How to run a BarCamp – the wikibook

For a while I’ve been writing a new book (as such). Its titled How to run a barcamp and i’ve contacted a few people I know who have run them in the past to contribute towards it. Unfortunately not many people have actually added ink to the wiki book, so I’m opening the effort to anyone who wants to help contribute.

BarCamp and other derivative events are a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Since you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about setting up your own or helping out on one which is going ahead in the near future.

This guide is meant as a introduction to the BarCamp phenomenon and bring together tips, tricks and clever use of social engineering to make the event take place and be the best it could.

Why the need for this wikibook at all? Well BarCamp.org is a great place, but it’s frankly too alive and good information is scatter across the site and burred underneath the next lot of BarCamps. There was also no where to collaboratively come to a decision about the best way to do certain things or what things should be avoided based on the experience of other BarCamps around the world.

The format is punchy one liners of advice opposed to long length discussions (which are best served on the discussion/talk pages).

The whole idea is pretty straight forward, I’ve already added sections and started filling in parts which I’ve found from my own experience, on barcamp.org or the all new mailing list.

Author: Ianforrester

Senior firestarter at BBC R&D, emergent technology expert and serial social geek event organiser. Can be found at cubicgarden@mas.to, cubicgarden@twit.social and cubicgarden@blacktwitter.io