web nerds gathering.

That's basically what BarCamp Nashville was. A gathering/mini-conference for people who have anything to do with new media. Everything from podcasting to web traffic to social media and networking to, yes, blogging. It was called BarCamp because it took place at Exit/In, a bar/music venue downtown. There wasn't really anything camp-ish about it except that wanted people to camp out there all day, I guess. Though the entire conference spanned from noon until midnight this past Saturday, I really only caught the beginning and end, because, let's face it - I have other things I'd rather do on a Saturday than hang out with a bunch of web nerds (note: that's not to say that I'm not one in some ways myself!). So I picked and chose my way through the conference, targeting the segments that seemed the most interesting or relevant to what I do.

While I wouldn't say that anything I heard or saw at BarCamp changed my life, it certainly made me want to become more integrated with the blogging community at large. It made me really want to explore all the really great (and probably a lot of not-so-great) blogs that are out there. I've always been a big believer in web-based community, so it makes sense that interfacing with other people's blogs would be appealing.

I fully intended on going home that night and blogging about everything I had soaked up, wanting to make my small contribution among the community that formed among the attendees throughout the day. But intentions are only as good as the action that follows, so I guess that means my intentions weren't that great. Or at least not that motivated. Or maybe I was just tired from being out and about all day and sitting in ridiculously uncomfortable black folding chairs. But hey, it's two days later and now I'm saying something about it, so that's got to count for something, right?

I have lots more thoughts, but lots of work to do, so I'll reflect more later. If I ever get around to it.