Drumbeat/events

this is a placeholder page for coordination of the Drumbeat events strategy. right now, it's just a bunch of notes. we'll be adding more details and sub-pages throughout february 2010.

Goals - why we're doing events

• central tone and theme of all Drumbeat events:
  • growing the circle of participation for people who want to keep the web open -- forever
• main focus is on NEW KINDS OF PARTICIPATION -> beyond making software
  • art, writing, movies, teaching, lawyering ... non-tech people making web better

short term goals (small events)

• intro drumbeat, invite people to help shape it w/ their own goals and projects
• set the 'let's make things' tone -- build projects, artifacts, videos, etc.
• build local communities around creating a more open web, then link them
• find and train community leaders who can run events and grow networks
• build online buzz -- blogging, photos, etc from events are critical in explaining what the open web is and what drumbeat is about

long term goals (big festival)

• connect across lots of different worlds and people that care about the web
• showcase and improve / hack / evolve cool projects already in the drum circle
• paint a big picture of where we want the web to go (and the risks)
  • create a shared dream re: where we're all going next

Audience

• who: people who want to make sure the web stays open -- forever

• 60% people you wouldn't expect
  • artists
  • filmmakers
  • lawyers
  • teachers
  • gov't people
  • etc.

• 40% the people we know
  • mozilla people
  • social media people
  • open source and free software people
  • web rightsish people (global voices)
  • web standards hackers and advocates

obviously, the 60% is both the hard part -- and the part that is most important REALLY NEED TO REFLECT 60/40 split in write up

Structure - small events

• many small city-level events lead to big global festival once per year
• do as many as we can Q1 and Q2 this year

• small events -> pick 3 - 5 cities where we have good networks and ground people
• run mini-Drumbeat Festivals (need a name a good as Penguin Day)
• could be 1 day events, like a barcamp but w/ more focus and energy
• primarily local, not residential or paid travel except as below

• CRITICAL DESIGN QUESTION:
  • are these on the general open web and participation theme (like Pengiun Day), or do we pick a sub-theme where we have local skills (e.g. privacy or web education)?

• use these as a staging grounds for people who will run similar events in other cities
• invite people to propose other events in advance online / in wiki etc.
• give plane tickets to (top 5? top 10?) pitches / people
• these people get training day before event, plus help run event

• write up very simple online instructions re: how to org your own event
• steal a little bit from ignite and tedx in terms of simplicity of instructions
• obviously, wiki / photo / video blog outputs also critical to replication and buzz

Structure - big event

• major 'festival' -- feels fun, very strong 'make things' energy, feels like you're with the people who are making the future of the internet happen
• details on this already in our notes from the holidays

Opportunities and locales

• rio and sao paulo -> late march
• berlin in april?
  • mozilla italia also wants to do event in Rome
• berkman / harvanrd in late april?
• also want to do something in India and Middle East if possible
  • but requires discussion and thinking some more