Today, twenty campers came from Ottawa, Gatineau, Kingston, Montreal and Guelph for the first, and likely not last, PodCamp Ottawa. They made themselves comfortable on pillows (sitting up and laying down), participated in a lively discussion, ate pizza and collectively raised $200 for the Snowsuit Fund. That’s right. In my books, PodCamp Ottawa was an outrageous success.

Click here to see my Flickr Photos of PodCamp Ottawa.

Today’s event tested out a number of theories and ideas about PodCamp and how events can be run. This list includes things like having no chairs or tables (although chairs crept into the circle late in the day), facilitated discussions instead of presentations, no computers and limited capacity.

For me, the greatest victory was the principle of ‘no computers’. Everyone cooperated on this one and not a single person told me that the event was lacking as a result. Everyone was engaged — more so that I had expected. I have to admit that I was expecting resistance and noise about this one, particularly from a community of people who live their lives in a connected hobby or business.

Perhaps the only of the points I’ve just raised that could draw some form of constructive criticism is the fact that we had only 20 attendees out of 25 registered with a planned capacity of 80 (most notified of their cancellation in advance). My feelings on this are strong; the small group allowed everyone to participate in the discussion and everyone got to know each other. Personally, I have a far better understanding of the challenges that podcasters, new and established, are facing. In fact, you can expect some announcements in the next week or two about a new initiative to help the community. There will likely be some changes to the Canadian Podcast Buffet as well.

If that isn’t enough for you, Chamika and Chulaka Ailapperuma (who are not YET podcasting) brought fruit and treats for the entire gathering, and some!

It’s likely that I will release most of the discussions as podcasts. I’m catching up on work and family so it may be a week or two before any of that makes it out.

Thanks so much to National Arts Centre New Media for the space and Thornley Fallis for the use of their projector for Bob’s workshop on Audacity.

The Canadian Government in partnership with the National Arts Centre, and the help of Collectik, launched a new directory of Canadian podcasts earlier this week on their culture.ca website.

The directory is available in English and French versions and focuses on podcasts that have a Canadian cultural slant. The definition of culture seems to include everything that isn’t specifically sports and science.

The new directory of can be found at podcasts.culture.ca.

Don’t forget that PodCamp Ottawa happens this coming Sunday (November 25), from 10am to 4pm in the Panorama Room of the National Arts Centre.

Be sure to check out our Guiding Principles, then register and volunteer to facilitate a discussion.

PodCamp Ottawa is a one day UNconference taking place at the National Arts Centre from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday, November 24 25, 2007. The event is intended to take the community back-to-basics and it is doing so with a well defined set of guiding principles:

BE SMALL: Attendance will be capped at 80 because a small crowd offers greater opportunities to listen and be heard, and meet everyone.

BE RESPECTFUL: If you register, please attend. If you determine that you will not be able to attend, please remove your name from the registration list as soon as possible so that someone else may take your place. During PodCamp Ottawa, please be sure to contribute to the discussion and listen to what others have to say.

BE CAMP: There will be no chairs or tables at PodCamp Ottawa so bring a pillow or blanket so you have something to sit or lie down on.

BE INVOLVED: Bring your Moleskine, a pen, your ideas and willingness to participate. Please leave your computer at home.

BE CONNECTED: Make sure you meet and speak with real people. We will not be providing any Internet access; wired or wireless.

CONVERSATIONS NOT PRESENTATIONS: Anyone who wishes to lead a session is asked to bring their experience and ideas and serve as a facilitator. Please introduce the discussion and then make sure that you manage the conversation so that everyone has a chance to participate. We will have no lecturn.

NO MARKETING: The goal of PodCamp Ottawa is to learn about how to create podcasts (technically and as a host/producer), make them available and listen to them. There are plenty of forums at which people can promote their businesses and the business of podcasting and new media.

SHARE THE LOVE: Every PodCamper is asked to bring $10 for the Snowsuit Foundation. Let’s make a difference!

Registration is free. I hope to see you there!

The Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group kicked off it’s second season last Thursday (September 20). The gathering of podcasting veterans (Charles Hodgson and Steve Reside), potential podcasters (Mitchell Beer, Dan, Chamika Ailapperuma and Chakula Chaluka), out-of-towners (Julien Smith and Isabelle Michaud).

After the community had shared ideas and war stories for a while, Maurizio Ortolani (New Media Producer with the National Arts Centre) delivered a great presentation on the NAC’s podcast and new media strategy.

Maurizio discussed:

• how production methodologies can be traced to the NAC’s national mandate as a public institution
• the use of podcasts and new media to educate and entertain while promoting the NAC’s ongoing activities, music and theatre performances, orchestra tours and special events
• the very different formats and styles, ranging from methodically planned to off-the-cuff, of the various podcasts
• production and hosting challenges and solutions
• legal challenges and how the NAC has found solutions in cooperation with the orchestra, the musicians’ union, guests and rights holders
• measuring success quantitatively and qualitatively
• graduating from consumer-grade to professional audio gear
• podcasts and new media as part of the NAC culture

Maurizio’s presentation should be required listening for anyone and any organization that is considering (or may already be) using podcast and new media technologies as part of marketing and PR strategies.

Links to resources mentioned:

• National Arts Centre website
• National Arts Centre podcasts
• Arts Alive website
• Canadian Podcast Legal Guide

 

 Podcasts and new media as part of the NAC culture [48:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Due to very limited space at the Clock Tower Brew pub, a result of three social media gatherings converging on the venue at one time, the Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group September meetup has been moved a few blocks south to The Arrow and Loon Pub (corner of Bank Street and Fifth Avenue).

Our guest speaker for the September meetup is Maurizio Ortolani, New Media Producer with the National Arts Centre. Maurizio will deliver a presentation about the National Arts Centre’s podcast and new media strategy and their observed results. The latest count: 20 YES, 11 MAYBE.

There will be plenty of time to speak with Maurizio and mingle with other members of the community.

When: Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:00pmET

Where: The Arrow and Loon (indoor patio)
99 Fifth Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1S 5K4
613.237.0448

As the Director of New Media at the National Arts Centre (NAC), Maurizio Ortolani is the force behind the organization’s Podcasting initiatives which began with event-specific Podcasts to promote the AlbertaScene festival and the NAC Orchestra’s 2005 tour of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and has expanded to include several regular programs (both english and french) including the NACOCast.

Maurizio’s approach to Podcasting as a business tool is brilliant. The NACOCast, for example, is designed to showcase talent, culture and NAC Orchestra events without putting the business agenda on the show. The focus is on education and discussion that, as a listener, inspires me to explore more about the topics and — if it weren’t for an over-scheduled life — buy tickets for concerts or subscribe to a performance series.

The hard-core Podcasters know that Podcasting isn’t just about hitting record and publish. Podcasting is a social media and Maurizio represents the NAC extremely well in this regard. Besides hosting and attending meetups and conferences, Maurizio donated decommissioned recording equipment for a giveaway in the Canadian Podcast community.

Maurizio has established a Podcasting strategy that is truly in the spirit of social media and proves that some businesses “get it”.

The Canadian Podcast Buffet announced a giveaway of two Behringer VX2496 mic pre-amp/processors, retired and donated by the National Arts Centre Podcast team. Details about the giveaway are in the Buffet episode named 400 episodes, Behringer pre-amp giveaway, roundtable on avoiding Podcast burnout.