Check out: Was UnSummit Perfect?

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If you’re interested, below is the comment I left on Phil’s post:

Thanks for the post and the video compilation, Phil! And thanks as well to all of you who have offered constructive feedback.

Of course, anyone who attended my session knows that UnSummit is not perfect! There’s always room to improve.

In keeping with some of the comments collected here and elsewhere, I see a lot of room to embrace the “un”-ness of the UnSummit. I’m very interested in how we keep the event open and flexible and maybe even go further in that direction. To give you one example, we’re thinking about how we can somehow incorporate Open Space into the overall format. Also, I’m lobbying hard for having a totally unstructured lounge experience (complete with an espresso bar!) at the next event. It’ll be an opium den of ideas, if you will, where you could spend the whole day caffeinating and debating, if you wish.

But truth be told, there is no grand strategy behind UnSummit, other than to pique the curiosity and channel the positive energy of the online startup/developer/marketing community. Whatever that means as the local scene evolves.

Personally, I think it’s silly to compare UnSummit with Mima Summit or any other event. They all have their place and serve different needs. In the end, I’m glad we have multiple outlets for building entrepreneurial momentum in these fair towns. And I think we have room for a bunch more. So, who wants to host the next one?

We, the organizers, of this quaint little event could not be more pleased with the outcomes. One hundred fifty participants, great sponsors, great conversations, and lots of feedback.

Here’s a sampling:

• The Minnov8 gang liveblogged the event using Scribble Live (10/10)
• Valerie Rigsbee lists Entrepreneurial tools from the #unsummit session with Don Ball (10/10)
• Kirk Horsted mused about unplugging some more (10/11)
• Vanessa Bright reviews Unsummit – Interactive Marketing Un-conference (10/11)
• Tim Bursch shared his Top 5 Takeaways from Unsummit3 (10/11)
• Paul Jahn shared his impressions of Jake Nyberg’s session and a trip to the mall (10/11)
• Tyler Hayes catches several video interviews (10/11)
• Conner McCall ponders the cocktail question post Unsummit (10/12)
• Shelley Sanders offers her UnSummit3: UnTop10 (10/12)
• Amy Bryant gives us a parable about Mima and Una (10/13)
• Inspired by an UnSummit session, Steve Borsch shares How your company can achieve a champagne presence on a beer budget on MinnPost (10/13)
• Clockwork Active Media Systems praised our dancing with So You Think You Can Dance? (10/13)
• Remain Comm turns in an Unsummit wrap-up video on YouTube (10/14)
• Phil Wilson posits Was Unsummit Perfect? on the Minnov8 blog (10/15)

Lots of photos were also taken (video of sessions to follow) such as Teresa Boardman’s. Other UnSummit photo sets:

• Mykl Roventine
• Kevin Knodl
• LocalMN

Not to mention your tweets…

Thank you for helping us document and debrief! Did I miss your post? Please add it in the comments.

Flickr photo by sea turtle

Photo Credit: Rick

The UnSummit yesterday was great. The sessions were helpful and the conversation was organic. There could have been a little more conversation during the sessions, but at least people were talking outside the rooms. What I want to talk about now is mobile.

I really enjoyed Lisa Foote’s (twitter link) Mobile discussion. There were a ton of stats thrown around, but I think most of you get the gist. Mobile is the new exploding category for business. People are realizing they don’t have to lug around their huge laptop bags to stay connected. Often, people who do this (I’m usually one of them), bring enough cords to hog-tie a cow. It almost defeats the purpose. And yes, I know your phone can’t do everything your laptop can, but you’d be surprised what you can get away with.

For me, the most important topic brought up was attention span.

This doesn’t just apply to bloggers, but really, anyone who creates content for the web. The content you create for a desktop simply does not transfer to a mobile device the same way. Mobile users are now “snacking” (Buzzword!) on their content. In terms of our discussion, that meant under 5 minutes. In most cases, it’s going to be a lot less.

If you’ve got less than 5 minutes to deliver content, how do you do it? Well, they certainly aren’t going to be reading my earlier posts of 1800 words. Don’t worry, I’ve learned a lot since then. For readable content, I’ve found that it translates into around 350-450 words. That’s not a lot. It doesn’t leave a lot of time for grand musings, numerous descriptions, and wonderful metaphors (I’m already at a word count of 250).

Pick 1 idea and drive it home.

Make sure your title is exactly that point. I’ve also noticed that if you use “list posts” people will most likely not read it. They just read the list and move on. It’s usually what you say about the list that’s important. For that reason, I don’t do many lists posts. I try to have a very concise first paragraph so by the time the reader finishes it, they’re committed to the rest of the post — which shouldn’t be much longer, if you do it right.

