Frequently Asked Questions About Podcamp:

What is Podcamp San Antonio?

Podcamp San Antonio is an unconference being held May 3, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.

• It’s an “UnConference”, a conference organized in an ad-hoc manner for everyone to attend and participate in. There are no keynote speakers or rigidly defined schedules.
• Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join.
• Want to learn more about podcasting, blogging & vlogging? Always wanted to know more about the New Media? Then Podcamp San Antonio is the place to be.
• We are planning for a crowd of the most plugged-in, most active bloggers, podcasters, video and new social media folks from Texas and beyond.

What is a ‘Podcamp”?

PodCamp is a FREE BarCamp-style community unconference for podcasters and listeners, bloggers and readers, and anyone interested in New Media. It was held for the first time from September 8-10, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts and is now spreading across the world.

Uncamp is the Web 2.0 version of an interactive conference/meeting. The emphasis is on two way sharing. It includes discussions, demos, and interaction from participants. Organizers arrange a location and encourage others to share their knowledge, experience, expertise and questions. People who want to share/present can sign up at the website (http://www.podcampsanantonio.org/) or come on May 3rd ready to share

The Spirit of PodCamp
PodCamp is about our community, about our willingness to learn, share, and grow together, to help each other as much as possible, to become better at what we do and share what we do with the world.  Whether you’re a Fortune 500 exec or a grade school student, you’re a rockstar for showing up and sharing what you have - everyone is an expert at something.

Want to be part of the fun? Sign up at www.podcampsanantonio.org

When is it being held?

Saturday, May 3rd 9am-5pm
El Tropicano Hotel 110 Lexington Avenue San Antonio, TX 78205 210.223.9461

There are some Pre & Post PodCamp Stuff, too!

Friday, May 2nd 6:30pm -???

Red Gizmo inside of the Blue Star Arts Complex during First Friday. We’ll have the PodCamp San Antonio banner hanging so you can’t miss us. We will have cold beverages and a snack or two while we mix it up with our fellow Podcampers. Bring your friends because it’s gonna be a good time.

May 3rd, Saturday night at 6:30pm- Naked Iguana Lounge inside Rio Rio Cantina
421 E. Commerce Street down by the River Walk

Sunday, May 4th 10:00am Coffee and Conversations on the patio of the fun and festive
Cafe Latino 2911 N. St. Mary’s

Who’s organizing it?

Some San Antonio podcasters got together and said, “Why not? Let’s do it!” Jennifer Navarrete of the Morning Brewcast (http://www.morningbrewcast) is heading up the effort with Michael DeLeon (http://www.projectspurs.com/podcast/) Other San Antonio podcasters helping are members of the San Antonio Podcasters meet-up group. (http://podcasting.meetup.com/58/)

How much does it cost?

Podcamp San Antonio is free to attend. Lunch is on your own. El Tropicano will have some available for a minimal charge and there are many restaurants in the area.

Sponsors are helping with some of the costs. Note: We’re always open to more. Individual donations are also welcome (We won’t turn them down!). This is part of the openness and transparency of podcamps.

Who’s talking and what are the topics?

Since this an unconference, YOU are the speaker and attendee all at the same time. If you have an idea you want to share, then present it! Here are just some of the topics folks have agreed to share:

Shaine Mata Politics, Blogging & Social Media
Shaine Mata and Leslie Baldwin The Live Show
Alysan Delaney-Childs Blogging for Business
Michael Verdi Video Production in Second Life
Fred Castaneda Premium Podcasting
Brad Pearl , Vidya A and Angela Woodrow Education Panel on K-12/Higher Education and Podcasting
Erica O’Grady Startup Weekend
Michael De Leon Tips for new podcaster Connie Reece Social Media and Fundraising

Do you have to be an experienced podcaster?

No, it’s all about sharing. Come learn, ask questions and meet people you’ve heard online. If you’re an experience podcaster, come share, learn what others are doing and connect.

Are there any ‘rules’?

There are a few guidelines, which govern what may or may not be called a PodCamp.

• Everyone is a rockstar.
• All attendees are allowed to participate.
• The event is new-media focused - blogging, podcasting, online video, social media/networking.
• All content is released under Creative Commons license:       http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
• The Law of 2 Feet - If you are not learning or contributing it is your responsibility to respectfully walk out and find someplace where you are

Who can come?

If you’re interested in podcasting or blogging, if you’re a podsafe musician (or want to be), or just someone curious about podcasting and new media, then please join us — and bring a friend or colleague. You do NOT need to be a podcaster to attend a PodCamp.

What should I expect when I come?

