Dallas WordCamp has died an untimely and utterly unnecessary death. Instead of the annual event devoted exclusively to WordPress, this year’s event will be OpenCamp. At OpenCamp, Joomla and Drupal will also be covered.
Frankly, I’m concerned that OpenCamp isn’t inclusive enough.
Why isn’t OpenCamp covering Frog CMS, Umbraco, Mambo, ocPortal, Magnolia, XOOPS, etc. If open source content management systems are now the theme, let’s include everyone.
Why not broaden the camp to include open source operating systems too?
Yes, I’m yanking your chain.
OpenCamp is a bad concept based upon the false premise that it is too costly to run the annual two-day event as WordCamp exclusively for WordPress bloggers and designers.
I understand and appreciate the work involved with coordinating and setting up such an event. Yet there are two fundamentally mistaken assumptions made by the organizers when they made their decision to turn this into a techie Kum ba yah fest.
First, the organizers mistakenly assumed that jacking up ticket prices was the way to raise revenue to meet expenses. In reality, the costs could have easily been met (and exceeded) by sponsorships and running the event like Ken McCarthy’s System Seminar. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, System Seminar speakers must deliver valuable content to the attendees and at the end are permitted a couple of minutes to make a pitch (some don’t). The event organizer takes a cut of each sale made. This is not a pitchfest. Deliver value. Sell something at the end. Split the profits.
Secondly, there is a mistaken belief that all prior WordCamp expenses were necessary. A speaker’s dinner, bowling party, ASL interpreters, funding for speaker travel, etc. are all nice things to have but they can be cut if it means keeping the event as a WordCamp rather than EverythingCamp.
I’d like to thank the WordCamp organizers for the past two years for providing value to attendees. Your hard work was appreciated. Killing WordCamp and replacing it with this atrocity is nuts. Let the other CMS groupies have their own separate events rather than bastardizing this one.
Let’s hope that Matt Mullenweg and his new WordPress Foundation will host a WordCamp Dallas in the future. If you want to attend a WordCamp in another location, here’s a link to the WordCamp schedule.
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Mike, First off it’s important for me to articulate that everyone’s comments and thoughts on OpenCamp are welcome. We welcome blog posts (complimentary or critical), tweets emails and any other communications interested parties might want to throw our way. We also hope that if there is confusion or concern about OpenCamp that it will be brought to our attention.
This is the first time something like OpenCamp is being tried so it’s going to confuse some people and irritate others (most people hate change good or bad) while some will fall in love with the concept.
We are firmly dedicated to continuing to provide the same quality of content as you have experienced at WordCamp’s past, however your first assumption about OpenCamp being formed merely because of the expense is a bit incorrect. Cost is a factor, but not the only factor.
The organizers of OpenCamp recognized that only some of the content provided at prior WordCamp’s was truly WordPress specific. Many of the presentations revolved around the use of multi-media, social media, seo and other non-platform specific topics. We also recognize that other platforms like Drupal and Joomla have more in common with us than they do differences so rather than carve out a walled garden around WordPress (or any other platform) we preferred to create a more inclusive event with greater opportunity for networking, discussion, etc…
It’s also notable that by including other platforms in the conference we have a better opportunity to attract sponsors and a continually higher profile and caliber of speaker, as well as those who not only develop for the platforms but those who are users and businesses owners interested in hiring companies and individuals who provide services around those platforms.
Of course money is also a consideration. WordCamp the past two years didn’t just lose some money, it lost a considerable amount, and it is unfair to expect that the individual organizer(s) would foot the bill for that event, even without the add-on’s you suggested could be removed. Certainly there are several models that “might” work but if the event is to live on at all, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that the event doesn’t loose quality or money. Further, the event is growing and, based on the size of the DFW WordPress meet up, was expected to do so significantly this year. As events like this scale the cost of putting them on grows more quickly than the rate of attendance (not a linear relationship) due to the needs of catering to a larger audience so even “dropping” some of the things you mentioned wouldn’t have been enough.
