Freelance Camp Houston was a huge success! We would like to thank Powered Production for helping to record and make some of the sessions available. They are going to have all of the media that was captured available – if you recorded anything at the camp and you’d like to share it please contact them via the contact page.
If you were a speaker at the main room, and you’d like a DVD quality copy of your talk – let them know, and they will make it available to you (either via mail or download from their server.)
Article by Corilyn Shropshire in the Houston Chronicle on April 24, 2009
They call it the un-conference.
It’s a place where everybody is somebody, jeans rule over expensive suits, drones at the podium are (strongly) discouraged and the schmoozing is (typically) free.
At one of these so-called BarCamps, whoever shows up gets to decide what happens.
What began in 2005 as anti-conference for geeks in Silicon Valley — a gathering for a bunch of computer programmers irritated by the exclusivity of invitation-only technology conferences — the barcamp has sprouted offshoots that have nongeeks, youngish hipsters and even baby boomers looking to learn a new trick rallying together around a common interest.
While the original barcamps tended to be focused on developing Web applications, these days, the themes increasingly run the gamut. On any given weekend, meet-ups known as GreenCamp, BandCamp, even CupcakeCamp, are taking place in cities around the world.
It’s spreading like a virus: PhotoCamps attract amateurs and professional shutterbugs to powwow about the latest in photography.
SkepticCamp spawns discussion about everything from the benefits of detoxing and eating organic food to paranormal encounters. ArtCamp brings artists and art organizations together for a day-long brainstorming session.
At a recent LaidoffCamp in San Francisco, one of the most popular sessions was “Booked-#$%^$% Solid,” which addressed how the self-employed can land clients and keep them.
“The whole idea is 20 minds are better than one,” said Travis Skweres, who recently organized FreelanceCamp in Houston. Roughly 100 participants attended sessions including “Resume 2.0” and “Twitter Basics.”
“Everyone learns from everyone else,” he said.
Here’s how it works: A bunch of people with similar interests decide on a theme, pick a date, find a venue and set about spreading the word, primarily through online social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
Participants arrive in the morning and either sign up to speak on a topic relevant to the theme or wander in and out of workshops that interest them.
Anyone can host a camp, guided by a barcamp “wiki” with instructions on Web.
The workshops tend to be spirited events with an academic vibe — attendees tapping away on laptops (Twittering, no doubt) while a speaker beckons input from the crowd.
“Campers” say the cool thing about barcamps is that they are flexible, laid-back, collaborative and communal — great places to share ideas.
Taking part in the discussion is expected. Keeping silent is strongly discouraged.
“I like it because it’s crowd sourcing,” said Grace J. Rodriguez, who led the “Branding U” workshop at FreelanceCamp Houston. “It’s open source in real life, everyone has value and everyone can contribute.”
Barcamps also allow people who are increasingly conversing online to get face time with each other.
“With Twitter what you can say is limited, so the conversations are limited,” Rodriguez said .
Since barcamps usually are free, fans say they wonder why anyone would pay to listen to talking heads with little or no interaction.
If participants pay anything at all, it’s usually less than $50 to help cover costs for bagels in the morning, pizza for lunch and candy in midafternoon.
FreelanceCamp organizer Skweres raised roughly $1,500 to pay for the venue, food and such extras as T-shirts and notebooks.
The organizers of last month’s LaidoffCamp San Francisco got the use of a nightclub in exchange for guaranteeing participants would spend at least $1,000 drinking at the post-camp happy hour.
If barcamp sounds like anarchy, it’s not. Democracy rules.
If a speaker is bad, Skweres said, “someone can stand up and suggest a new topic.”
That’s what Skweres wishes he could have done after spending $450 to attend “some really bad sessions,” at South by Southwest in March.
“I was thinking to myself, someone should stand up, suggest a new topic, new speakers or send this (panel) in a different direction,” he said.
So when someone asked to make a comment during his recent lecture on Twitter at FreelanceCamp Houston, Skweres’ feathers weren’t ruffled. He merely invited the person to join him up front.
Anybody can participate in the discussion, as long as he or she has something valuable to add. Said Skweres, “The participants make it happen.”
Anybody can participate in the discussion, as long as he or she has something valuable to add. Said Skweres, “The participants make it happen.”
Both he and Rodriguez are busy planning their next camps locally. Skweres aims to host an EntrepreneurCamp in July, while Rodriguez is working with a team to develop a camp “to teach people how to make good presentations.”
Texas’ second annual Freelance Camp is to be held April 11th, 2009 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Houston Technology Center in Houston, Texas! The event is designed to explore and promote the synergy that independent contractors can bring to business today. The day will center around bringing together freelancers, remote contractors, entrepreneurs, and anyone else interested to network, share ideas, and explore opportunities. Thanks to the support of Bridgette Penel, Debra Robinson, and Travis Skweres from Werkadoo, Marc Nathan of the HTC, Shane Pearlman, Louis Sandoval Jr., Brad Parler, and a lot of other folks, this event is going to be a huge success!
Freelance Camp is a place to discuss and explore the different approaches to running a successful freelance business / small service company. The Houston camp is FREE to attend thanks to some very cool sponsors. So come ready to learn, and if you’re up for it, sign up to give a talk the day of the camp!
Be sure to come to the after-party and Werkadoo Launch Celebration right after the camp! Join us at Caroline Collective for free beer, food, and music! The party starts at 5pm and ends when all the kegs are tapped. See you there!
Caroline Collective
4820 Caroline St.
Houston, TX 77004
Live in Houston? Freelance? Don’t miss out on the 3rd official freelance camp. The camp is an opportunity for freelancers, entrepreneurs, independent business owners, and anyone else wanting to expand their network, share ideas, and discover new opportunities.
Date: April 11th from 10 am to 4 pm Venue: Houston Technology Center. 410 Pierce St.
Houston, TX 77002 Cost: Your call, make a donation!