Preparation

• Pre-register. There’s a signup page for your local event. Please put your name and any organization you represent on the form, to give coordinators an idea as to how many people are coming
• Bring a laptop - It’s great for showing off that program you mentioned in your session. Plus, there are many hotspots provided, and plenty of downtime to browse around and look into everything you’ve learned.
• Come early, but not too early (registration is 8-9 am) - Showing up at the announced starting time will be fine. Show up earlier, and you’ll get drafted for setup work (much appreciated!). Show up later, and you’ll miss some social activity and your T-shirt (we’ve got a limited number!).
• Be ready to participate - come with an idea for a session you can lead. (If you don’t have one don’t worry, listeners are welcome too. And it’s a great place to ask questions) You don’t have to be an expert at your topic; as long as it’s not too specific, there’ll probably be someone else present who can help you out. You can also contribute to the conversation during a session. This is a great way to participate, since it spreads knowledge from everyone, instead of just the leader.

The Event

When you arrive, go to the pre-registration table, where you can claim your nametag.
If you brought wireless equipment or power strips, find a coordinator and ask where they’re most needed. Please set your wireless router to a unique SSID (e.g.- podcamp_xxx), to avoid networking conflicts (nasty with a dozen routers in the same room named the same thing). Also, if you can, please lower the radio output of your router. There’ll be plenty of WiFi cloud to go around without everyone blasting out at full power.
There will be some announcements, and then people who intend to lead a session will be asked to come forward to the mic and share them. The session leader will then tape a paper with their session info to a schedule (may be moved around early on). If you see a session you’re interested in, please put a mark on the paper to indicate it, in case room switches need to be made due to popularity.
After a couple of sessions, you will have a significant amount of downtime for lunch. Feel free to wander around and socialize while or after you eat. More announcements will be made, and any newly proposed sessions will be announced.
After the sessions are finished, please stick around to clean up. It’s generally as simple as throwing trash away and taking down signs, but all the help is appreciated.

Background Info

What is an ‘uncamp’?
It’s an “UnConference”, meaning that it’s a conference organized in an ad-hoc manner for everyone to attend and participate in. There are no keynote speakers or rigidly defined schedules. Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join.

What is Podcasting?

Podcasting is an online (Internet) audio or video program delivered to your computer, mp3 player or iPod (yeah the name originally came from the Apple iPod, but you can receive the program in many ways).

To listen or watch you can go to the website of the podcast. Or even easier, you can subscribe to the programs and have them delivered automatically to your computer, mp3 player. Most programs are free subscriptions.

Podcasts are as many and varied as the producers. There are podcasts on knitting, on coffee, cigars, news, sports (go Spurs!), movies, business, promotion, stock tips, tech news, National Geographic and television shows. Have an interest, hobby, business, or rant? You probably can find an interesting podcast.

I don’t have an iPod.
You can use your computer or an mp3 player to listen or watch a podcast.

How can podcasting and/or blogging help me?

Podcasting is the chance to share your knowledge, your experience, politics, hobbies, and opinions. People have used podcasting to promote their business, themselves, products, religious organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, meeting house and other worship locations).

Restaurants use blogs and podcasts to reach existing and new customers.

The advantage of podcasting is time-shifting. People can get your information when, where and how they want it. They can listen to it on their computer, on the bus, in the subway, at the beach, while walking, running. When and where they want to, there’s no need to worry whether it’s the right time or place, the listener/viewer decides.

Think of it like TIVO, or Netflix. The user decides what, when and where to listen, view and use the podcast audio or video.

What is vblogging/vlogging?

Blogging with a video camera. Put the videos on your website, and syndicate.

What is syndication?

It’s a tech term for subscription.
Ever notice those orange RSS buttons on a blog or podcast website?

Quick (only 3 minute video explanation)
http://www.masternewmedia.org/content_delivery_and_distribution/RSS/what-is-RSS-really-simple-syndication-explained-20070426.htm

There are many ways to subscribe.

• You sign up for a free (or paid) reader to receive your subscription. Then go to the podcast site and subscribe. You’ll find out when new podcasts/blogs are ready to viewed or listened to.
• Sign up for iTunes and plug your iPod in. The podcasts you subscribed to will be automatically delivered to your iPod.

I’m not a geek. Could I do this?

You don’t have to be. Things have become much easier for non-geeks. There are one stop shops that can help you get up and running quickly. Join us at Podcamp San Antonio and you’ll learn more. And next year you can tell about your experience in the next Podcamp San Antonio.

Sources:
http://podcamp.pbwiki.com
http://barcamp.org/WhatToExpect
http://podcasting.meetup.com/58/
http://podcampsanantonio.org