This weekend one year ago, there was this rad event called Webzine 2005 that a lot of us worked our asses off to make happen. As a result of that awesome weekend, I have many new friends, I followed a passion that’s now become a job and the independent web is still alive and kicking. Since so much crazy shit is happening right now, Ryan and I decided to skip doing Webzine this year. We’ll be back next year. Promise. Oh yeah, revisit the spot we did last year.
The podcast show that Ryan and I are on is up now, in three parts. Renegade and Josh also call in live. Schlomo‘s in their somehere too. This was the Webzine 2005 special of No One’s Listening and it was mad fun, even if YOU are the only one listening.
Almost forgot. I was interviewed a couple weeks ago for this Publish.com piece and this one on Journalism.co.uk. Yep, someone in the UK has some sort of interest in this whole Webzine thing. Now if only both of these sites would allow for comments, things may get a bit more interesting. Oh, and also a Turkish glossy print magazine called Bant, interviewed Ryan and I awhile ago on the history and future of Webzine. We’re big in Instanbul too. Coincendentally, it arrived in my mailbox the morning of this year’s event.
Friday morning, Ryan and I will be on NoOne’sListening from 11am-1pm on KSFS. Unless you live on campus at SF State, you probably won’t be listening, unless you tune into the live stream or podcast. Hosted by Irene McGee. The show is all about Webzine 2005 and indepedent online media, so we thought we’d make some.
Hey, Webzine 2005 is coming up this weekend. I’ve got a few tix to give away. First 5 people to email me are on the guestlist. Hit me up if you want in. It’s gonna be mad-crazy-tactular weekend. Check the full schedule to see what you’d otherwise be missing.
With Webzine fast approaching, I find myself doing a bit of media and public pimping to get the word out. Last week, I pimped Webzine at Dorkbot. I’m not much into public speaking but after a couple of beers and seeing friendly faces in the audience, it went pretty smoothly. Last Thursday, I was on Chris Pirillo’s streaming radio and podcast show, reliving the past and projecting the future of Webzine. This Tuesday, I’ll be on a panel called “Vlogging, and Blogging and Podcasts, Oh My!” that’s happening from 5-8pm at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission Street @ 3rd in SF). It’s FREE if you want to come check it out, you just have to RSVP by sending an email to news@davidperry.com. With all that behind me, I’ve still got an event to produce.
Man, what a week. Lots o’ late nights burning the Webzine oil. Ryan and I tag teamed on getting the new site up. The design is beaut, that’s Matt’s doing. Love the Xmas web theme. The shedule is mostly locked down. We’ve got panels out the ass both days and a titload of workshops to boot. I’m producing the Podcasting and Kicking’s the Man’s Ass panels. BoingBoing, Metblogs and MAKE have all hooked us up some serious ad eyeball exposure, much do to Scott’s invaluable help. Just less than a month to go and things are looking pretty damn good right now. With a planning list of 30+ people, the inspiration and motivation just grows. Things to do: work out venue space layout, lock in fat outgoing bandwidth, get a wiki going to organize the Master’s Lounge, work out food, get insurance, push #webzine on irc.freenode.net, inventory our hardware/tech needs, outreach to non-techies to attend & learn, get more sponsors, and somehow find time to pack for the playa.
This year, Webzine will happen over a weekend, September 24 and 25 at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco. 2 days of inspiring panelists, creative workshops and shmoozy opportunities will guarantee that everyone will walk away armed to answer their personal call to action. Webzine is a collaborative effort between interested independent publishers, activisits, artists and slackers with too much time. If this describes YOU, help us out dammit!
Been thinking a lot about Webzine lately. Some ideas:
-500-1000 people
-2 days over a weekend
-in San Francisco, though East Bay is not out of the question
-July, August or September 2005
-not Labor Day weekened +/- 3 weeks
-increase diversity in race, gender participation
-one room with panels & speakers, so no conflict in choosing which one to attend
-lounge w/comfy couches, tea, coffee, snacks to encourage schmoozing/connecting/networking
-“masters” area where knowledge experts of varying disciplines can casually engage with interested attendees. possibly open signup list.
-encourage participation by all attendees
-host brainstorming session mid-April, let me know if you want in
Oh, and if you just dropped in and have no idea what I’m talking about, we’re getting the band back together. The Webzine band that is. The band that is a conference, party and expo for independent publishing on the Internet. Just as relevant today as it was then.
