The idea for an event for WordPress users has been bouncing around in my head for a long time, as there is a really interesting group of people around WP but we don't do nearly as many face-to-face interactions as some similar projects. A set of circumstances are coming together at the beginning of August, and I think we're going to give it a go.
August 5th, 2006 is the date, here in the lovely town of San Francisco, California. The idea is a one day BarCamp-style free conference with a party that night. There will be free BBQ for lunch, WordPress t-shirts, and a full day of both user and developer discussion. ("BarCamp-style" is a code phrase for "last minute.")
There are still a few things to figure out, such as a venue, schedule, and other little things like that. (By the way, if you can help with any of these or have event experience, please drop me a note.) But mostly I wanted to get the date out there so people could start planning for it, buy tickets if they're travelling, and let us know if there are any huge conflicts that day. (Like a national holiday or something.)
In the meantime, I've put up a quick site where you can leave your email to signup for more information or let us know you're coming. If you think you can make it, please say so as soon as possible so we can prepare for the right number of people. If you'd like to help in any way, drop me a note via email or in the comments.
Don't know if this will work or not, but it should be fun regardless. Podz is coming in all the way from England, and Donncha from Ireland. π
The CodeCon venue wasn’t too bad, although not the best area. (http://www.studioz.tv/about.html)
Sometimes ClubNV and other nightclubs will let you rent out the space for the day and they often have projectors and such already there.
Let people (me) know how they can help.
-david
Awww, you just had to make it during Street Scene, didn’t you? π
Hmmm… why can’t we plan this for September or October? 4 Weeks is tight. I’m going to see if I can swing it. Maybe b5 will send me. :p
Awesome. Signed up. Looking forward to it. Temporary wiki page created here: http://barcamp.org/WordCamp. Camp On!
Wow, I’d love to! If only the price of traveling from the Philippines to the US was affordable… And if only it was that easy to get a tourist visa. π
Have loads of fun! Wish I could be there to meet so many of the people I have known! I can only imagine how much fun the party would be!
This is a good idea and I’d like to lend a hand as needed. Let me know if there’s something I can do to help and hopefully I can work on it.
I believe that August is the only month without a national holiday, speaking for the US calendar. Poor, poor August. All the other months mock it with their big holidays, ranging in dates from the 1st, 4th, 14th, 25th, and even 31st. But August has nothing to write home about. Maybe we can give it something to be proud of. It is, after all, a rather nice month and deserves a gift like this.
Kyle, what’s street scene?
Matt, it sounds terrific. I wish I could be there — it’s one more way the WordPress community is the platform’s single greatest undocumented feature.
I would go, if I had the money ($1000).
Good idea. I hope you’ll consider ways to bring in outliers from far and wide.
Matt: Music and Culture Festival in San Diego I’m guessing. (link)
Are we extending this to endusers as well or just developers?
Will there be live video streams, chat channels or such techie stuff for those of us who are nowhere even near the USA?
drmike, it’ll totally be for endusers.
ketsugi, don’t know yet, it depends on our connectivity. I’m guessing not.
Need to re-think the name? Sounds like a game of scrabble in involved. Or shuffling O/Sen…
Bah. No way I can make it.
But if you want some WP-branded shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, or car tags, let me know, and I can get some made.
A WP coffee mug… damn, I’d like that.
Damn, I’ll be in Montana but we’ll get someone from PodTech there!
Matt – would be glad to continue our discussion from Gnomedex on this – we actually are doing a BrainJams event with the National Coalition for Deliberation and Dialogue http://www.thataway.org/ which has its conference that same weekend at the Parc 55, but I should be able to drop in a bit and am happy to work with you on the event design and other ideas. I have one big idea in particular which we are doing with Social Media Club that might work particularly well for you as a session in world cafe format – the value of that hour would give exponential returns for you and the rest of the WP community.
Dude, you should invite people from other communities and call it an “Open Source CMS Summit”.
Since it is on the day of my nuptials, I will not be able to make it. However, I am sure this will be a smashing event and it would have been fun to be able to meet everyone!
Matt: Street Scene is an awesome music festival down in San Diego. [link]. I just bought my ticket the day before you posted this π Ah well, such is life. Just make sure to make this a recurring event!
Such short notice.
Nice! One day before my birthday! Shame I’m in Australia though π
Wish I could make it. I’m looking forward to reading about it unless by some miracle I’m able to go.
It’s right on my backyard. I might be able to free up myself and attend this get together.
Alright Matt, I’ll see you and everyone here at WordCamp ^_^
What an amazing idea! There should be a WordCamp in Europe some day, considering people here love WordPress as well π Good luck!
Dang, I really wish I could make it too – looking forward to reading about it though, perhaps that’s just the next best thing.
Hi,
Is there a scope of presenting concepts or papers for those who can not make it in person?
Regards
Sajid
YEA~~! Finally a convention that I can attend!!! There’s no age limit, I hope.. .__.
I live in SF so if the organizers are local, I can help out – just shoot me an email. π
I know for sure that I can’t make it in person. If I went, I wouldn’t say anything at all, I’d just listen to what others have to say. But anyway, I love WordPress and the stuff that it can do.
Oh, I’m so sorry I cannot make it that day. What a tremendous idea, though, and I will be eager to hear all the stylish reports.
Blessings,
Shirley Buxton
http://www.writenow.wordpress.com
Too bad I’ll be on my honeymoon then. But I probably couldn’t afford to fly across the country for it anyway.
Y’all have fun! Don’t forget the rest of us. π
One request: Can we have it called something other than -Camp? Just out of principle, hehe. No un-conference sillyness either.
Not sure if I can make it yet, going to check airfare at the moment unless anyone wants to spot me a ticket from Jersey. π May be working that day too come to think of it.
Erg, well, I’d love to be there so I’m going to try… good idea to have one.
JΓΒ
I can finally attend something like this now that I’m withing driving range. Thanks for organizing it.
See you at WordCamp! I think this will be a very interesting conference, but the next one should be hosted in Canada.
What kind of place are you looking for to host this thing? Obviously, it’s going to need to be kinda big since the RSVP is over 215 strong. π
(BTW, I’m one of the SF locals.)
I will be going to this for sure. I have been using wordpress for about a year for my personal blog. I think a user and devolper conference will be great. Cant wait to see everyone.
-Mike
This could be fun, and as a local, I can probably swing part of it.
I would love to help in the coordination and stuff but I’m not sure if I can fly in to San Fransico. Air ticket is quite expensive over here in Singapore (plus the fact that I’m a student) but I would really like a WordPress T-shirt to promote WordPress.
Unfortunately, I am no longer going to be able to attend. Sorry!
timing is short but makes sense…following week is Apple WWDC in SF and SES in San Jose.
I really hope this works. I always enjoy getting over to the city. awfully close to the time of linuxworld also, if this doesnt work out on aug 5th, how hard would it be to reserve a conference room at moscone during linuxworld?
I would like to be in here…but I live in Buenos Aires!
Just heard about this and am wondering if it is still going to happen. Any info as of late?
I’m trying to buy tickets to fly in for this but I need to know what time it’s going to happen. Any ideas at all?
Wow… what a great coincidence that I’m just here in SF this weeked for sightseeing before I go to the SES San Jose… I will be around at theparty at night, and probably join some of your sessions as well…great!
I am a new blogger and am very sorry I missed this great idea and gathering.