Food and T-Shirts

[Philip]

I started asking some questions on the main BarCamp group around food
and t-shirts -

http://groups.google.com/group/barcamp/browse_thread/thread/428de165384d4089

There is some good advice here - so we are taking it in :)

Cheers

P

[Jason Keath]

I can share my experience on this form CLTWordCamp. We had both t-shirts and food. Both of these were pushed pretty hard on us by the Observer. If I were to do it over, I would do neither.

You can supply t-shirts through a CafePress, so that those who want a souvenir can purchase one on their own. This gets rid of all up front costs and inventory/size issues. And I would not feel bad about making a small profit for the t-shirts. Just plan to funnel that $ back into the event somehow, like hosting for a website or save it for a venue for next year. Also, people can buy the shirts throughout the year. I plan on putting the CLTWordCamp shirts up on CafePress or similar because we have had a few requests from people for additional ones. We ended up losing money on WordCamp, not much, but we learned some lessons.

As for food, I would either try to have the event within easy walking distance of a couple food options, or ask people to chip in $5 or subway or pizza.

Just my two cents. We are putting together a Twitter event for April and most likely following the above. We will also be charging a small ammount, if for no other reason than to assign value and ensure attendance. But I understand that charging any $ is frowned upon for BarCamps. I disagree with that a little bit, but understand that they are trying to prevent profiteering.

Jason Keath
Social Media Consultant, Designer, Blogger, Idea Guy
JasonKeath.com- Where Old Media Goes to Die

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[Philip Dodds]

Actually the T-Shirts were primarily to try and motivate people to speak - since speakers would get them for sure.  We are probably going to do a limited run - and I'm hoping we can find out a little more.  Was there a bad reaction to the t-shirts?  or just not well received?

As for the food - I think we are leaning towards offering up coffee and bagels for breakfast and then see what the interest in lunch is and probably see if people want to chip in - though I did like the suggestion of more coffee and cakes as a pick-me-up.  I don't think that we want to supply food since a large part of it would just go to waste I imagine,  what food did you put on?  what were people looking for?

I really want to keep the cost to the participate as close to 0 as possible - we already have a couple of sponsors in the bag so should have enough money to cover everything so far.

What are other people thinking?

P

[Jason Keath]

We did pizza. It was devoured. And easy to eat while mingling.

People loved the t-shirts. It just adds a layer of cost. Though if they are just for the speakers, I think that would work well. That way attendance will not increase costs. I would still say selling additional shirts online is a good idea.


Jak

[Philip Dodds]

I like the idea of the site continuing past the event - and I know that Justin is cooking up some interesting stuff on that front.

Do you have good connections with some of the local media after the Wordcamp - we would like to start pushing those buttons?

Cheers

P

[Jason Keath]

Blogs and Twitter are your best bet I would say. That is where 80% of CLTWordCamp attendance came from. I am doing lunch with some higher ups at the Charlotte Observer today. I will ask them about getting an article on BarCamp. Reaching out to RDU is probably a good move as well. I think some folks might travel for BarCamp.

Also, I am doing some video with @waynesutton on Friday in Charlotte. I will see if I can work in a shoutout.

[Robert Fischer]

Alicia Weller (aka @GraphicKarma) and I are planning on driving out there.

~~ Robert.

> *Jason Keath*

> Social Media Consultant, Designer, Blogger, Idea Guy

> JasonKeath.com <http://www.jasonkeath.com>- Where

> Old Media Goes to Die
>

> Follow me on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/jakrose>

> Connect to me on LinkedIn

> <http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkeath>

> Connect to me on Facebook

> <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36603131>

>
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 8:59 AM, Philip

> <Philip...@gmail.com <mailto:Philip...@gmail.com>>

> wrote:
>
>
> I started asking some questions on the main BarCamp
> group around food
> and t-shirts -
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/barcamp/browse_thread/thread/428de165384d4089
>
> There is some good advice here - so we are taking it
> in :)
>
> Cheers
>
> P
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >

--
~~ Robert Fischer.
Grails Trainining http://www.smokejumperit.com/grails_training.html
Smokejumper Consulting http://smokejumperit.com
Enfranchised Mind Blog http://enfranchisedmind.com/blog

[Philip Dodds]

We will be working on the blogs and twitters :) and any/all shoutouts would be a great help!