Finally, and perhaps I should have led with this, WordCamp is NOT dying. There are still going to be breakout’s and afternoon sessions which are dedicated to each of the platforms to be held separately. OpenCamp is really an over-arching event where WordCamp will happen and where there will be come common sessions on non-platform topics. This isn’t Kum Ba Ya, it’s good planning and good business for everyone there.
I hope this addresses some of the concerns and rest assured we are working hard to continually improve the WordCamp (at OpenCamp) experience. The things being planned for this year will make OpenCamp a truly unique experience from a networking, educational and social standpoint, and will rival if not best many other events which cost significantly and offer significantly less.
Again, we welcome your input and hope everyone will reach out to us with their thoughts and ideas so that we can build a sustainable event which exceeds the needs and expectations of the attendees. Feel free to contacts us via twitter @ocdfw or email at http://openca.mp/contact
Mike,
Your choice of attack seems to be designed to impart the most insult possible while demonstrating the least tolerance. Congrats, it worked.
It would have been nice had you reached out to any of the organizers with your concerns, especially if you honestly appreciated “the past two years for providing value to attendees”. Personally, I never like to attack people without at least attempting a conversation with them first. Who knows, what might have happened with a little more understanding of all the dynamics. There are likely a number of issues that you are unaware of, any one of which might change your mind.
In any case, you or anyone else, are still welcome to run a WordCamp specific event at any time and at any place. So, considering that WordCamp Dallas is not something owned by anyone, I find it premature to announce its death.
John P.
@John, @Scott, and @Tony,
Appreciate your taking the time to defend the decision to create OpenCamp. As you can see, your comments are left here unedited so that readers can make an informed decision.
A few follow-up points…
To repeat, I do appreciate the efforts made to organize the prior WordCamps. This was acknowledged in the post. Had I intended to “impart the most insult possible,” I can assure you that appreciation would not have been expressed. Anyone who has stolen intellectual property from a client of mine or similar misconduct can vouch that this post was frank but certainly not what an attack would be like.
The suggestion that I never approached the organizers to help is at best a half-truth. During the first WordCamp Dallas, I did approach with several recommendations and an offer to pro bono reduce some significant legal risks being taken with the camp. Both the suggestions and the offer were summarily dismissed. That’s fine. Like you, I’ve got a busy schedule too.
Yet perhaps the most intriguing thing about this is how easy it was to inform everyone by e-mail about the decision to change this to OpenCamp but WordCamp attendees didn’t get contacted prior to that using the same e-mail list to (a) ask for sponsorships this time, (b) ask for input or help, or (c) even survey us using Survey Gizmo or Survey Monkey.
I’ve spoken at numerous Internet seminars, workshops and events around the country, and helped clients organize and host countless events globally. I’m sure that are many others who attended who could have and would have provided input if asked.
OpenCamp is the equivalent of turning a Star Trek convention into a generic sci fi event by hosting activities at the convention for Star Wars, Stargate, and BSG too.
I hope that OpenCamp goes well for you. But OpenCamp isn’t WordCamp. If you really want feedback or help, I remain open to communication. You have my e-mail address.
Best wishes,
-Mike
For the past two years, John Pozadzides, has envisioned, produced, and funded two WordCamps. In those two years, he has earned the respect of the DFW blogging and WordPress communities.
When I think of John, one word comes to mind: “Respect”.
How does someone earn respect? They create something of value. Critical thinking is celebrated in the West, but creative thinking produces results and progress.
I thought about producing a WordCamp, I thought about it for two nanoseconds. I didn’t have the guts or the time to seriously consider doing one.
Producing a conference is a ton of work. A ton. There are operational challenges and risks that you can’t even imagine. When it’s over you get a pat on the back–a few “atta-boys”.
In January, John tells me that he’s ready to go at it again, and this time bigger. I think to myself, “this guy’s a glutton for punishment.”
John presented his vision to bring together various bloggers and technologists from different “camps”, so to speak, and I thought, “it might actually work”. I also thought, “it might piss off a few people too”.
Change can be hard, it can even bring up emotions. We can wish for things to be different, but to create something requires that we actually roll up our sleeves and make something happen.
I’m rooting for OpenCamp. I’m rooting for a guy with the guts to have a vision and to run with it.
http://OpenCa.mp