So I just spent the weekend at Podcamp Toronto 2010. It’s a completely free two day event with multiple thirty minute sessions running at the same time.
About Podcamp
Podcamp is called an ‘unconference’ where everyone who wants to gets to speak. You basically sign up for a session and do it. I may do one next year if I get brave enough. With 900 people in attendance this year that’s sure to grow next year it’s certainly a large group of people to reach if you do a presentation (although there are usually about 40-80 people in any one session I think).
On Saturday night after podcamp there was a social event at a local pub. It included a talent stage, FREE BEER and Free Food. I have to say how awesome it was to go to an event, pay nothing to get in and then get free drinks and free dinner (oh and there was free coffee during the day) – nice!
Thanks to Jay Moonah who I believe was a podcamp organizer for sharing his guitar (at least I think it was his) with anyone who felt like getting up on stage. Yep, did you guess? I decided to brave the stage and sing a song – I picked ‘Last Kiss’. In case you missed my performance, Pearl Jam does it a *little* bit better
:
Update Feb.22nd: So Nathan made a comment below that I should record a video of Last Kiss for those who didn’t make it. Request granted! Here it is:
Who Is a ‘Podcamp’ For
Podcamp is definitely for anyone looking to know more about using online media, both social and digital, to promote or grow a business. It seems to me that most of the topics are given by people who work for corporations rather than solopreneurs working from home.
Even though it’s not always from the perspective of the ‘work at home’ business owner I still found a lot of the information useful. So podcamp, in my opinion, would be for solopreneurs, small business owners and also employees who want to expand their podcasting, internet and social media skills.
The Pod People
I’m still too shy to go around snapping photos of people I have yet to meet or have just met. I did meet lots of great people there.
Sharon, Pam and I were joking about being ‘pod’ people.

From left to right:
Pamela, Imie, Me, Sharon, Ruth
…and a big thanks to Leona (Vice-President of SMG, one of the podcast sponsors) for snapping the above pic .
At the pub I had fun meeting lots of people including Jenn, Andrea and Ryan.
Room For Improvement
Now I definitely don’t want to complain but I thought it might be helpful if I added some constructive feedback here. I heard one Podcamp guest saying since she’s so new to podcasting she would have liked to see a session that walked beginners through how to do it.
She was suggesting something like: “Ok, got the audio – now what do I do with it?” (by the way, I share that info in my own free mini-course here: http://www.marketersmojo.com/freebies/beginners-guides/podcasting)
I personally would love to see more presentations from those who are work from home business owners. Solopreneurs who are making it happen and making a living from home. That would definitely be inspiring to me.
Summing It Up
I think the organizers did a wonderful job. I also attended Podcamp Toronto 2009. Last year the rooms were really crowded but this year there was plenty of room at any event you wanted to attend as long as you showed up on time. I think this had to do with some bigger rooms and more event choices.
There were lots of great presentations and everyone was friendly.
So thank you very much Podcamp Toronto 2010 Organizers and Sponsors for a great event!


p.s. Check out the event sponsors here: http://2010.podcamptoronto.com/sponsors/



Sounds like a great time Angela! I hope to attend next year when the baby is a bit bigger. And free food and beer? Awesome!!
Christie´s last blog ..An Internet Entrepreneur Story – My Story
Yes Christie I did have a very fun time and even got a night out which is rare! Looking forward to seeing you there next year.
This year was my first Podcamp and it won’t be my last. What a great event, venue, speakers and very well organized.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible!
Brad Gosse´s last blog ..4 Cool Ways To Measure Your Web Traffic
Thanks for the comment Brad! I did see you in one session and meant to say hi but then missed you in the halls. I think you said you are speaking at Wordcamp – looking forward to hearing your talk there
Looked like that was a fun event and you had loads of fun. So it’s an informal conference of some sort? By the way, you should post the video of you singing that Pearl Jam song. =D
Nathan´s last blog ..Pluslån
Yes it’s somewhat informal. I actually found it to be more professional seeming this year over last. It seemed more people were talking ‘business’ this year. I think everyone is welcome to speak from hobbiest to small-medium-large business owners.
Great idea on the song, just might do that!
Angela,
It was great to reconnect with you at Podcamp Toronto – see you at WordCamp!
Ruth Maude´s last blog ..PodCamp Toronto 2010
The “Pod” people. I forgot about that. I had a blast. I’m still processing all the information I received. Who knows… it may even get me blogging again.
Thanks for the comment Pamela! Yes it was a fun time. I think there’s a lot of value in the social aspect of an event too. It seems to be a more comfortable place to relax and get to know people better. Next time I’m going to be brave(r) and play pool too, lol.
I thought it was great myself. But I enjoyed the company more:) I was a bit disappointed on Saturday and feeling like there were not many sessions targeted to us home-based business owners; and yeah – how to do it (but maybe if we hang around on the first session-we probably got something there?). Besides @davefleet integration and ecosystem, i thought the rest were so so. But when I went back Sunday, I was surprise-BizCamp ok, I learned a few things for my Financial Advisor clients and then I went to Tod Maffin’s “Awesome-Izing Your Podcast: Secrets from Radio”, and man he rocks. He was amazzzzing! He was entertaining, and very knowledgeable on this topic; his tips were really amazing. I am still going over my notes and maybe write something later on this:)
Ohh thanks for the feedback on the events Imie. I need to add my feedback on the ones I went to too. I’m going to have to see if I can find Tod’s online and have a listen. I’ve been in a bit of a flux with my podcast – one day it’s off, next day it’s on. I’ve missed a few weeks now and still trying to figure out the best way I want to do it.
Yes one of the biggest reasons I go to these events is not necessarily the information (though that is good too) but to connect IN PERSON with people. The keyboard and screen definitely take a lot of the humanity out of networking and relationship building.
Angela – you are so talented. I found myself singing along … now I have that song stuck in my head .
Marie´s last blog ..How to Make a Video Using Windows Movie Maker – Part 2 
Thanks for the comment Marie! Oops – even the best of songs can get annoying when they stick in your head, lol.
Now you’re a rock star! That’s what I call creating your life as you want it! I should have come up to Toronto. It’s only across that little lake!
Steve @Life Change For You´s last blog ..Be yourself, everyone else is taken!
Thanks Steve! Sorry your comment got caught in the spam filter – just caught it. Yep podcamp was fun and there’s always next year!
oh my gosh Angela – good for you! You did a great job on the song and I’m sure it was great at the Podcamp Pub social too!
Ruth Maude´s last blog ..Personal Privacy and the Social Web
LOL, thank you Ruth. I like to mix things up ya know? Keep em guessin what I’m going to do next. haha. I know I’m now Taylor Swift but it’s just a bit of fun, definitely keeping my day job
Angela it was fun to once again enjoy Podcamp Toronto with you! Your post gave a great overview of what worked and what didn’t. I think events like this that pack so much into 2 days aren’t able to offer much learning-wise as the sessions are so short, and often packed.
What I think is a real benefit of Podcamp are the people that I get to connect with IRL and the ideas that are sparked by the presentations I attend.
Also you can’t beat free FOOD AND BEER!
Great job on the song – my fellow guitarist

Sharon McMillan´s last blog ..Top Three Tools for Marketing Your Online Business
Thanks Sharon! Yes and the beer tickets kept coming too after you left, lol. Glad you could come out to the social, was lots of fun.
Yes I definitely went mostly to network with and meet people. It’s really interesting too to see how over time these relationships build as you continue to get out to events. That’s really priceless.
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