Death of the Big Conference?
Jonathan Chan wrote an interesting post about the event we recently participated in, The National Youth Workers Convention. I agree with many of his assesments about how large events need to adapt. I am excited about the Open Space idea that was tried at this event. I think it moves people from spectator to collaborator, from consumer to participant. We need to allow people to shape the conversations we are having if we expect them to continue to engage in our events.
10/02/2009 at 9:52 pm
kDo, what were your agreements and disagreements on Chan’s article?
10/03/2009 at 5:30 pm
I loved Chan’s post…
Most of the content that I got in general sessions, I loved but felt like I could additionally get it somewhere else.
What makes large events like this unique is what happens only because each of us is there. One of the principles of open space technology is “Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.” I love this. It takes away the expectation that the crowd should have something delivered by the organizers, and instead signals that the experience is what we, the participants, make of it.
I think a growing number of people are looking for this kind of thing. I know I am!