May 2009 - Posts
I first heard about LaidOffCamp, when it was being organized in San Francisco. I recall thinking, what a great idea! Someone should organize one in Phoenix. Well, I was laid off in December. I promptly found work again, but when a few friends were laid off all the same week in February, we decided that the time had come to host a LaidOffCamp Phoenix ourselves! So we are. :)
Background
LaidOffCamps are ad-hoc gatherings of unemployed and nontraditionally
employed people (including freelancers, entrepreneurs and startups) who
want to share ideas and learn from each other. They feature an open,
participatory discussion forum designed to educate, empower, and
connect community members. The various presentations, workshops, and
discussions focus on topics that may include: building your personal
brand, transitioning to a new industry, legal & accounting demands
of launching a new business, finding affordable health insurance,
alternative working spaces, alternative income sources, and how to
become a freelancer.
Details
Date: Saturday, August 8th
Location: Gangplank
325 E. Elliott Rd
Chandler, AZ 85225
Tickets: GET FREE TICKETS!
You must have a ticket!
The Rules of LaidOffCamp- 1st Rule: You do talk about LaidOffCamp.
- 2nd Rule: You do blog about LaidOffCamp.
- 3rd Rule: Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join.
- 4th Rule: No pre-scheduled presentations and no tourists - everyone participates!
- 5th Rule: If you want to present, you must write your topic and name in a presentation slot.
- 6th Rule: As many presentations at a time as facilities allow for.
- 7th Rule: All sponsors, no matter how large their contribution is, shall be treated equally and afforded the same "benefits"
- 8th Rule: There will be no screening or vetting of presenters - anyone can speak!
Adopted from Tantek Çelik's The Rules of BarCamp.
For even more details, check The Wiki.
Just wanted to follow-up on my Tech-Ed on the cheap experience.
I purchased an Expo floor only pass ($100), which did not offer meals. So, I purchased a late breakfast/lunch/brunch every day at e.g. Denny's ($15/day * 5 days = $75), which was large enough to hold me over till 3pm (which = free snack time on the expo floor). Grab a couple free snacks, and I'm good. Enough hanging out on the expo floor, and you hear where all the good parties are (free food, free drinks & best networking opportunities). I drove and, since I drive a Prius, it was only 2 tanks of gas, roundtrip. $40. But, then I had to pay for parking $150. (Boo on big city parking!) And I was able to snag a couch to crash on from a friend in town. (free!)
Just wanted to reiterate: For $400 total (cheapest vacation ever!), I hit up one of the most important Microsoft conferences of the year, and networked the heck out of it. Seriously: that's accessible for everyone (employed or not) right?
Why weren't you there?
I was laid off in December; then took up a 3 month gig with a friend for which I only ended up being paid 25%; and am about to complete a roughly six week gig on Friday. Needless to say, I've been quite low on money for quite some time.
Having my contract end this week is actually somewhat convenient. TechEd is in LA next week. Since it's just a hop, skip and a jump from my place, I'm going. Obviously, I can't afford the $2300 registration fee, but I can afford the $100 ticket just to get on the Expo floor. I can couch surf. I can bring food & pilfer granola bars. There will likely be cheap eats somewhere near the conference center. If not, I do have a car. I can drive to a Mickey D's. I will still have access to some of the world's most knowledgeable people. Most of the sessions are online anyway.
As someone who's (thinking about, and slowly acting upon) organizing LaidOffCamp Phoenix, I want to make the point that there's nothing at all about my current situation that is preventing me from going. Major conferences are important networking events. You SHOULD be going to these things if you have the time, because they DO NOT HAVE TO BE budget-stretchers.
There are ways, people. Learn them. Live them.
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