The "People-Powered Media [un]Workshop" is based on the UnConference model, sometimes described as a "user-generated conference".
Here's how that works: the organizers facilitate the location, goodies, snacks, sponsors, etc. On the day of the event the doors are opened and whoever shows up is who is presenting topics. Anyone can present. The event is conversational and interactive.
At a traditional conference you have a predetermined list of speakers and topics. You, as the audience, are merely attendees. If you're lucky there will be a Q&A at the end of a session and you might get to ask one question.
At an UnConference, everyone who attends has just as much right to speak about a topic as the person who is leading the conversation. Have a question? Ask it right then and there. There is no waiting until the end of a session to ask questions. Have something to add or an alternate viewpoint? Jump in and add your knowledge to the conversation.
Topic presenters need to be prepared for the additional conversation of the folks in the room with you. It is highly interactive and never boring. Thinking on your feet and flying by the seat of your pants are the perfect clichés for a UnConference session.
So who's presenting? You are!
After you've signed in for the "People-Powered Media [un]Workshop" you'll notice big pieces of paper taped to the wall with times marked off in half hour blocks: 11:00-11:30am, 11:30am-12:00pm, 1:00-1:30pm etc. If you have a topic you would like to present, pick a time slot and put it down. Each sheet represents a different room. Folks will look at these sheets to decide which session they would like to attend. At the designated time go to the appropriate room and get going.
Each room will have a projector and wireless Internet that you may use for your presentation. We would, however, strongly urge you to stay away from the dry "deck of Powerpoint slides" presentation.
There are two kinds of presentations that work best in this environment: the learning kind and the doing kind. In the learning kind, you may share some tool or technique that you've learned and want to present. In the doing kind, you may discuss an interesting project you've created. (Open-ended issue or topic discussions can work too.)
The worst kind of presentation in this environment is the sales pitch. Convert your sales presentation to a learning or doing presentation. (Decks of Powerpoints aren't so good either.)
Although sessions can ignite great debate and interaction, be respectful of the next person's time slot and wrap your sessions up in a timely manner. We've arranged some small breakout rooms, so you can continue that great conversation after the session ends.
Sounds cool? Want to join in? Please remember that our space is limited, so we are asking you to register in advance. Free registration is here: http://media-unworkshop.eventbrite.com/
