Just What Is An Unconference & How Do I Host One?

I have yet to attend one of these, but I really would love to see one in action. (Still need to find that $million I misplaced so I can fly around to all the events I'd like to attend) Anyway...I followed this link via Stephen Downs of Ewan McIntosh's 10 Top Tips for Unplanning the Perfect Unconference. It's a great posting with great tips about hosting an unconference, but what I also like about it is that the tips are ones we can/should all follow for any event we are hosting.

The very first one is so simple and easy to accomplish. It's one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?" I recently just had a management retreat here at work and the feedback about playing music over the lunch hour was incredible. "It created such a fun and lively environment." "It felt like a real break in the day and like I truly was away from the office." Honestly, can you imagine how hard was it for me to put a cd on during lunch.

I love #6 too. It's like a (what we call here) a "parking lot" of ideas. Why not let people play with their Blackberries during these conference and add thoughts, ideas, questions to the topic at hand.

The whole thing is just a great little read.

BlogOrlando

I've never been to an unconference before. I only just recently have seen the term mentioned. Apparently an unconference is one where the content of the conference is generated day-by-day by the participants and their overall interests instead of predetermined ahead of time by an organizing group.

I came across this unconference BlogOrlando coming up in September in Orlando. Seems interesting and is focused on bloggers and some of the tools they use when blogging.

It's a free event so if you are in the area, it might be worth stopping by. If nothing else to see an unconference first hand.

2007 Event:Hyku, in partnership with Rollins College will host the second edition of this FREE event that is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike from Florida and anywhere else. We hope to bring together a good cross-section of folks to discuss blogging, podcasting, public relations, social media, citizen's journalism and other related topics. In addition to the Friday event we planned some outings at the local theme parks over the weekend. The event was as much a social/family gathering as it is a 'work' gathering.

PS...this is my 100th post....whooo hoooo. I'm having an unparty.