unConferences: Experience community-driven learning and networking – where attendees set the agenda and drive the conversation.
In a few days, I’ll be kicking off the second London Java Community Conference this year. We (the LJC) usually run an unConference once a year. Traditionally the last Saturday in November., but since the end of the Covid lockdown, it’s been a Monday near that date. I’ll explain why that’s important later
In this post, I want to explain why we are running an unConference and have two this year. I aim to inspire you to follow suit and run your version—wherever you are and whatever you do. It might just change your life.
What’s an unConference?
It’s not quite the antidote to conferences, as a few British wits have suggested. However, there is some similarity in intent :-). The aim of an unConference is not to be a regular conference. Rather, it’s to be a gathering that answers some of the criticisms levelled against standard conferences.
At one level, we can describe an unConference very easily. My trusty ChatGPT says, “An unconference is a participant-driven event where attendees collaboratively set the agenda and actively engage in discussions, creating a flexible, interactive, and community-focused learning experience”
Is that all?
Nope. One of the main reasons for attending an unConference is just how much fun it is. The other is what you’ll learn. At an unconference, you learn things you’re unlikely to get at other types of conferences. Which is sort of the point. At an unConference you learn from your peers and experts. That’s unique. That’s an unConference. It’s fun, exhausting and always friendly.
Why not Conferences?
If you’ve attended a conference and found that any of these comments resonate, why not try an unConf?
One-way communication: You hear and watch the speakers. You don’t get to ask questions (well, maybe if you’re lucky) or explore the topic in meaningful ways.
Rigid Agendas and Schedules: You’re locked into the agenda. Have you been to a great talk and want to learn more? Unless related talks are already scheduled, you’re out of luck. The agenda’s set in stone.
Lack of Practical, Actionable Takeaways: too much theory and not enough demos match your situation? Are the demos too simple to be valuable, or are they hard to follow? How can you tease out what you need when the speaker disappears at the end of the talk?
Impersonal, Large Scale Events: attending a conference on your own? It can be a lonely experience. Getting opportunities to connect with other attendees over shared interests is hard. Being able to share your excitement about being there or seeing a great talk or tech with others would be great. Too much marketing – flashy Keynotes and sales pitches? Did you spend all that money to watch company executives or professional speakers tell you how much they love each other?
Limited Networking Opportunities: Conferences try to give you time to meet other attendees, but they’re structured, and you’re often getting coffee or lunch at the same time. Can you meet people with your own interests during ‘get your breakfast’ speed dating?
Low Engagement for Experienced Professionals: You want more, please. More detail, fewer beginner talks. You (or probably your company) have paid to attend the conference. It would be nice if the talks were structured for all levels of experience and knowledge.
Cost and Accessibility: Attending a conference is a big commitment. Of course, it costs money and time of work, but you also have to travel there and back and likely feel pressure to return with valuable insights.
Language challenges: Tech conferences are often in English. Whatever language it’s in, if that’s not your first language, it might be challenging to get the information you need. Speakers presenting at you at high speed mean you can lose context and the plot. You might as well just watch the video.
Why Conferences?
I’m not going to suggest that unConferences replace conferences. For everything I wrote above, I could explain what and why conferences either behave that way or work to attempt to get you what you want.
unConferences compliment Conferences
unConferences aim to give you the chance to get the experience and information you can’t easily get at a regular conference. UnConferences try to facilitate information sharing, create environments for substantial peer networking, and satisfy your curiosity.
UnConferences, in one form or another, have existed for a long time. They’ve remained reasonably popular in the Java space. Still, they are not particularly common, though nowadays, you will find that occasionally, a regular conference has an unConference day, afternoon, or evening tacked on.
unConferences in detail
A typical unConference goes like this.
You turn up.
The facilitators (normally whoever wants to run an unConference) ask you to write your ideas for topics to discuss on stickies (usually real but occasionally digital) and put them on a wall, etc.
All the stickies get grouped by common themes.
There’s a vote: usually simple – place tick a theme or maybe put another (usually round sticky) on the theme that interests you.
Votes are counted, the top topics go first. If there’s one room it’s in priority order, otherwise in some parallel form.
