Get registered for Barcamp 2010! I’m so excited to speak this year!

Posted on 05. Nov, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in business, omaha

We are just getting down to the last week or so until Barcamp Omaha 2010 (Nov. 19-20), one of the most fun, inspirational, and inclusive conference events in the area. I know that several of you dear readers were able to make the trip for last year’s Barcamp and had a really great time. It’s a weekend of making friends, learning new things, and sharing your passions with people who are genuinely interested in hearing what you have to say.

This year I am giving a talk called Make it Pretty: Valuing style in your personal and professional life. I’ve been working on it for a little while now and it will inspire you to go above and beyond with all the details, whether it’s in your job, when you’re wrapping your Christmas presents, baking a pie, or even shopping at the grocery store. Thinking about packaging and presentation in your life isn’t “fake” or “superficial”–it’s a way to show the world that you care and reward yourself for your hard work! Don’t you deserve your own best effort?

I am sensing a few questions!

What is Barcamp?

It’s an “un”-conference format held in cities all over the world. There is no speaker list, no fixed schedule, and no rigid guidelines. Our open format offers attendees the unique opportunity to network, learn, and communicate about what they are passionate about! Barcamp conferences are held all over the world, but at Barcamp Omaha we do something special. Uniting techies, creatives, and entrepreneurs, we are not merely a “tech conference” or a “design conference.” Instead, we strive to include all local innovators and give you a platform to learn, teach, and explore the limits of your creativity. The goals for Barcamp are simple: come with an open mind and share what you are passionate about!

Okay, sounds, cool, but do I have to give a speech or a talk?

Nope! Most people come to Barcamp to make friends or listen to other people speak, and that’s great! We want you participate in whatever way you like, whether it’s starting the wave at the opening party bash, forming a panel of experts in backpacking, or just sitting in the back row and taking it all in! There are no rules.

What are some typical Barcamp talks?

In past years we have heard people speak about topics ranging from glass blowing to using blogs to leverage your brand to starting coworking spaces, talks with titles like “Kill Ticketmaster,” “Life as a Professional Bum,” “MYSQL Performance Tuning,” and “Become a Whiskey Expert.” There is a huge range of topics and you can speak about anything you really feel passionate about!

Sweet, so you’re coming!

Let me tell you what to expect. On Friday the 19th, show up to the gorgeous Nomad Lounge at 7pm to meet the other Barcampers and have a drink or two on our sponsors! Last year’s Barcamp party was a blast–besides the lounge being totally gorgeous with wide-open areas to bust a move and intimate little alcoves to break off for a private conversation, we had a huge screen broadcasting that night’s Twitter stream and drinks till the bar closed down.

The next morning it’ll probably be a little chilly when you come in, so we’ll have a coffee and hot chocolate bar with all the trimmings and breakfast catered. If you want to give a talk, you will fill out a little note card and submit it to us, and we will lay out all of the cards to determine the day’s schedule during breakfast. Then we will post the schedule and the sessions will begin around 10am!

There are three tracks–Creative, Entrepreneurship, and Development/Tech–held in the spacious and ambient Nomad Lounge. We classify each talk into one of those tracks, but you can expect to find lots of off-the-wall topics as well. Lunch will be catered, and then we’ll finish up at 6pm when you can run off to one of the awesome restaurants in the neighborhood with all of your pals. And of course, in true Omaha style, another raucous closing party will be that evening.

Come to Barcamp Omaha 2010! It’s only $5! Meet me and check out my beloved city! Find out what new surprises we have planned for you this year! Listen to my talk about making everything pretty!

Photos by me and Andy Peters.

Tags: barcamp