That is all good and great but it will be all for nothing if there aren’t any sessions.

You see, the secret behind PodCamp is that people like YOU give the presentations. We provide the tools, resources, space and audience and you provide the content. Without people signing up to deliver sessions the day simply won’t work.

We Need You!

Whether you’re a marketing guru, a world class designer, a lover of code, someone who creates things or someone who thinks about things (they don’t have to work) we need YOU to present a session at PodCamp.

Your session can be a typical presentation, a demonstration of some sort, a round table/panel discussion or something completely different, the floor is open and it is yours.

So Sign Up to give a session today and help us out a bit.

Wondering what sessions are already being offered? Find them here.

Registration is free but we need to know you’re coming otherwise we can’t plan accordingly.

We have limited space (we really do) this year, so make sure to register TODAY! to secure your spot at PodCamp London. Once you’ve registered take a look at who else has registered for PodCamp London so far at our eventbrite page.

If you interested in helping out financially check out the sponsorship page.

Being held on Saturday June 2nd, 2012 at the Convergence Centre at the Western University Research Park, this 4th instalment of SouthWestern Ontario’s annual full blown social media event is shaping up to be the best yet.

Want to get involved? There are a few ways you can.

Register

There isn’t any point in having an event if no-one shows up to it. Register today to let us know that you plan on coming. It is only by registering that we can have an idea of how many people to expect and plan accordingly. Register Today!

Present at PodCamp London

Unlike a regular conference where speaking slots are allotted only to the highest bidder, Unconferences are by you, for you. Without people like you willing to get up and talk in front of other attendees (or lead a panel discussion or give a demo) there really isn’t any reason for us to get together at all.

If you have some knowledge you’d like to share please sign up to give a session/presentation.

Sponsor PodCamp

PodCamp London wouldn’t be able to happen the way it does without the support of our great sponsors. It is with the kindness and support of local businesses and organizations that we’re able to bring to you this opportunity to get-together, network and share.

If you and your organization/business would like to sponsor PodCamp London 2012 we’d love to have you on board. Check out our Sponsorship Page for complete details of sponsoring this great annual event.

So what happens when 3:30pm hits on Saturday afternoon? Does PodCamp London simply stop? Do people head home? Do the conversations end?

NO! (sorry for yelling, I couldn’t contain myself)

We’ve decided here at PodCamp Headquarters to help keep the conversations going.

An Official PodCamp London After Party will be held in downtown London at Barney’s Lounge.

This party will feature, food, conversations and drinks. Details are as follows

Time & Location

The After Party begins at 7pm at Barney’s Lounge in downtown London and will go until you leave or they cut you off. There is a large patio ourdoors if it’s nice weather.

Barney’s Lounge is located at 671 Richmond Street at John Street.

Please do not show up prior to 7pm as PodCamp London organizers might still be setting up or more more likely having dinner.

Because of the 7pm start time all PodCamp London attendees are responsible for planning their own dinner arrangements. Suggestions for restaurants can be found out during the events on Saturday, just ask someone there. I have some personal favourites and would be happy to share them with you.

How To Get In

In order to get into the After Party you need to show a couple of things.

First, you will need your PodCamp London official badge. Without this you will not be allowed to enter the After Party. This is one of the many ways we can weed out the “Social Media Posers” (The other way is by asking this question: How many types of people are there in the world? Answer). You will receive this badge upon registration in the morning at PodCamp London.

Second, you need to be smiling. The after party is no place for grumpy bears.

If you don’t present these two things at the door we will probably look at you funny until you leave (or until you do the official handshake, Wink Wink.).

Food & Drinks

Finger foods to satisfy any munchies you may be having and limited drink tickets will be provided to help fuel the PodCamp London after party.

Although finger food and drink tickets will be provided (in limited quantities of course) all PodCamp attendees are responsible for providing their own dinner option. There will be food available to purchase (and additional drinks) at Barney’s, however, you may chose to eat before you arrive.

Transportation

Because drinking and driving is bad, and we want everyone to enjoy their evening while being safe we suggest that people carpool or take an alternative transportation option to the after party. The following are just a few of the options to help get you to (and from) the after party.

Carpool

For those who may be staying at Windermere Manor or for those from out of town, carpooling might be a good option.

There is always an extra seat or two in a car so why not share it. Its a great way to make new friends (or enemies) and plus its good for the environment. Be environmentally friendly PodCampers.

Taxi

The following are 3 taxi companies in London that you may wish to utilize.

• Checker - 519-659-0400 (flat rate zone service)
• U-Need-A - 519-438-2121
• Abouttown - 519-432-2222

The fare for a taxi ride from the Convergence Centre to The Ceeps (or Station Park Inn) should be roughly $13 (give or take). If your taxi ride ends up costing you $200 you are probably in Toronto.

