How Scheduling Sessions Works
At BarCamp, we don't have an exclusive set of invited speakers; sessions are scheduled the day of the event, and hosted by anyone who wants to host.
How does that work?
We'll have a schedule board with a matrix of times and rooms, just like the online schedule. You grab a post-it note, scribble the name of the session you'd like to host and your name (or even better, twitter handle), and stick it on an open slot. While some individuals come prepared with presentations, others decide to run ad-hoc discussions.
If you're not sure if there'd be interest in a session you're thinking about, or otherwise want some encouragement, you can post a sticky note with the session title on the 'Potential Sessions' board. While it's up there, others can place checkmarks on the session card to express interest.
So anything goes?
There are no captive audiences at BarCamp; if you find yourself in a session that's not what you expected, it's completely fine to politely exit and find another. Our venue has space for five simultaneous sessions with projectors, three more without, and countless spaces for small group discussions. You're more likely to have trouble deciding between multiple great sessions than you are dealing with a bad session.
Presenters, remember that BarCamp's philosophy is "the people there are the right people". It's okay to not have many people attending you're session. We even have rooms ideally suited for 6 - 8 people. If you're passionate about a topic and want to share your knowledge, or are curious about something and want to host a discussion to find others interested in the same, go for it.
