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The c&binet ‘unconference’
Nick | 06 Nov 2009, 11:16
One of the most difficult aspects of creating c&binet forum was the need for a programme that would unite a broad range of people from across the creative spectrum. C&binet’s diversity (though not always manifesting itself on the main stage) was its greatest strength and its biggest challenge.
Complementing the main sessions was a series of fringe events, to allow us to introduce a wider range of topics for discussion and help attendees make best use of their time. We asked ourselves every day whether we’d done enough to ensure c&binet suited all tastes and requirements.
The answer is that we hadn’t, but in one sense, it didn’t matter. C&binet forum ended up providing a practical demonstration of the diminished role of the content gatekeeper in the digital age.
While on-stage, people were discussing the power of the internet to mobilise communities to create their own content and find their own audiences, off-stage, delegates were using Twitter to do just that. Towards the end of the second day, using the hashtag #outofthecloset, an “unconference” sprang-up in the foyer, for some of the delegates to debate what issues mattered most to them.
Most of the unconference attendees represented smaller companies, for whom the debate about IP protection taking place in the main hall was perhaps less relevant (although part of the discussion at c&binet was about how to streamline the copyright system, so that start-ups could license the use of content more quickly and easily) or design companies, for whom this year’s theme of “nurturing creative content in the digital age” had relatively little to offer. It was a fascinating and lively discussion and impressively organised, with the group quickly split in to subgroups to address two key questions: ‘what do we want from government?’ and ‘what do we want from c&binet?’ The emphasis was placed on practical solutions, such as early-stage legal advice on the copyright system for start-ups.
You can read summaries of the discussions by Jaya Chakrabarti from Nameless here and Claire Reddington from Pervasive Media Studio here.
An undoubted highlight of c&binet 2009, the unconference underlined the potential of the creative industries to work together to shape the future of the creative economy. The c&binet team will now investigate how we can reflect the issues highlighted in the future c&binet programme.
Hi Nick / c&binet;forum team,
I’m delighted to see this post, and think your team embraced the #outofthecloset event with a positive spirit entirely fitting with the ‘post-gatekeeper’ world.
I disagree with a couple of points made above though. I think they’re important.
The small companies who formed the Unconference are affected by, and care about, the copyright / IP issue *every bit as much* as those on the stage. Much of #outofthecloset’s passion was driven by this issue—certainly my business lives or dies by its ability to monetise its creative output. As the industry leader in some fields of our activity, I can’t say that size was an overriding delimiter of the #outofthecloset mob either.
A commonly-shared issue was that the speakers on the main stage were simply employing different shades of the same colour: the debate was about the different varieties of carrot or stick which should be used to enforce legacy business models from the perspective of larger publisher / IP owner / IP creators.
This was not a sophisticated debate about the wider context of user behaviour and the future of networked content—about a paradigmatic response to a paradigmatic change of landscape—but an intelligent and heartfelt exposition of one set of very real issues and one approach to solving them.
The specific issues discussed at the #outofthecloset meeting may have been important but the Unconference wasn’t created through a burning need to discuss them; my personal reading was the event coalesced as a reaction to the hermetic nature of the debate in the main room.
If you want to know how to tap or include the minds of the #outofthecloset session, or what the ‘issue’ it was addressing actually was, I’d suggest getting its attendees on the stage next time!
Thanks again for creating an event where this Unconference could happen—I’m sure it’ll reach even greater heights in the future.
Paul
By Paul Bennun on 2009 11 06
Well said Paul. Agree with you totally.
chris
By cyberdoyle on 2009 11 06
Agree totally with your comments Paul
There was some talk of a need for education.. but not just about that done in college.The speed of change - of habits, technologies, creative and commercial opportunities and challenges, is so rapid that learning has to be continuous and lifelong
As we both know, some of the best/ most useful learning is done through peer exchange outside lab/ university environments. My opinion is that frequent opportunities to share real world experiences; challenges and failures, across sector/ supply chain silos are crucial to help UK industry to become more innovative, collaborative and sustainable
Speakers in the official programme discussed how existing business models (and the organisations that have grown around them) can be protected. There was very little mention of the many success stories around new business models that embrace new ways of consuming, sharing, co- creating. IMHO, these stories provide crucial insights into a potent and rapidly evolving creative industries
The three corners of the virtuous triangle: Geek, Creative and Suit, all need to be involved in an ongoing conversation. More sustainable businesses will flourish if space/reason is provided to bring the three together to explore the benefits of collaboration. Policy makers should listen to those conversations if their policies are to remain relevant in this rapidly changing landscape. The format of C&binet;left many delegates feeling that there was one event on the stage (Big industry experts sharing their particular challenges) and another off stage/ across the virtual arena (those representing the smaller more innovative companies) - with very few opportunities for a meaningful conversation between the two
The “unconference” was a response to that dynamic - an attempt to create a non hierarchical participatory space.. there is little doubt that the conversation would have been even richer if more big players had joined that discussion
Thanks again for pulling it together - it was a great start, met and caught up with some very interesting people and hope my comments are useful
By Katz Kiely on 2009 11 07
Its interesting to note that the spam comment about ball gowns is still on the page six or more hours after I noticed it. And this isn’t even my blog!
After reading the last comment by Katz I have to post again, to agree totally and to add that the best networking after an event is always in the corridors or in the pub afterwards. I also feel that when an event is streamed that the comments from the etherworld need notice and replies. Someone in the room can tweet an idea, not everyone wants the microphone.It gives the quiet folk a chance of a voice and opinion. Ideas and innovation abound, and thanks to this conference and the feedback/unconference and acknowledgment maybe the next one will deliver a real result. The days are gone when the few suits on stage were in control. Now the panel is answering to the global stage. Times they sure are a changing.
Another point I would like to make, at many conferences there are guest ‘experts’. At some these people are real experts, they arrive early, network, and leave late. At some events they appear, speak and go.
Granted they are probably very busy, and very important, but they are not gonna stay experts for long, if in fact they actually are.
chris.
By cyberdoyle on 2009 11 07
the unconference took place as some speakers on the stage CEO’s of multimillion dollar companies were out of touch with the ‘shop floor’ - it raised a passion to make sure our voices were heard. we felt our voices just as important to help shape the future of creative industries from the bottom up, not top down. making government aware of who to engage with to ‘make stuff happen’. this is where the future creatives thrive, and the ability to commercialise on this lies - with regular people with a clear understanding of behaviour - not to use tech for tech sake, but a need to use tech to make life easier - i thought the organisers & speakers did well - but missed the point by a mile. the unconference got them back in the bigger picture. democracy is a great thing…..
By nicole on 2009 11 11
well said Nicole - forget the water cooler. The best stuff happens in the lobby, sitting on the floor with your shoes off and a glass of red in your hand
.
Nevertheless c&binet;was inspirational for me from both the unconference side and the main programme. It was strangely reassuring that whilst some of the big boys are trying to maintain the status quo, the grass roots of the creative sector are still innovating and finding new business models regardless. There will be far more scope for intelligent conversations at the next c&binet;if we allow the two ends to meet somewhere in the middle perhaps in an actual workshop (though the lobby floor would still do if everyone was still prepared to meet there
).
Jaya
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