how to host an unconference

HOW TO HOST AN UNCONFERENCE

Todd Carpenter - Hilary Marsh - Jay Thompson

IMPORTANT STEPS TO REMEMBER!!!

STEP 1

STEP 2

WHAT’S AN UNCONFERENCE?

AN UNCONFERENCE IS A FACILITATED, PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN

CONFERENCE CENTERED

FOO CAMPFriends Of (Tim) O’Reily

FOOBAR

@AndyKaufman Bay Area REO & Real Estate Investments, RE BarCamp Instigator, Social Capitalist, Boundary Pusher, Music Lover, Sports Fanatic, Shenanigan Seeker

Original REBC Schedule by Brad Coy

REBC SF 2009 Schedule by Ted Mackel

SAN FRANCISCO, HOUSTON, NEW YORK, FREDRICKSBURG, LOS ANGELES, PHOENIX,

PORTLAND, SEATTLE, PITTSBURGH, CHARLOTTE, MIAMI, WASHINGTON DC, VIRGINIA BEACH, CHICAGO, TORONTO,

NASHVILLE, ORANGE COUNTY, LYNCHBURG, PHILADELPHIA,

INDIANAPOLIS, DENVER, MINNEAPOLIS, SALT LAKE CITY, AUSTIN, SAN DIEGO,

OCEAN CITY, SAN JOSE, RALEIGH-DURUM,

SAN FRANCISCO, HOUSTON, NEW YORK, FREDRICKSBURG, LOS ANGELES, PHOENIX,

PORTLAND, SEATTLE, PITTSBURGH, CHARLOTTE, MIAMI, WASHINGTON DC, VIRGINIA BEACH, CHICAGO, TORONTO,

NASHVILLE, ORANGE COUNTY, LYNCHBURG, PHILADELPHIA,

INDIANAPOLIS, DENVER, MINNEAPOLIS, SALT LAKE CITY, AUSTIN, SAN DIEGO,

OCEAN CITY, SAN JOSE, RALEIGH-DURUM,

FREQUENT CONCERNS

• I’m not an expert on social media.

• I don’t have time to organize this.

• What’s with the name? RE BarCamp.

• Why would people commit to an event with no set schedule?

NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT

• Events are participant driven.

• Events are not just about social media.

• Be an expert at being a host.

TIME TO ORGANIZE

• Encourage members to organize it.

• Only as complicated as you want it to be.

• Avoid over-planning. It’s an unconference!

RE BARCAMP

• Don’t call it RE BarCamp.

NO SET SCHEDULE

• Not every member is going to accept this.

• This is a collaborative environment.

• Collaborative people will come.

• Promote a list of likely subjects.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

• What’s in it for my association?

• Can people participate virtually?

• Can we profit on the event?

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

• Innovative content.

• Good will.

• Connecting with more people like me.

VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION

• Possible, but not common or required.

• Look for a sponsor to cover logistics and cost.

• Encourage participants to broadcast the event via social media.

PROFITING

• The tradition is not to profit.

• People are more likely to collaborate.

• Consider giving net-proceeds to charity.

HOW JAY DID IT

• RE BarCamp Chicago organized by a committee of people. ~500 Attendees.

• Core organizers met weekly.

• Sponsorships sold to cover lunch, t-shirts, and venue costs.

• Constant event promotion on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, title/lender mailing lists. Links on Association sites / newsletters.

HOW NAR DID IT

• RE BarCamp Chicago organized by two people. ~150 Attendees.

• Four volunteers on site.

• No lunch, t-shirts, or giveaways.

• NAR provided venue and internet.

• Traded sponsorships.

QUESTIONS?

• Hilary Marsh @hilarymarsh hmarsh@realtors.org

• Jay Thompson @phxreguy jay@thompsonsrealty.com

• Todd Carpenter @tcar tcarpenter@realtors.org