I think this is simple: So long as the event has clearly stated objectives that I can align with (even if I don't agree with), I'd attend.
It sounds like you've got a rad vision, Rachel, and I think you should rock out. Keep us posted. -Alex /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 11:37 PM, rachel young <[email protected]> wrote: > > Nope, I haven't been to SXSW. I've been to a wide range of conferences > before, have planned conferences and tradeshows, and am looking forward to > NXNE finally adding interactive to the Toronto event this year. I know that > SXSWi has a comfortable and familiar feeling to it, and it is a popular > destination among the tech crowd. I don't completely know first hand what > I'm missing out on. What I do know is that it is already a blended > conference - music, film, and interactive. Does it really need to be the > department store of a conference destination by adding coworking to it as > well? Some people might not want to tack on an extra 2days away from home > and their space to attend a conference when they could space it out their > professional conference activities to include a coworking conference at > another time of year, in another across the country or in a difference > country. > > And don't get me wrong, I'm not discouraging coworking get togethers at > SXSW, or sessions about coworking, or socials between coworking folks. I > think all of that is awesome, and I look forward to your stories about them. > But I do love the idea of a separate business conference specifically for > coworking. We have an already strong industry that many of you have already > put in a lot of footwork, and we have the potential to continue building > this industry, and could possibly leverage our buying power as a collective > to do so. > > And yes, I recognise that I've been fairly quiet in this group for 2yrs and > now that I've announced our space I come in with blazing support for a > separate conference, but please don't take my quiet nature as passive or > disinterested all this time. I've been thinking of planning a conference for > the Canadian coworking facilities for over a year, I just haven't verbalised > it. But why do it only for a few handful of spaces if it could be for so > many more? > > In keeping with the idea of moving it around different regions each year, > it means that each city coordinates the conference themselves after winning > the vote of the collective, and that city planning committee could be one > individual space or a group of spaces working together. They take care of > all of the planning and logistics - and it doesn't have to rest solely on > the shoulders of space owners; it could be a member who wants to swap space > for service, or they could hire a conference planner to take care of all of > it. If it is operated as a collective, then there isn't a need for a formal > coworking association, at least not to start. > > I see it as a great opportunity to not always be the ones who travel (as > you said), and to have the opportunity to see spaces and meet many of you > without the distraction of another conference or event. > r. > > > > > On 4 February 2010 12:31, coworking <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Rachel, have you been to SXSW? >> >> There are pros and cons for a separate event vs. extending to a "ready >> made" event. If coworking "founders/workers" are already going to SXSW >> and all we have to do is add an extra day/two to it, why would we want >> to have, yet another flight/drive? >> >> Different locations are a plus to be able to experience different >> coworking locations. Not having to "always be the one" to travel from >> a distant location is a plus, too. Who will do all this marketing to >> gather sponsors, hotel room block discounts, etc.? How will we decide >> who the event planner/manager will be? I'm not aware of a "formal" >> coworking association with dues or marketing management for all of us. >> I'm sure there are other issues that will need to be worked out if >> your suggested approach is endorsed. Just some food for thought. >> >> Most cordially at your service, >> Denise Reed >> www.theconciergelevel.com >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<coworking%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
