Have you miss PodCamp Montreal this year? Or perhaps were you unable to attend all sessions? If so, you might be interested to watch our videos.

Simply visit our schedule page and click on the title of the unconference you want to watch. You might want to check out our UStream page as well to get a better overview of all the videos…

If you wanted to speak this year but weren’t fast enough to submit your idea, be on the lookout on Twitter, where we’ll announce any opening spots that might occur in the near future.

By its very nature, the unconference will free you from this agony. The power of the conference is firmly placed in the hands of the attendees. An unconference is based on the principle that the sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage.

Here’s how the concept is interpreted in the case of a PodCamp :

Everyone is invited to present

If you dream of attending a conference on a specific subject that you’re passionate about, why not simply be the one to present it? You’re probably the best person to deliver a presentation on the subjects that interest you, so submit your workshop idea today.

Anyone can contribute to the discussion

An unconference speaker must be open to actively interacting with participants after an initial presentation. Traditionally, PodCamp sessions have a more rigid structure than at a BarCamp, the unconference model which inspired PodCamp. It is therefore appropriate to develop a theme or rely on visual support (ex : a projector) as needed.

Anyone can leave a workshop at anytime

Otherwise known as the “Law of Two Feet”, this principle gives total freedom to anyone who wishes to do so to leave a presentation if they lose interest or if it’s simply not for them.

Everyone is equal

Another fundamental rule of PodCamp is that “Everyone is a rockstar”. Since everyone is invited to speak at PodCamp, there is no special VIP treatment given to any speaker.

Nothing is carved in stone

PodCamp Montreal organizers try to make space available for impromptu sessions. Sometimes inspired by a workshop that has just been held, or simply a meeting of people with a shared interest, PodCamp participants tend to improvise workshops at the last minute. This practice is encouraged.

Conclusion

Even if the principle of an unconference could lead one to believe they are about to experience event anarchy, everything always unfolds in a manner that is respectful of the person having proposed and presented the subject. Since power is left in the hands of participants, the line “You Are PodCamp” is rich in meaning.

Why such a rise in prices?

Based on our previous experiences, we are convinced that this decision is a win / win for both the organisation and the attendees. Almost half of people that register to PodCamp Montreal each year don’t show up to the event, which has an impact directly on our costs. PodCamp Boston saw a disastrious situation happening for similar reasons 2 years ago, which forced the organizers to ask for an admittance fee. The fact that we are changing venue this year is also raising the cost of holding such an event. We are currently negotiating sponsorships that will allow us to improve the offer.

We think that charging 20$ for two days of conferences and networking… plus a free t-shirt… is an amount that is accessible to the vast majority of social media enthusiasts, podcasters and students.

We have taken the necessary steps make the organisation behind PodCamp Montreal a NPO. Know that this event maintains its nonprofit mission. The organizing committee members, who invest hundreds of hours each year to present you PodCamp Montreal, continue to give their time voluntarily. Any surplus money will be reinvested in future editions.

Why this new date?

Looking for a venue at the last minute forced us to present PodCamp Montreal on September 11th and 12th. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by our previous announcement concerning the dates.

We are looking for our all-important sponsors. If you’re interested in supporting PodCamp Montreal, contact Michelle Sullivan.

If you’re new to PodCamp Montreal, feel free to browse through our site. Last year’s blog posts will give you a taste of what’s in store for you in 2010.

Ed. UPDATE: Event date has been changed to September 11th and 12th 2010.

We’d also like to give our special thanks to Eva Blue which did, once again, a fantastic job taking pictures during the event (plus some cool ones of the organizing team). You can look at her slideshow here :

Berlin and Montreal have many things in common, including vibrant creative and tech communities. September 18th to 27th, a group of likeminded geeks in Berlin are organizing a festival around 5 themes.

“Atoms & bits are the smallest elements in our modern society. This is what the atoms&bits Festival is all about: how we change society bit by bit, atom by atom – organized through the Internet with real world results. a&b is a meet up for visionaries, tinkerers, activists, geeks, and artists – in short, everyone that celebrates a new culture of collective endeavor and do-it-yourself.”– Atoms & Bits

In the spirit of collaboration and outreach dear to many new media fans and creators, a group of local events are joining together to form a Montréal extension to the Berlin festival and PodCamp is proud to be one of those events. We encourage you to have a look at the communities represented in Berlin and at the events participating in Montréal.

Trylon Apartments are located near our venue, the Pavillon de Design de l’UQAM. Last year’s attendees raved about this place. Just say we sent you, and enjoy the following special rates:

65$

STUDIO with 1 queen-size bed
MAX 2 persons / room

70$

JUNIOR SUITE with 1 queen-size bed and 1 sofa bed
MAX 3 persons / room

85$

PRIVATE ROOM with 2 queen-size beds and 1 sofa bed
MAX 4 persons / room

Fairmont’s The Queen Elizabeth Hotel will welcome you with open arms, just as they welcomed John and Yoko 40 years ago. Care to lay your head in the same hotel as these two ‘60s icons ? Contact PodCamp organizing committee member Laurent Maisonnave for more information on special PodCamp Montreal group rates.

If these options don’t suit you, fear not. We invite you to consult the “Accomodations” section of the Tourisme Montréal website, where you’re sure to find what your heart desires.

I am glad to announce that PodCamp Montreal will be back for a second edition in 2009. Mark your calendar for these following dates :

This year’s organizing team includes the following :

Jean-François Blais, Harold Boeck, Caroline Fontaine, Bob Goyetche, Sylvain Grand’Maison, Mitch Joel, Laurent LaSalle, Laurent Maisonnave, Mélanie Millette, Julien Smith and Michelle Sullivan.

Stay tuned for all the details.