The second annual rendition of Real Estate BarCamp Indiana is almost here, and many of you still don't quite understand why anyone would consider camping out at a bar.
 
Okay, maybe you're not that in the woods, but perhaps you don't see the value in this loose gathering of "unconference" attendees. Where's the itinerary? Who are the speakers? Do I have to stay the whole day? Is this just for bloggers who tweet about their bookfaces?
 
There will definitely be elements of social media and technology in the day's proceedings. Technology tools that empower individuals inexpensively are interesting to talk about in an industry driven by individuals who rely on technology to do their work.
 
And among real estate professionals, things like mobile real estate, RPR, VOWs, market data, photography, WordPress, digital branding and more have proven to be popular topics at BarCamps and more traditional conferences across the country.
 
Your BarCamp volunteers have been paying attention to what people are talking about, both on the Interwebz and around the community, and are prepared to set the table of conversation topics. And even though some dynamic speakers have been lined up ahead of time for the IAR Fall Conference and BarCamp Indiana, the hope is that you'll bring your best ideas with you when you arrive.
 
You will be encouraged to both submit topics AND facilitate sessions. The desire is to have several concurrent sessions going in different time slots throughout the day. Not all of the topics have been figured out ahead of time, because the attendees are encouraged to drive the dialogue.
 
You are expected to make your mark, be heard, be a thought leader and interact in real time with your fellow BarCampers—not after a droning lecture that half-lids your eyes, but right then, right there in whatever session you are participating in!
 
And if the session isn't interesting to you, get this, it's not considered rude to leave. Some of the best ever BarCamp sessions are three people hashing things out. Some sessions are wildly engaging with 50+ shouting ideas across a room. The more it feels like organized chaos, the better it will be for you. Let your guard down, get some gunk in those pretty fingernails of yours and be in the midst of some of the most exciting conversations in your profession.
 
Bring fresh ideas, bring an open mind, bring some sort of computing machine (laptop, netbook, iPad, Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Atari 2600, etc.), bring a digital camera (or your iPhone 4), bring a charger, bring a power strip, don’t bring a typewriter.
 
If you haven’t already got one, set up a Twitter account ahead of BarCamp Indiana. I know, I know, you don’t understand why anyone needs to know what you had for dinner. It’s not always like that, promise. Once you have your Twitter account established, be ready to use the hashtag #rebcin on the day of the event.
 
Don’t know what a hashtag is? Look it up. There’s this cool thing called Google that makes you smarter faster. Google will probably come up at some point during BarCamp, not only because they’re forward thinking but because they’re forward thinking about real estate. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
 
Whoever comes and whatever is talked about and whatever you contribute is exactly what the day was meant to provide. Trust me on this; I've been to a few of these things.
 
Sounds a little goofy, I know. But it's working. From Orange County to Atlantic City, it's working. And Indiana should be excited to be adding to the conversation yet again.

About the Author:

G. Sax
BarCamp Enthusiast and Director of Communications
10K Research and Marketing
Before landing in the housing sector, G. "Greg" Sax cut his teeth in the medical, travel and advertising industries. He is lickety-split on the creative angles that busy executives and research directors covet, turning kernels into starbursts. Language can always be brighter, software can always be sharper. Greg has accumulated a wealth of writing, editing, development, management, graphics, marketing and research experience in a potpourri of North American cities. Yet he stays grounded with a weekly gig at the St. Paul Real Estate Blog. Big ups for the hometown. He holds a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and he's run a few marathons.

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