I've been doing various events work this year, for some interesing and leading names in the web space.
As some of you may know, I helped found Chinwag as a commercial venture, which then went on to launch Chinwag Live series. We also did Big Summer 07 last year, which was a free party for over 2,000 people. Just 5 of us organised the whole thing, in 6 weeks. And I still have some hair left! ;-)
Then, earlier this year I was working with Mike Butcher at TechCrunchUK to help him kickstart some events in the UK and Europe. He's now jetting off all over the place meeting people and creating meet ups off the back of other events, as well as organising some really exciting ones of his own, such as the recent (very successful) Pitch! event.
Now I'm working at the Guardian, and looking into events as part of my research for my current role. Guardian events in the past have been on large scale, with a full events team organising events such as the Guardian brand at Glastonbury.
All these different types of event has got me thinking, what would be the best event you would want to go to? If you could combine all the aspects of events you've been to over the last few years, and come up with some almighty geek/tech/online/networking fest, what would it be like?
Mine would be something along the lines of, in priority order: Incredible speakers discussing their visions (not pimping their warez!), affordable pricing (I guess sub £100), good accessible venue in an interesting city, an exciting delegate list - perhaps one that's been thought out with tickets tactically released to ensure a wide range and spread of people, cool freebies/swag from sponsors, and great networking - be that at the venue or the pub down the road.
So come on, spill, what would your ideal conference/event look like? And while you're at it - I'd love to know what was your favourite event or conference you've been to this year, from a geek meet up in a pub right through to something like Le Web. It's whichever one left you with a "that was so cool I want to do it again next week!" feeling. The very first FOWA was mine.
As some of you may know, I helped found Chinwag as a commercial venture, which then went on to launch Chinwag Live series. We also did Big Summer 07 last year, which was a free party for over 2,000 people. Just 5 of us organised the whole thing, in 6 weeks. And I still have some hair left! ;-)
Then, earlier this year I was working with Mike Butcher at TechCrunchUK to help him kickstart some events in the UK and Europe. He's now jetting off all over the place meeting people and creating meet ups off the back of other events, as well as organising some really exciting ones of his own, such as the recent (very successful) Pitch! event.
Now I'm working at the Guardian, and looking into events as part of my research for my current role. Guardian events in the past have been on large scale, with a full events team organising events such as the Guardian brand at Glastonbury.
All these different types of event has got me thinking, what would be the best event you would want to go to? If you could combine all the aspects of events you've been to over the last few years, and come up with some almighty geek/tech/online/networking fest, what would it be like?
Mine would be something along the lines of, in priority order: Incredible speakers discussing their visions (not pimping their warez!), affordable pricing (I guess sub £100), good accessible venue in an interesting city, an exciting delegate list - perhaps one that's been thought out with tickets tactically released to ensure a wide range and spread of people, cool freebies/swag from sponsors, and great networking - be that at the venue or the pub down the road.
So come on, spill, what would your ideal conference/event look like? And while you're at it - I'd love to know what was your favourite event or conference you've been to this year, from a geek meet up in a pub right through to something like Le Web. It's whichever one left you with a "that was so cool I want to do it again next week!" feeling. The very first FOWA was mine.
From Mike Butcher at TechCrunch UK:
"Owners of the somewhat idiosyncratic FaceParty, one of the UK’s oldest social networks, appear to have had an altercation - with almost their entire user-base. On Tuesday night the normal home page was replaced with a diatribe against users who had complained about a fancy dress competition the site was holding. The site was cut off for several hours, blocking all users from logging in."
I'm loving reading what they put up - read it in full here. Marvellous.
Go on, how many times have you wanted to do that? I know I have. Good effort Faceparty, and you didn't hold back on the swearing either, I salute you! **
** probably worth pointing out to any potential clients out there - as funny and amusing as I find this, I would never ever do it in real life. I am a professional and can just about control my inner 15 year old.
"Owners of the somewhat idiosyncratic FaceParty, one of the UK’s oldest social networks, appear to have had an altercation - with almost their entire user-base. On Tuesday night the normal home page was replaced with a diatribe against users who had complained about a fancy dress competition the site was holding. The site was cut off for several hours, blocking all users from logging in."
I'm loving reading what they put up - read it in full here. Marvellous.