People go to the room they want to, leave when they want to, and go to other rooms if they want to. At some point, the topic is over, and people come back to see what is left on the board.
Pick the next topic(s) and repeat..
Here’s the secret sauce:
The agenda is fluid. If people want to talk about something new, something not on the original list, it can be added and voted on. Maybe it’s the next topic, maybe not. There’s nothing to stop you from taking the topic with those interested and finding a quiet space to discuss it.
There are no speakers. It’s just those of you who turn up to discuss the topic. Usually, there is a moderator to keep the discussion reasonably on track, but there is no formal leader. You’re together to talk about something you all wanted to. At the very least, you’re with people who probably have similar questions. Likely, there will be someone who is ahead of you and can answer your questions. There doesn’t have to be an expert in the room.
The topic goes where the discussion leads it. If you want to deep-dive, grab the whiteboard. If you need to show a slide, draw a picture instead. (The ban on having presentations or similar preplanned displays is pretty universal across unConfs.) Want to talk about football? It’s probably time to wrap up and pick the next topic.
Sounds easy?
There are, of course, challenges to running an unConference. That’s mostly herding cats rather than worrying about missing speakers or broken AV.
UnConference formats are flexible. You can run one with ten people in one room to 200 people in ten rooms.
It takes more effort to run the larger ones: You need scaling voting systems and more moderators, but it’s a people thing, not a content thing. There is a practical limit on how big you can go before you need formal content management, and the actual space you have to run the event limits the number of attendees—ideally, you need space where you can get everyone attending together to be able to vote, etc.
This is all people organising. It’s a lot easier to run an unconference than a regular-style one. It’s probably cheaper, too, and that means that the ticket price is likely lower, too. Regular conferences have to find venues, organise AV, speakers, sponsors, marketing, attendees, catering, medical support, insurance, and more. The list is exhausting.
unConferences are really just meetups done large. Other than having attendees, pretty much everything is optional.
Learning more
Googling for “unConference” will get you started. Most follow “Open Spaces” rules, which help set the tone and expected behaviour of attendees. The simplest way to learn is to attend one. It just so happens I have one coming up…
London Java Community UnConference 25 Nov 2024
Monday Nov 25th is the date for our next unConference. You can sign up here
It’s on a weekday. Since the pandemic, people have been reluctant to travel on weekends. That makes it more complicated for attendees—they often have to take a day off or convince their employers to let them attend. We charge just enough to cover costs, plus we have sponsors who help with funding. This year, as for many years before, IBM is providing the location. We get to run the unConference from their Client Centre in London. There are always lots of shiny toys around for developers to look at.
Our schedule is mostly fluid. We use a keynote as cover while doing topic organisation, and we’ll have at least one sponsored talk during lunch. Otherwise, the agenda will be driven by the attendees. Personally, I’ll be interested in discussing security, API design, aspiring speakers, LJC membership feedback, and, of course, AI.
What do unCONF Attendees say?
In all the time I’ve been organising or helping with unConferences, the feedback has been consistent. Whether small gatherings or large, people value the ability to meet others with similar interests, have impromptu deep conversations, learn from their peers, and do so in a welcoming and energetic environment.
I’m sure most people will tell you that unConferences don’t replace conferences – but I’m equally sure that most people will tell you that an unConf is often more fun and similarly satisfying
Next steps
Are you interested in running an unConference? Do you have a local user group that could benefit? Do you know a regular speaker or two? How about a group of work colleagues – unConfs do not have to be public. Many companies run unConferences. The same benefits apply whether public or not.
UnConferences are best conducted face-to-face, but they can also be conducted virtually. Although this requires more tech, it’s still feasible. During the pandemic, the LJC ran a couple of unConfs via Zoom.
The best way forward is to connect with one of these groups first and float the idea. It helps to have someone who’s been to an unConference before, but that’s not a strict requirement. There is enough info around to help, and, in any case, the spirit of an unConference is such that it’s collaborative and forgiving of mistakes. Try not to overplan or overthink this. You need a place and an audience. You don’t need projectors or microphones – just sticky notes, pens and a handy wall.
