffic and car traffic) when the official unconference began. I walked in and everyone was in a circle, Kaliya was explaining how things were going to work – or not work – it was up to us to make stuff happen. Cool but …
And then people started grabbing paper and markers and creating their sessions and it was awesome.
Being able to wander from table to table and corner to corner. Listen for a bit, talk for a bit and move on as the spirit moved me. Awesome. Totally my type of event. I’m a mover. 15 minutes on one topic and I’m good and ready for something new.
This format allowed me to sit in on discussions that I would not otherwise have chosen. KT did my chart, much to the amusement of Maria and Leah. (and my amusement and KT’s as well, lol) I also sat in on a discussion about blog tools (email newsletters vs RSS?) I chatted with Liz about her idea for a PSA about rape. Also I listened to some BlogHer Con pros and cons and talked to some folks about how marketing folks should and should not market to blogging women.
Really cool stuff, in a format that I loved. Thanks Kaliya and Elisa and Kristy for making this happen.