DrupalCampLA Two Week Countdown

Hi all,

Just wanted to update everyone on planning and what's still needed to get this bird to fly.

Sponsors

We now have official sponsorships committed for a total of $2500 plus some schwag and some other incidentals. We also have several committed partner firms sending folks to speak. Right now, this list looks like:

Sponsors
- OurMedia
- Warner Bros. Records
- AOL (venue)
- Verse Studios
- Sisu, Inc.

Partners
- Achieve Internet
- WorkHabit
- OurMedia
- Bryght

Venue

We are 100% confirmed for the AOL Beverly Hills campus for the weekend. This includes underground parking and security. The place is already exceptionally wired and the rooms we'll be in are AV specific media/conference rooms. Wifi, projectors, and screens should not be an issue.

The only caveat to this arrangement is that we will need EVERYONE'S REAL NAMES before the event in order for them to get past security and into the event. Please help us spread the word on that.

Food

We will be supplying coffee/pastries/fruit in the morning on both days. (Crystal promises to leave some coffee for everyone else. really)

We will also be supplying lunch on Saturday. Currently planning on catering a la Costco, but if anyone has better ideas, please pipe up.

We are also hoping to throw a little party Saturday night. More on that below.

Sessions

People have started filling in session slots already on http://www.barcamp.org/DrupalCampLASessions but I'd really like to see this grid get filled up before Monday. We'll arrange scheduling once we get enough sessions. I've only put up two tracks right now, but as you all know, we've been publicizing that there'd be three. Once we get the main slots filled, we'll flesh out the third, smaller break-out track. Also, please feel free to mess with the grid to split up track times. I have no issues with having some shorter 20-30 minute sessions. Right now, they're in 45 minute blocks to accomodate a) attention spans and b) allowing enough time between sessions for people to mingle and ask questions.

Need session ideas? Check out http://barcamp.org/DrupalCampNYC3Sessions for inspiration. (Thanks to Jacob Redding for the link)

Presenters

Please add your name and a little description to http://www.barcamp.org/DrupalCampLAPresenters if you're planning to speak. This helps us all to get to know everyone better and also helps to publicize the event some.

Accomodation

We've got a lot of people coming in from out of town. If anyone is interested in finding someone to share hotel rooms or rides with, contact me and I'll shuffle contacts around.

What We Need

Obviously, there's still a lot to do with this thing. Here's what we need:

Publicity

Blog, blog, blog. And hey, if you know anyone who could get us in some traditional media, I think that would be great. Let's focus on reaching people outside of the usual Drupal Community, both on the resource side (PHP developers, front-end folks, etc) and the client side (community organizations, non profits, and corporations). We want to both make our community stronger AND help it grow.

Volunteers

We'll need some manpower for the following:
- Set-up on Saturday (making/hanging signs, checking on things like trash cans, checking AV stuff, helping communicate things with building management and security, moving furniture, etc)
- Registration Desk
- General help on the day of (the above, plus answering questions, making sure tracks move on time, etc)
- Clean up/Tear down on Sunday (leave no trace)

Food
Will someone who has a Costco card please step forward? I'd love to pass the torch on this part. Things should be kept simple, but it's still an undertaking.

Party
We need a venue. Hopefully a large bar or similar, a reasonable taxi ride or closer to the camp venue, that could accommodate about 50 of us and let us stand around, mingle, and buy pitchers until everyone feels like going home. Anyone have suggestions/connections?

I think that's it, folks. Have I missed something? Please discuss at the meeting today and post back here or on the http://barcamp.org/DrupalCampLA wiki.

Cheers,
Crystal