BarCamp is an un-conference; An open format event where programmers, designers and business owners can network and learn.
A BarCamp conference is unlike any other technology conference. Rather than being planned by a committee in advance, each community works together to create its own event. A BarCamp generally has an underlying theme, but the individual topics and sessions are organized shortly before or even at the event. This enables BarCamp to be much more than targeted to the needs of the Madison community.
Hundreds of BarCamp events have been held in cities around the world. Madison and Milwaukee’s BarCamp events attracted over 130 people each and the attention of Wisconsin media.

An overview of the BarCamp format

The event starts off with a brief introduction and some time for people to get settled. A schedule of sessions is organized and then, after a brief introduction, the BarCamp is off and running. Attendees are at their leisure to pick the sessions they want to attend. Many even try to be in more than one session at a time.
BarCampMadison2 literally includes a camping component. Many participants set up tents and cots and sleep right at the conference.

Why is it called BarCamp?

This is the first thing most BarCamp neophytes ask, and the answer, like BarCamp, is rather informal. In 2003, O’Reilly Publishing sponsored one of the earliest ad-hoc conferences called FooCamp. FooCamp was an invite-only gathering, so the next year, several technology industry leaders banded together in Palo Alto Calif., and founded BarCamp (put Foo and Bar camps together and you have FooBar, or FUBAR, the acronym meaning F… you get the idea).

Is BarCamp just for geeks and techies?

Hey! We resemble that remark! The truth is BarCamp is open to anyone. And anyone who wants to can attend and host sessions. Because of our partnership with Bucketworks, BarCampMadison2 is particularly open to sessions exploring creativity, social discussions, and other not-necessarily-technological in nature sessions. BarCampers are the kind of people who like to talk, think, read, and discuss. They program, hack, crack, improve, design, walk, talk, smile, develop and create.

If our 2006 event is any indicator, BarCampMadison2 will offer varied sessions. There will certainly be sessions that get deep and involved into the nature of particular computer programming languages, but there will also be fun sessions about video games, fighting robots and the nature of Democracy in ancient Greece.

Any attendee who is not learning or enjoying himself is bound to employ the law of two feet. “If you are not learning or teaching something, then you must use your own two feet to move you to someplace where you are.”

How can I get more involved?

Join the Mailing List to discuss the planning and stay on top of things as we get closer to the event.