(When calling DO NOT ask for the PodCamp London rate as one does not exist. You may however try asking for the Government of Canada rate, although I am sure that you would get charged 10x as much.)

Parking

Paid Parking is available behind the Ceeps and I believe it is $7 (but I could be wrong). Parking on London streets and at parking metres (most) is free after 6pm on Saturdays, so you should be ok to park at the on street parking, but please make sure to check the sinage before parking.

Public Transportation

Barney’s is accessible from the Convergence Centre by taking the #13 Wellington Road bus. Although there is no stop directly at the Convergence Centre, a short 5 minute walk will get you to the University Hospital where the bus is located.

Find me, Kevin Van Lierop, during the day on Saturday if you want more information on this transportation option. (or any other bus route)

Teleportation

There is an option for attendees to be teleported from the Convergence Centre to The Ceeps. Although there is no guarantee that you will arrive in the correct location or in one piece I am very hopeful that this will be a viable and environmentally friendly option.

Schedule

Here at PodCamp headquarters we thought that it might be appropriate to draft up a formal (yet flexible) schedule so that all attendees are on somewhat of the same page (and so that no one sleeps in to arrive when the bar opens).

What we have for you below is a condensed outline for the day.

9:30 AM – Registration
10:15 AM – Kick Off
10:30 AM – 11:50 PM – Morning Sessions
11:50 PM – 1:00 PM  - Lunch (Very Important)
1:00 PM – 3:20 PM – Afternoon Sessions
3:20 PM – 3:30 PM – Wrap Up
7:00 PM  - After Party (Details to Come)

For a detailed look at the entire list of sessions and events for the day check out the PodCamp wiki. As session presenters add their presentations to the schedule you should have a better idea of how things will unfold during the day.

Note: Please remember that because PodCamp is an un-conference the schedule is flexible, adaptable and in some ways organic. With that said, be prepared for it to be changed up until the day of PodCamp and during the day itself. Sessions may be added (perhaps by you?), removed, moved around etc.

Sessions

Only a week away from PodCamp and we already have around 30 sessions with the chance of more being added up until and including the day of (Do you want to add a session?).

If you are presenting we now have the wireframe schedule in place where you can now add your session into one of the available time slots.

There are 3 rooms available with seating capacities of either 50 or 75 people.

To add your session head over to the PodCamp Wiki Schedule (2011) section and find an open time slot that you would like to present in.

Within that cell please include all of the following information.

Look to the existing scheduled sessions for a general template.

If you have any problems please do not hesitate to Contact the PodCamp London organizing team for assistance.

Note: Some sessions have been pre-schedule due to time constraints, conflicts and other logistical considerations, but for the most part the schedule has been provided initially to all presenters in a bare-bones form.

Location

In case you are coming from out of town or are from London but don’t get out often (like myself) it would be good to know where PodCamp London is being held.

With space graciously donated in kind by The Research Park, PodCamp London is being held in one of the greenest buildings in Canada, The Convergence Centre. Designated as a LEED Gold certified building, the Research Park as made a concentrated effort to reduce the building’s environmental footprint during both construction and operations. For more details about the location Click Here.

Without a doubt we couldn’t have asked for a more appropriate space. A Thank You needs to go out toThe Research Park for this fantastic space and continual support of PodCamp London.

Lunch

So what’s a PodCamper to do when at The Convergence Centre for lunch? Don’t worry, that’s covered.

Thanks to The Windermere Manor (location of last year’s after party) lunch will be provided for all PodCamp attendees. We’ll have a nice long lunch break with a BBQ lunch (weather permitting) provided by Windermere Manor and a cash bar (beer and wine available) on location. Coffee and tea will be available in the lobby as well. For the vegetarian lovers out there, I inquired if there will be a vegetarian option and there will be, so don’t fret.

Thanks to The Windermere Manor (and all our other great sponsors/community partners), PodCamp London might just be the most affordable conference/un-conference you have ever attended. (note: HST is included in ticket price)

If there is something important that you think we have failed to mention please leave us a comment below and we will try to address it as soon as possible. (Details about the after party will be announced later this week)

If any of these sentences describe you then we have something you’re going to like.

Open House

This Friday, June 10th, 2011 at 7pm-11pm join other PodCampers, social media types and geeks of all ages at the PodCamp Kick-Off Open House at the UnLab.

The details are as follows:

Who: You
What: PodCamp KickOff Open House
Where: The UnLab (downstairs) at the Convergence Centre, UWO Research Park
When: Friday June 10th, 2011 7pm-11pm
Why: To meet other peeps, to learn about the UnLab and to enjoy some good company
How: It’s an open house, just show up. The doors will be unlocked, just follow the signs when you arrive.

Bring yourself, a friend, some munchies and refreshments if you like and relax at this Kick Off event. Refreshments will be served and good conversations will be had.

oh, and a side note. Christopher Walken will probably not be in attendance, but he builds robots in his garage (apparently) and this is something you can do at the UnLab. Yep, that was a stretch but the picture was just too cool to pass up.

