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

POSTPONED - NOW WED JULY 19

BlogBrevity: 

Rent an Expert is an event where people who want to help others do or learn something offer their services to the members of the community for a very small fee.  All the money collected will be donated to a charity that is chosen by all participants.  Some examples of what might be offered include: how to setup a blog, how to get the most from shortcuts in Photoshop, configure a Drupal community, redesign a Web site, customize a WordPress theme, create a survey, optimize AdSense ads, figure out tagging, how to shoot better photographs or just about anything really - even non-technical things like how to write a press release.  Ideally this will happen in one on one exchanges, but it could be a project with a couple of people involved that needs the expertise or perhaps a team of people who are offering their expertise.  The event is co-sponsored by BrainJams and MindJet.  We are still seeking a location and other sponsors, but the event will be held on Thursday June 15th from 530PM till 900PM Wednesday July 19th from 6pm till 9pm in San Francisco.

Event Tag:  BrainJams:expert1
Wiki Password:  yeswecan

BlogLongevity:

We have been thinking a lot lately about ideas for connecting people more directly with the knowledge and expertise they need to have a big breakthrough with their work.  For me personally, this usually happens in one on one situations, when I am able to get tap into the wisdom and insights of a 'subject matter expert'. 

For instance, back in February and March I was struggling to understand the Drupal system so I could get it configured, but I was stuck - the technically written manuals did not make much sense to me for some reason - I just did not have a solid foundational context to understand the language they used.  Enter Will Pate, who was able to solve my configuration confusion by changing a few things himself directly, teaching me key concepts (like blocks and nodes) and talking me through some of the practical day to day implications of various decisions.

So back in March I had this crazy idea that we could extend our idea of "speed geeking" (which we now call 12 Five-Minute Meetings) to more directly connect people who want to offer their skills and expertise to the community with those who could really benefit from it.  But rather than being fovused solely on the needs of non-profits, I thought it better to continue to focus on the diversity of the community and include artists, government employees, journalists, students, teachers, small businesses and any individual.

How will it work?

The first step has already been taken - we are inviting you to help us bring together experts who will offer their services to the community.  These experts will offer their time via one on one, or one on two "Expert Sessions" which can last up to 30 minutes in length.  Other participants (both community members and the other experts in the room) will have an opportunity to sign up for one of the expert sessions.  Each 'client' will pay a minimum fee of $1 for 15 minutes or $2 for 30 minute.  Depending on the value received, the clients may choose to pay a higher fee.Here is where it gets interesting - all the money collected that night will be donated to a charity.  Each participant will vote on which charity will receive the donation.

More Details

We are planning on doing this on Thursday June 15 but still need a good restaurant/bar/cafe/office location with plenty of seating space and WiFi.  People will start arriving and mingling at 530pm and sign up sheets for the Expert Sessions will be made available at that time.  From 630 until 830 the expert sessions will be offered.  At 845 we will make a final presentation and announce which charity won and how much money was collected. 

We need few sponsors for at least $100 each to cover some of the costs.  MindJet has already agreed to sponsor the event - the expert who collects the most money from their 'clients' over the course of the evening will win a copy of MindManager Pro 6.0 for the PC (a $349 value).  As in the past, we will be posting our financials for this event so you can see where the money is going.

Who's coming?

We have just started inviting people but already have a good group forming.  Jonas Luster, Neil Drumm, Scott Beale, Eddie Codel, Lawrence Coburn, Rachel Murray, David Gutelius and many others have been invited to participate.  So now we need some more experts to join us.  A Wiki has been setup on PBWiki for experts to post a description of what they will be offering that night.

YOU ARE COMING!  If you are reading this and want to offer your expertise, or make a request for expertise from the community, please add it to the wiki on the appropriate page. The password for the wiki is 'yeswecan' without the quotes.

RSVP on the Wiki - NOT on Upcoming.

Anything else?

Nothing that I can think of today other than the fact that this is another experiments in event formats designed to help people make new connections to the people, ideas and resources that can make a real impact.  While I am presenting the idea and helping to organize it, I can't do this alone and could really use your help.  Whether as a volunteer, and expert, a client, a sponsor or whatever way seems right for you.  On the wiki you will see that we are also still trying to figure out some of the logistics, so if you have any ideas on how we might make this idea work better, please chime in and let us know.