One morning last year, while working on a post for this blog, my friend Cate Colgan called me and asked if I was going to BarCamp Tampa Bay that day. I told her I didn’t know what it was. She didn’t give a lot of detail, but she told me where it was, that lots of people would be there. So I packed up my laptop and headed to USF.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with BarCamp, it is an un-conference. By that I mean, it is a gathering of people where the content is user-generated. This is how it works: At the beginning of the day, an empty schedule is hung on the wall. It has rooms and presentation times, but no talk titles or names of speakers. When people arrive, some of them sign up to speak. Some come just to listen. Everyone comes to mingle and network. It is fun and exciting.
With this format, you may not hear talks from super-slick international presenters (though you might), but you will definitely see the most dynamic, most involved people in the area. Last year I heard several speakers that I also see on panels that cost hundreds of dollars to attend.
So this year, Bright Eyes is totally supportive of BarCamp Tampa Bay. We are an event sponsor and I have plans to moderate a panel on how Foursquare Day came about and how it benefited the Tampa Bay community.
One more thing: The event is FREE. It is free to attend and free to present. So consider coming to BarCamp Tampa Bay to network, listen, and possibly present. You do need to register, though. You are welcome to use this internet badge on your website or blog to let people know that you are coming!
I hope to see you at BarCamp Tampa Bay! Be sure to stop me in the halls and say hi!
Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.
What a difference BarCamp makes – 1 yr. later and here you are posting/sponsoring and perhaps presenting ….
There's a few people this year I didn't give a lot of detail to either ……… perhaps next year your words above will appear on their blogs(s) …….. hmmmmm…… Just #unthinking 🙂
See you there Nate! 🙂
[…] supplier. Since then I have seen her several times at Tampa social media events, including BarCamp Tampa Bay. When she offered to write a guest post about BarCamp, I jumped at the chance! Enjoy! – Dr. […]