If You Attend One Unconference This Summer ...

Austin might have already hosted its second BarCamp (www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRtHeBnTdGw), but the Alamo City beats us to the punch with Texas' first PodCamp, a daylong spree of skills sharing and social-media mania slated for Saturday, May 19, at downtown's Historic Sunset Station.

Organized by members of the San Antonio Podcasters (sapodcasters.podbean.com), PodCamp San Antonio offers discussion about the culture and technology of blogging, vlogging, and podcasting in a participant-driven "unconference" setting. Unlike certain other media events of spring, admission is free, anyone can play, and there will be no gawkers.

"It's meant to be interactive in nature and more of an open dialogue than a traditional conference setting," says organizer Jennifer Navarrete, co-host of The Morning Brewcast (www.morningbrewcast.com) since 2005. "In an unconference, everyone is a presenter, and everyone is the audience."

"[Unconferences] are an alternative to standard conferences where sponsors invite industry professionals to learn about the company wares," adds blogger Shaine Mata, who, in accordance with rules of transparency, is listed as an individual sponsor of PodCamp San Antonio on the event's wiki (podcamp.pbwiki.com/PodCampSanAntonio). "An unconference invites anybody in or outside of the industry to learn about technology or to give a presentation or both."

"Got knowledge on podcasting, video blogging, blogging, or new social media?" Navarrete asks. "Then offer to present it."

Geeks across Texas signed on to present sessions. As of press time, Arlington-based Gary Leland (aka "P. Dilly") – mastermind of podcast directory Podcast Pickle (www.podcastpickle.com) and the Second Life-based hangout Podcast Island – will share 10 Things Every New Podcaster Should Know, while Austin's Connie Reece (www.everydotconnects.com/our-team/connie-reece) considers the vital skill of How to Survive a Snark Attack. Jade Lindquist of mobile-learning company Edufone will teach Audacity, a cross-platform, open-source audio editor, and Buddhist blogger Lans Hobart (www.enlighten-up.org/wp) offers Podcasting 101 for absolute beginners.

"The morning sessions will lay the foundation for folks who have never heard of the terms or who are wanting to get a handle on just how [podcasting] can be done," Navarette explains. "The afternoon sessions will [include] podcast production, marketing, promotion, feedback, and participation."

"You can't leave a PodCamp without having learned something," Mata says. PodCamp San Antonio kicks off early – the first 50 arrivals to the 8am sign-in stand to gain an official T-shirt – and runs until a semiofficial post-camp gathering at the enticingly named Waxy O'Connor's Irish Pub & Eatery (www.waxys.com), 234 Riverwalk, at 6pm.

Attendance is free as in speech and free as in beer, but the organizers ask prospective campers to respond by editing the PodCamp San Antonio wiki or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

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SXSW is now accepting submissions for the 2007 SXSWClick Festival, its fourth "summertime short-form event [that] has become an acclaimed opportunity for filmmakers around the globe to share their work via SXSW's online community." Deadline for 10-minute shorts – in the categories of Old-School (narrative), Really Real (documentary), Sound Checks (music video), Animate It (animated), and What the F? (humor and/or experimental) – is June 15. For more information, including an inventory of your potential spoils and the names of the jury members who could potentially bestow you with them, see www.sxswclick.com. – S.B.