We are still trying to work out some basic categorization for the different types of venues out there, but for now we will keep it simple based on the size of the event being held.

1. Small Group (Under 12)
2. Average Group (Under 25)
3. Bigger Group (25-50)
4. Huge Group (50-100)
5. Prime Time Venue (100-250)

Sponsors can come in all shapes and sizes contributing everything from cash, to services, to resources or even just good will.  These are the sponsors who have contributed to BrainJams thus far:

1. Lockergnome / Gada.be
2. Rate It All
3. Laughingsquid
4. TechCrunch
5. D-BAM
6. MindJet
7. KRON4
8. Nate Koechley
9. SRI
10. DC Improv
11. University of California Berkeley Office of the CIO
12. Pandora
13. Whole Foods
14. Zazzle
15. Scisso
    

This may seem like an odd category to include, but we beliieve strongly in identifying the best ingredients for each BrainJams event, and food is a big part of what makes the day work.

1. Caterer
2. Local restaurants/supporters
   
3. Local Bulk Food
   

Audio/Video Equipment may include but is not limited to:

1.  LCD Projectors
2. Sound System
3. Screens
4. Wireless Microphones
5. Microphones
6. Podcast Rigs
7. Video Cameras
8. Other

In the beginning, I was very supportive of Podcamp West - we even added a link to it as something we suppoprt on our Web 2point2 Unconference Blog with other sponsors. While I was a bit upset that Vic Podcaster did not keep his promises to us for promoting Web 2point2 and he did not show up at the unconference to podcast as he promised and he did not bring his EVDO wifi router despite his promises to do so, I was really upset when I got an email from Eric Rice yesterday. His email was the first I had heard about being put on a panel with him and Matthew Wayne Selznick. Not only was I not invited to do this, I was never notified that it was happening until I received the urgent email from Eric - if he had not been upset with the panel description and reached out to me, I would never even have known about it. My plan was to attend for part of today (SAT) and then watch Jerry Rice have his number retired tomorrow at Candlestick Park.

Related Links:  Blog Post | Wiki | Offer your Expertise |  Request some Expertise | Help us Organize | RSVP on the Wiki 

I am excited and a iittle nervous about the Rent an Expert event this Wednesday July 19th starting at 530pm.  It still seems that a lot of other people have expressed interest in coming that are not on the Wiki - I don't know if it is because they don't have the password "yeswecan" or because they don't know how to edit a Wiki or because they are not really coming but are being nice to me :) Whatever, the reason, I will be there along with at least a couple dozen other good folks who want to share their expertise with others so it looks like this will be a very interesting experiment.

I was really excited to see that Matt Mullenweng is finally moving forward with plans to host his own unconference for users of his WordPress blogging software, but bummed when I saw the date (August 5) is the same as the National Coalition for Deliberation and Dialogue's annual confeerence.  WordCamp should be a lot of fun and I hope to be able to find a couple slots in the schedule for my other conference where I can get over to WordCamp for a few sessions and will of course be able to make the party that night. 

I have been fortunate to spend some time talking with Matt recently, and despite my post raving about VOX the other day, I am and will continue to be a loyal WordPress user.  At the closing party of Gnomedex, we talked a bit about the power of unconferences to close the feedback loop between user and developer - how it was an authentic way to move product development forward in unexpected ways and how it ultimately leads to better relationships between a company and its customers.

Over the past six months we have learned a great deal about unconferences and the more general concept of bringing people together for conversations with their peers. We have experimented with different event formats and continue to innovate with events like our upcoming Rent an Expert on Wenesday July 19. We have affirmed our reasons for striking down the power of the podium and giving it to the people, but also have seen that there is a place for lectures and talks too – conferences can and have learned a lot from unconferences.

Ultimately, we have found that our original premise for BrainJams of connecting people from different communities to share experiences and insights is highly valuable and much needed – but the formats for facilitating these conversations are not the reason for people coming together. People come together to discuss, debate and work on shared passions – like Mashpits, Cyber Salons, Creative Commons Salons, Flickr Meetups, Third Thursday’s, Wiki Wednesday’s and Mobile Mondays. There is a common thread in these events – but it is not “Common Thread 2.0” – it is the intersection of people, technology and media – or social media as it has become popularly known.

There is so much going on lately, it's hard to know where to start. For once, I will take the simplest approach possible - here is a list of some of the cool events we have in the BrainJams future:

Sunday July 2 930am-1230pm: The morning after Gnomedex in Seattle, WA I am helping Shannon Clark from MeshForum to organize a MeshWalk focused on three very important post conference questions we often don't have time to consider: 1) What are your big takeaways from Gnomedex? 2) What are you going to do with it? 3) How can we help each other to make it happen? Meshwalk is a walking conference with some occasional stopping points for engaging with other participants in wider conversations. It is a great chance to exercise your body and your mind (and work off the hangover from the night before!)

Thursday Wednesday (oops) July 19 530pm-830pm: Our rescheduled date for the "Rent An Expert" event. Thanks to Joel Sacks from CNet for really stepping up to the plate to obtain approval for us to host the event at CNet's offices in downtown San Francisco (in the same room where I am writing this post from Bloggercon right now). I will be writing more about this over the next week, but please help us get the word out. If you are trying to learn how to do something with Blogs, Podcasts, Vlogs, Wikis, Photography or other forms of social media tools, come on over to our event Wiki and post a request. Likewise if you want to share your expertise. As Howard Rheingold says, "What it is -> is up to us!"

Thursday August 3 930am-500pm: Our next Bay Area BrainJams event! I have been waiting to announce this for way too long - I am so excited about this BrainJam. We are organizing this day long unconference to bring together Bay Area Social Media and Web 2.0 enthusiasts with members of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. This is a great opportunity for our BrainJams folks to talk to real people who are doing really great work for their communities around the world and help them understand what is possible with the new world of easy to use Web tools. This event will be held at the Parc 55 Hotel as a pre-conference workshop for the NCDD Conference. Due to the costs of the hotel and the lunch that will be provided, there is a fee of $50 for this event to cover the costs that the conference organizers are incurring. In deference to our prior free events, the organizers are offering a reduced fee for this BrainJam (other workshops are priced at $75). I also have a few free passes for those who are willing to contribute their expertise and lend a hand with the workshop, so call me or write me an email to discuss.

It is not often that I read something from TechMeme and want to share it with you immediately - especially when I am in the midst of 3 deadline projects - but this is pretty cool and worth a look. The Strobist BootCamp is a public/free educational project for learning how to effectively and professionally light photographs that is being offered on the Blog of the Strobist.  This is exactly the sort of thing we are seeking when we talk about dScribes (our program idea for educating and empowering a profession of "Digital Scribes") - it is also exactly what several people at Vloggercon said they wanted to see more of - educational content and projects on Vlogs.  (ok, so it is just a blog right now, but it could be a vlog easily enough - but it has the right spirit).