WordCamp – WordPress Conference

The idea for an event for WordPress users has been bouncing around in my head for a long time, as there is a really interesting group of people around WP but we don't do nearly as many face-to-face interactions as some similar projects. A set of circumstances are coming together at the beginning of August, and I think we're going to give it a go.

August 5th, 2006 is the date, here in the lovely town of San Francisco, California. The idea is a one day BarCamp-style free conference with a party that night. There will be free BBQ for lunch, WordPress t-shirts, and a full day of both user and developer discussion. ("BarCamp-style" is a code phrase for "last minute.")

There are still a few things to figure out, such as a venue, schedule, and other little things like that. (By the way, if you can help with any of these or have event experience, please drop me a note.) But mostly I wanted to get the date out there so people could start planning for it, buy tickets if they're travelling, and let us know if there are any huge conflicts that day. (Like a national holiday or something.)

In the meantime, I've put up a quick site where you can leave your email to signup for more information or let us know you're coming. If you think you can make it, please say so as soon as possible so we can prepare for the right number of people. If you'd like to help in any way, drop me a note via email or in the comments.

Don't know if this will work or not, but it should be fun regardless. Podz is coming in all the way from England, and Donncha from Ireland. πŸ™‚

98 thoughts on “WordCamp – WordPress Conference

  1. Wow, I’d love to! If only the price of traveling from the Philippines to the US was affordable… And if only it was that easy to get a tourist visa. πŸ˜‰

  2. Have loads of fun! Wish I could be there to meet so many of the people I have known! I can only imagine how much fun the party would be!

  3. This is a good idea and I’d like to lend a hand as needed. Let me know if there’s something I can do to help and hopefully I can work on it.

    I believe that August is the only month without a national holiday, speaking for the US calendar. Poor, poor August. All the other months mock it with their big holidays, ranging in dates from the 1st, 4th, 14th, 25th, and even 31st. But August has nothing to write home about. Maybe we can give it something to be proud of. It is, after all, a rather nice month and deserves a gift like this.

  4. Matt – would be glad to continue our discussion from Gnomedex on this – we actually are doing a BrainJams event with the National Coalition for Deliberation and Dialogue http://www.thataway.org/ which has its conference that same weekend at the Parc 55, but I should be able to drop in a bit and am happy to work with you on the event design and other ideas. I have one big idea in particular which we are doing with Social Media Club that might work particularly well for you as a session in world cafe format – the value of that hour would give exponential returns for you and the rest of the WP community.

  5. Since it is on the day of my nuptials, I will not be able to make it. However, I am sure this will be a smashing event and it would have been fun to be able to meet everyone!

  6. Matt: Street Scene is an awesome music festival down in San Diego. [link]. I just bought my ticket the day before you posted this πŸ™‚ Ah well, such is life. Just make sure to make this a recurring event!

  7. What an amazing idea! There should be a WordCamp in Europe some day, considering people here love WordPress as well πŸ˜‰ Good luck!

  8. YEA~~! Finally a convention that I can attend!!! There’s no age limit, I hope.. .__.
    I live in SF so if the organizers are local, I can help out – just shoot me an email. πŸ˜€

  9. I know for sure that I can’t make it in person. If I went, I wouldn’t say anything at all, I’d just listen to what others have to say. But anyway, I love WordPress and the stuff that it can do.

  10. Too bad I’ll be on my honeymoon then. But I probably couldn’t afford to fly across the country for it anyway.

    Y’all have fun! Don’t forget the rest of us. πŸ˜‰

  11. One request: Can we have it called something other than -Camp? Just out of principle, hehe. No un-conference sillyness either.

    Not sure if I can make it yet, going to check airfare at the moment unless anyone wants to spot me a ticket from Jersey. πŸ˜› May be working that day too come to think of it.

    Erg, well, I’d love to be there so I’m going to try… good idea to have one.

    Jā

  12. What kind of place are you looking for to host this thing? Obviously, it’s going to need to be kinda big since the RSVP is over 215 strong. πŸ˜‰

    (BTW, I’m one of the SF locals.)

  13. I will be going to this for sure. I have been using wordpress for about a year for my personal blog. I think a user and devolper conference will be great. Cant wait to see everyone.
    -Mike

  14. I would love to help in the coordination and stuff but I’m not sure if I can fly in to San Fransico. Air ticket is quite expensive over here in Singapore (plus the fact that I’m a student) but I would really like a WordPress T-shirt to promote WordPress.

  15. I really hope this works. I always enjoy getting over to the city. awfully close to the time of linuxworld also, if this doesnt work out on aug 5th, how hard would it be to reserve a conference room at moscone during linuxworld?

  16. I’m trying to buy tickets to fly in for this but I need to know what time it’s going to happen. Any ideas at all?

  17. Pingback: WordCamp | Likoma
  18. Wow… what a great coincidence that I’m just here in SF this weeked for sightseeing before I go to the SES San Jose… I will be around at theparty at night, and probably join some of your sessions as well…great!

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