Go on, how many times have you wanted to do that? I know I have. Good effort Faceparty, and you didn't hold back on the swearing either, I salute you! **
** probably worth pointing out to any potential clients out there - as funny and amusing as I find this, I would never ever do it in real life. I am a professional and can just about control my inner 15 year old.
As Mike Butcher announced today on TechCrunch UK - I've got another new consultancy gig! I'm very proud to be working with TechCrunch and partners to bring some really exciting technically focussed events to the UK and also across Europe.
Mike says:
So there you go! What he said ;-)
Please do drop me a line if you're interested to hear more about what we're going to be doing, and if you have any ideas or would like to be involved.
Mike says:
Plenty of people have been wondering when we’d start running some TechCrunch events on this side of the pond. But attempting to run a full-time news blog and run events at the same time is a recipe for chaos. So I’m delighted to say that TechCrunch UK & Ireland is going to be working with Thayer Driver as our Events & Sponsorship Consultant. One of the first things we’ll be working on together is a decent-sized TechCrunch event for the Summer, while looking at other opportunities in the meantime to bring our community of readers together. Thayer will be exploring commercial opportunities for TechCrunch events both in the UK, Ireland and, potentially, other European centres. She can be reached on thayer.driver[AT]gmail.com (LinkedIn page) and here is a little more information about her. Oh, and, unlike most events people I know, she can also build objects in Second Life.
So there you go! What he said ;-)
Please do drop me a line if you're interested to hear more about what we're going to be doing, and if you have any ideas or would like to be involved.
I've just read and commented on Mike Butcher's post on TechCrunch UK - Yabb launches VOIP micro-blogging service.
I'm probably over simplifying somewhat here, but isn't this what late night telly ads already provide as a service? You know, "call 0890 and find other interesting people in your area"?
Paul Birch, founder of Cominded comments on the post, "We believe there is something ‘magical’ about human 1 to 1 voice conversation."
Surely though you pick up a 'phone, and call a person you want to speak to? Pre-recorded voice snipets aren't conversation, they're sound bites / answerphone messages? I have to point out at this stage I haven't used the product (it's in beta, and so far no invite) so it's very possible I am missing something.
Perhaps though, the 0890 model point has hit the nail on the head, a cheaper alternative to sex chat lines? Could be useful/cheaper for the singles industry?
Then again, if I was going to go down that route then WooMe has already done this and is a fantastic product for both voice and video chat.
The one thing I just don't get at all is on the TechCrunch post Mike mentions, "... you can’t send voice messages to people who aren’t in your Skype contact list." So, er... Apparently, you can call your friends, and leave them a mass answerphone message...
Anybody else got one eyebrow raised at this point..?
From the description, I just can't even find it in me to try out the beta. I know, that's pretty poor show for someone interested in social media, but it just sounds like something I'm never going to use, or suggest to a client to use over existing products.
I'm probably over simplifying somewhat here, but isn't this what late night telly ads already provide as a service? You know, "call 0890 and find other interesting people in your area"?
Paul Birch, founder of Cominded comments on the post, "We believe there is something ‘magical’ about human 1 to 1 voice conversation."
Surely though you pick up a 'phone, and call a person you want to speak to? Pre-recorded voice snipets aren't conversation, they're sound bites / answerphone messages? I have to point out at this stage I haven't used the product (it's in beta, and so far no invite) so it's very possible I am missing something.
Perhaps though, the 0890 model point has hit the nail on the head, a cheaper alternative to sex chat lines? Could be useful/cheaper for the singles industry?
Then again, if I was going to go down that route then WooMe has already done this and is a fantastic product for both voice and video chat.
The one thing I just don't get at all is on the TechCrunch post Mike mentions, "... you can’t send voice messages to people who aren’t in your Skype contact list." So, er... Apparently, you can call your friends, and leave them a mass answerphone message...
Anybody else got one eyebrow raised at this point..?
From the description, I just can't even find it in me to try out the beta. I know, that's pretty poor show for someone interested in social media, but it just sounds like something I'm never going to use, or suggest to a client to use over existing products.
Mike Butcher has posted on TechCrunchUK today about last night's Seesmic dinner. Worth having a read, and there's some link love to my Seesmic review on it.
My Lifestreams
Syndicate