Also if anyone is around there is anyone around tomorrow night I'm out with some local developers at http://anyvite.com/events/home/o97saannxx/charlotte-jug-dec-meeting - its not all Java/Technology so if you want to come and catch up you know where to find us :)

Cheers

P

[Corey Creed]

Hi everyone! I'm definitely interested in helping with the event in
any way I can.

Can we get together to talk sometime?

I'm happy to help promote, speak and/or sponsor.

Corey Creed
Co...@HippoIMT.com
www.TheJungleMap.com

[Jason Keath]

Same here. A meetup of some sort might be cool to brief people on where things stand and how we can help promote. I have had some Raleigh folks asking about details already.

I also included BarCamp on my blog last night for a post about 2009 night social media events.http://jasonkeath.com/?p=207 BarCamp is included in the form that's requesting volunteers, attendees, and sponsors. Already getting a few responses there. Will pass along the relevant data.

Jason Keath
Social Media Consultant, Designer, Blogger, Idea Guy
JasonKeath.com- Where Old Media Goes to Die

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[Philip]

Getting together sounds like a great idea - how do people feel about
something Thursday next week (Dec 18th?). The aims would be:

* Confirmed location
* What we need
** Routers
** Whiteboards
** Drinks/Food
* State of the sponsorships
* Plans for the Friday night

What do people think? Maybe we should put this in a new thread if
people get behind it?

Cheers

P

On Dec 12, 10:45 am, "Jason Keath" <jasonke...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Same here. A meetup of some sort might be cool to brief people on where
> things stand and how we can help promote. I have had some Raleigh folks
> asking about details already.
>
> I also included BarCamp on my blog last night for a post about 2009 night

> social media events.http://jasonkeath.com/?p=207BarCamp is included in the

> form that's requesting volunteers, attendees, and sponsors. Already getting
> a few responses there. Will pass along the relevant data.
>

> *Jason Keath*

> Social Media Consultant, Designer, Blogger, Idea Guy

> JasonKeath.com <http://www.jasonkeath.com>- Where Old Media Goes to Die
>
> Follow me on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/jakrose>
> Connect to me on LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkeath>
> Connect to me on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36603131>

[Jason Keath]

I am booked at 7pm for an Advertising Fed xmas party that evening. Before then, I can work something out.

Jason Keath

Social Media Consultant, Designer, Blogger, Idea Guy

JasonKeath.com- Where Old Media Goes to Die

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[Justin Ruckman]

Thursday is fine for me, but I can't do it any later because I'll be
out of town for Christmas.

On Dec 12, 11:04 am, Philip <Philip.Do...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Getting together sounds like a great idea - how do people feel about
> something Thursday next week (Dec 18th?).  The aims would be:
>
> * Confirmed location
> * What we need
> ** Routers
> ** Whiteboards
> ** Drinks/Food
> * State of the sponsorships
> * Plans for the Friday night
>
> What do people think?  Maybe we should put this in a new thread if
> people get behind it?
>
> Cheers
>
> P
>
> On Dec 12, 10:45 am, "Jason Keath" <jasonke...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Same here. A meetup of some sort might be cool to brief people on where
> > things stand and how we can help promote. I have had some Raleigh folks
> > asking about details already.
>
> > I also included BarCamp on my blog last night for a post about 2009 night

> > social media events.http://jasonkeath.com/?p=207BarCampis included in the

[Jason Keath]

Has anyone posted BarCamp on http://smcharlotte.ning.com/ yet? Once it is, I can send the event notice out to all the members of the group. Maybe once the site goes fully live?

Jason Keath

Social Media Consultant, Designer, Blogger, Idea Guy

JasonKeath.com- Where Old Media Goes to Die

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[Justin Ruckman]

yeah, that's a good idea. i'll post it up this weekend so you can send it out after the full site is live.

j

[Corey Creed]

We have about 230 members at http://is.gd/byUb that we can probably
notify of the event as well.