Battledecks is a laugh-riot rollercoaster of fun and nerves as several contestants try to put together coherent presentations from nonsensical Keynote decks. Previous contestants have laughed, cried, wet their pants and gotten impregnated during the show. The audience has a great time. Everyone goes home happy. Last year’s show was a huge success, and we didn’t even hand out free vuvuzelas to the audience.

- SXSW

Contestants are given 5 minutes to take 15 random slides that they have never seen before and turn it into the most inspirational or hilarious talk you’ve ever seen. There isn’t any prizes except the laughter and respect of the audience. What more do you want?

The floor/stage will be open for anyone who wants to participate. We should be able to get through 3-4 of these spur of the moment presentations during a single session time slot.

Get Involved.

If you’d like to submit a series of random images that you think would make up a fantastic Battledeck for someone else to speak to, you can do the following:

• pull together 15 images from whatever sources you like (JPGs only)
• ZIP them together into a single file
• email the file to kevin at kevinvanlierop.com

After PodCamp Organizers take a quick look at the images you have provided and make sure there isn’t anything that will get you put in jail, we’ll format them, put them in the correct time sequence and load the deck up during PodCamp London 2011 for someone to test their wit against.

The deadline to submit your ‘deck’ is 4pm on Wednesday June 8th, 2011

Although we don’t have videos from last year’s Battledeck competitions (hey @jclarkey, whats the deal?) we can offer this following example of what type of things to expect.

StationPark is the only hotel on Richmond Row, London’s dynamic hub for trendy, eclectic shopping, exciting dining options and vibrant entertainment. Whether planning a business meeting or a social function or a weekend away with family and friends, Station Park All Suite Hotel is everything you could wish for and more.

Thanks to the Station Park Inn in downtown London (the location of the very first PodCamp London) you will be able to get a group rate of $125 for a Deluxe Suite & $145 for an upgraded Superior Suite. Parking & Taxes will be additional.

The Station Park Inn is located in Downtown London and is a very short drive, bus or taxi ride to the Convergence Centre where PodCamp London 2011 is taking place. In addition, the Station Park Inn is very close to where the Saturday night networking/social event will be taking place.

If you’re interested in this you may call 1-800-561-4574 with the group number #326386 or quote PodCamp - UWO

So we announced the date and opened registration, sat back and watched. It didn’t take long to get a few comments. Actually, less then I had expected. After a bit I said I’d get a post up explaining our move. I had every intention on doing that last Friday, I had the post mostly written, lost it and got distracted by some personal issues, sorry but somethings take precedence.

So, if you’ve made the jump over to register you’ve seen that this year PodCamp London costs money to register.

Short answer, we want to create a barrier to make the conference better.

Longer answer. It’s hard to plan a conference when you don’t really know how many people will show up. Take last year for example. With 250+ registrants, we know there will be no shows which is fine to a degree. When it’s 25%, or more, it makes it very hard to budget things like food. Our hope is to stop people who don’t add value to the overall conference or register to get their name on the list and don’t plan to attend. It should raise the value, maybe to two bucks, and make our job easier.

Anyways, the vast majority of funding for PodCamp London comes from the sponsors. Out of the $1.99 registration fee we get less then half. And, we have thought of those that for some reason can’t pay the fee, no credit card or PayPal account maybe. If you can’t, contact one of the organizers, we’ll hook you up.

The Oompa Loompas hibernated over the past 10 months but are now back at work trying to make sure that PodCamp London 2011 tops last year’s event.

When

This time around PodCamp London will be happening a little later, so mark on your calendars Saturday June 11th, 2011 as PodCamp London Day. Why later? Well we wanted to shake things up and make sure we had super nice weather this time. Who knows, you might want to ditch an afternoon session and go and frolic outdoors. Yes, we said frolic. &nbsp

Where

Because it was such a great venue last year we’ve decided to return to the Convergence Centre at the UWO Research Park for this year’s instalment. Not only will we have an opportunity to teach, learn and converse in a beautiful building but everyone will get a chance to see what has developed with UnLondon and the UnLab over the past year.

Who

Wondering who will be attending, speaking and sponsoring this great event? Well the simple answer is YOU! Registration is open now, space will be limited. We are actively seeking sponsorship, if you or anyone you know is interested head to the sponsorship page. And sign up to speak here. Stay tuned to this website and Twitter for the most up to date news on PodCamp London 2011 happenings.

What

Oh, and for those of you who are asking “Whats a PodCamp?” and “Do I have to bring my own tent?” the answers are as follows:

PodCamps are an open community for new and social media enthusiasts and professionals including bloggers, podcasters, social networkers, and anyone curious about new media to share and learn.

and

No.