Musings from the Virtual World and #EC10
As the buzz that surrounds the inaugural Event Camp 2010 continues, a number of attendees and participants have shared their experience on the conference that brought the eventprofs community together to discuss the trending topics that surround the industry. A major topic for discussion, during and after sessions, has been the integration of virtual components into these events. There was an overwhelming positive response from those who attended from what was not only being discussed, but what was being implemented while those very conversations were taking place.
The long debate has been that virtual events would eventual devalue the need for conferences to exist in their traditional format. The cost of travel and participation becomes obsolete as content availability becomes more accessibly and often times complimentary to the online audience. As a member of the virtual audience during this weekend’s sessions, I can firmly attest to those claims being perfidious.
As a brief participant of the @eventprofs community, which had been created via Lara McCulloch Carter, I have developed amazing relationships, been a part of numerous conversations and been enlightened by a number of seasoned individuals all with similar passions for events and the integration of new thoughts and ideas. Granted, the online community has been a resource beyond explanation, I immediately witnessed the fallacy behind any thoughts that I would receive anything parallel to those attending in physical. Sure, the teachings that were available via webcast would be transcribed just the same. I witnessed the same questions and commentary via Twitter that the rest of the attendees did. But the conversation went well beyond the sessions and not only did the virtual environment fail to replace the value of simply being present, but it enabled me to witness this online community taking the next step in relationship building, networking and mind sharing via face to face individual discussions.
Had there not been a virtual environment, I’d have just small taste of Event Camp 2010 via the Twitter streams, Facebook updates and blog articles that have since developed, but I’m not certain my curiosity would peak beyond my usual dialogue and insights that I carry with these individuals on a daily basis. Being a part of this event, albeit as a virtual article, witnessing an online community take physical shape and surrounding it with the thoughts and ideas that become accessible beyond 140 characters or inconsistent streams of virtual dialogue only strengthened my passion for being there in flesh. Event Camp 2010 not only dispelled the notion of a shift towards a virtual environment, it proved brilliantly that such technologies can compliment and increase aspirations for conference participation in the future.
Leave a Reply
Subscribe
About the Author
Email:
Web Site: http://www.echelondesigninc.com
Bio: Creative director at Echelon Design. Social Media evangelist, marketing strategist, graphic artist and tech nerd.
Social Media and Events
Recent Posts
Facebook Fan Page
Flickr Photostream
Eric:
Thanks for these great observations of a remote attendee of EventCamp 2010. I’m glad you joined in virtually and look forward to the day when you’re present with us face-to-face.
I totally agree with you that hybrid or virtual can’t replace the face-to-face experience. I’m a firm believer that meeting and event organziers should consider hybrid and virtual for those customers/members who can’t or don’t normally attend the event. Then the event extends its reach to a new audience and with its message and content.
Eric,
Thanks so much for giving your perspective from the virtual audience. I am convinced that the virtual experience is much better than no experience and will likely help to drive face to face event attendance in the future.
As someone who was there and really missed her buddies who couldn’t attend,reading your tweets and hearing your questions enhanced the event for me as well. I’m really glad we were able to share this experience! But next time, my friend, I’m really looking forward to seeing your face in person!!
I also did not attend Event Camp 2010 live and like Eric, I vow that as long as I am in the events industry and connected with the wonderful #eventprofs community I will be there!
The level of planning involved in executing not only the live event but the virtual component as well is amazing and transcends the events industry. What a very cool foundation all involved in making #ec10 happen have laid out for everyone. This integration of social media meets F2F, meets virtual attendance/meetings is a book, college course in the making!
Eric-
Thanks so much for attending virtually and sharing this post. It was quite an adventure for our team and I agree with you that the backchannel is a great way to engage the folks who couldn’t come. I have heard back from several people that could not attend, that what they saw from the livestream, twitter and the followup blog posts, they would not miss the next EventCamp for the world. This proves to me that the virtual attendee component should always be look into.
mike