OPINION: Martin Chapman Fromm on the success of Barcamp Liverpool

By Alistair Houghton on Dec 10, 08 11:04 PM

ON A bright and brisk Saturday mid-morning, the first Liverpool Barcamp commenced with anticipation and obvious enthusiasm among the 200 attendees, which included Microsoft, BBC, Yahoo!, and local organisations and sponsors such as Mando Group.

Touted as an "unconference", it was evident from the start that entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm would rule.

Those who wanted to hold a workshop or give a talk added their ideas to day's agenda on the agenda wall. The eager crowd surveyed the proposals and within five minutes everyone had siphoned off into one of the four meeting or seminar rooms to listen to the willing hosts.

Most presenters had come prepared with presentations and, of all that I'd seen, had captured the mood and energy of the event's build-up.

For starters, Delivery Practice's Andy Brown held a workshop detailing their method for developing an idea into a viable business plan. To the mass of 20-something guests with ideas rattling round their heads, this was a well-received presentation.

Following on, there were talks about how to be a better speaker, which again went a long way to helping start-ups with their soft skills. So far, not so geeky at all, and all very important advice.

At this point, I had to leave to jump back into my other role as father of three. Suffice to say the agenda list looked compelling, including talks about social networks and democracy, the impact of the Capital of Culture, developing for the iPhone and other mobile and geomapping technology, games technology, digital music, and all-round fun. I missed the Dragon's Den-style pitch on Saturday evening, but by all accounts it was a success.

I managed to get to Sunday's proceedings for an hour or two (with a child in tow), by which time the discussions had got much more down to brass tacks. and too geeky for my precious creative ears. It was also evident by the large supply of Red Bull that Friday and Saturday's event parties were taking their toll as well.

All-in-all, the event was brilliantly run by Katie Lips, the format was exactly right. If it comes round again next year, and now we're no longer Barcamp virgins, we'll have a host of us here ready and willing to talk shop.

MARTIN CHAPMAN FROMM is head of design at Mando Group