If you like this post, I already like you. If you don’t like this post and share your insights on why, I’ll probably still like you. You can read more about me and my blog here and Twitter link here. New design coming soon!

A huge THANK YOU to all the attendees, facilitators and sponsors who helped make UnSummit3 happen! We couldn’t have done it without you.

Hope to see you all at UnSummit4.

What?!? Another one? Are we insane? Possibly. The plan is to have 2 events a year going forward. We’ll keep you posted when details for the next one come together.

Flickr photo by kimberlyfaye

The topic? The democratization of the music industry.

Toby talked at length about an industry once fiercely controlled by major media outlets that has now been completely democratized. Whereas MTV and radio stations pushed music out the masses in the past, now consumers are getting their music “on demand” through sources like Pandora, iTunes and blip.fm.

In addition, tools like Macs, Garagebands and Audacity have leveled the playing field considerably, according to Cryns. No longer do large labels and recording studios hold all the cards. Now, virtually anyone with a Mac can lay down a track and produce.

And not only have the production tools shifted, but so have the listening devices and tools. With mp3s, iPods and other tools becoming more prevalent by the day, we live in a world where bands success is really only limited by their creativity.

Bands also control their profits like never before. With more control over distribution, access and promotion, bands can go directly to fans in a way they never have before. Just look at what bands like The Donnas and RadioHead are doing.

Or, Weird Al…

UnSummit3 is going strong. At just over 150, our highest attendance so far, the ideas and discussion have been flowing like crazy. We hope you’re enjoying the posted session highlights coming in today. Plans are underway to get the video we’re recording online soon.

Follow the Unsummit conversation on Twitter.

But it’s not too late, right?

So, here’s your virtual introduction to what might become a vital resource for tech, creative and entrepreneurial people in Minnesota.

If you’re familiar with the previous version of Central Standard Tech, it’s essentially a feed of feeds of local tech blogs. For the past few weeks, Jeff Pesek and Toby Cryns have been working to enlarge the scope of the site and make it a hub not just for techies but for startups and creatives as well.

Jeff reports that they’re halfway there. What you’ll see right now is a directory of blogs, organized by different categories, such as Professional Associations, Social Media & Communications and Audio & Video. What’s coming soon is a live feed of feeds, so that when you arrive at the site, you’ll see the latest blog posts from all categories.

You can add your blog to Central Standard Tech (we did) using a simple submission form. The sooner everyone does so, the sooner this site will become THE place to find out what’s going on in town.

MY FAVORITE ACRONYM IS AAAAA…ASSOCIATION FOR THE ABOLITION OF ABSURD ABBREVIATIONS & ASENINE ACRONYMS. WHAT’S YOURS?

WHICH IS WORSE: A BROKEN COMPUTER OR A BROKEN FRIDGE?

THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS 8.5% OF KIDS ARE BEHAVIORALLY ADDICTED TO THEIR DIGITALIA. CAN YOU BE ADDICTED? WHAT WOULD DIGITAL DETOX LOOK LIKE?

WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION OR A BIG BREAKAWAY, HOW DO YOUR SOCIAL-MEDIA HABITS CHANGE?

IF YOU USE BLUETOOTH DEVICES TOO LONG, WILL YOU GET BLUE TEETH?

WILL FACEBOOK, TWITTER & THE REST LAST? WHAT’S NEXT?

DO DIGITAL TOOLS AND GADGETS FREE UP TIME FOR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS—OR TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THEM?

HOW DOES THIS THIS STAT FROM NIELSEN MAKE YOU FEEL: 30% OF IN-HOME ON-LINE ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY WATCHING TV.

PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS STAT: FAMILY TIME WENT DOWN 28% FROM A YEAR AGO…DURING THE TIME THAT FACEBOOK WENT FROM 100 MILLION TO 200 MILLION USERS.

WHEN HAVING BEER WITH FRIENDS AND ARGUING ABOUT, SAY, WHEN THE BEATLES BROKE UP, IS IT COOL TO BLUNT THE CHAT AND GET THE ANSWER VIA YOUR PDA?

PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS QUOTE FROM HUFFPOST BLOGGER ARTHUR ROSENFELD: “BEING ABLE TO DISCONNECT HAS BECOME THE STATUS SYMBOL THAT HIGH-TECH CONNECTION FORMERLY WAS.”

>>>>>WHICH IS BETTER: THE UNSUMMIT OR SUMMIT BEER?

http://polymerstudios.com/2009/09/15/cheap-tricks-for-entrepreneurs/

Links to many of the tools I mentioned can be found on my delicious account.

Please share your favorite tools and apps in the comments! (Dana, you especially, since I saw you taking such good notes!)