PodCamp Toronto’s epic Saturday night social is back once again!

Once the day’s festivities are done, it’s time to keep the good times going at the local watering hole!

This year, the party will be at Lou Dawg’s (@LouDawgsRyerson), located at 78 Gerrard Street East, just one block north of the Rogers Communications Centre where PCTO13 is taking place.

The essential deets:

• Time: 6 p.m. till close
• Food is served at: 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
• Live music: 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Daryl D’Souza, the owner and general manager of Lou Dawg’s who’s no stranger to incorporating social media to the restaurant brand, is thrilled to play host for the #PCTO13 after-party. We thank Daryl and Lou Dawg’s for sponsoring PodCamp Toronto and hope to see you all there!

In the meantime, check out some of the really cool things Lou Dawg’s is doing with social! Epic MealTime? One Direction? Crazy!

• Epic MealTime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LV-GG6EytU
• One Direction Fiasco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdZnOlREd-o
• General LOUTUBE LINK: http://www.youtube.com/user/LouDawgsLouTube

To get connected to the WiFi while onsite at the Rogers Communications Centre:

1. 1. Launch your WiFi settings and search for wireless networks
2. 2. Locate the “RYERSON” network and click connect
3. 3. Enter the key: “EGGY1” (all CAPS)
4. 4. Close your settings and launch your browser
5. 5. You will automatically be redirected to a login page – enter the following: username: podcamp2013 and password: RUguest89 (case sensitive)
6. 6. That’s it, you’re connected!

If you have trouble connecting see an organizer (red PodCamp t-shirts) or ask a fellow PodCamper for help – they will get you connected!

Photo credit: HiMY SYeD / photopia

Your organizers John Leschinski, Samuel Dunsiger, Ed Gough (better known as Dr. Vibe), Katie Boland, Rick Weiss, Mark Van Tol, Karim Kanji, May Tartoussy and Adam Weitner would like to welcome you to PCTO13!

We have a great weekend planned for you (just check out all the wicked sessions! goo.gl/UBR4f), and can’t wait to see all your smiling faces tomorrow morning. Just a couple of things to go over before all the fun begins:

 Use the #PCTO13 hashtag!

Be a friend and tell the PodCamp story for those who can’t attend by including the #PCTO13 hashtag in all of your tweets, pics, check-ins, blogs etc!

The PCTO ground “rules”

1. PodCamp should be your experience. You get out of it what you put in. This event is to you what you make it!

Following your friends around all weekend, whether you met them at the event or a lifetime ago, might prevent you from getting the most of your PodCamp experience, so be sure to branch out and explore. Don’t get us wrong – you should definitely spend time with friends new and old, but find your own direction.

2. PodCamp is an unconference. The agenda is fluid. If you have a session idea last minute, and there’s an empty space on the agenda, approach one of us and ask if we can slot you in. You won’t make it onto the website, but you can tell everyone to come using the #PCTO13 hashtag!

3. Since PCTO is an unconference, the standard conference rules do not apply. If you find yourself sitting in a session with a title and description that really spoke to you, but the actual content isn’t what you had hoped for, you can invoke the rule of two feet. In other words, stand up on your two feet, and walk yourself out of the room. Quietly, and respectfully, of course!

If you disagree with something, open a dialogue. It’s this back-and-forth that we all learn from. Save questions or comments for the end of sessions, and stick around to speak one-on-one with presenters outside the room.

4. Sessions are 45 minutes long with a 15 minute break between each. Those 15 minutes are to allow presenters to pack up, and the next session leader to set up so that they can start on-time. We love that attendees are so engaged that they want to stick around and talk with presenters – just be sure to do it as the presenter(s) pack up their laptop, and continue your discussions in the hallway, the lounge, or late into the evening at our after-party (details on that to follow ;)).

5. Please respect the PodCamp space. Ryerson University has been our home since the first PodCamp Toronto in 2007, and we would like to continue this tradition. Put your trash in the proper trash bins. If its overflowing, find a different one, and alert your friendly neighbourhood PCTO organizer (the folks in the red shirts) that something needs to be done.

If you see trash laying around, be a good PodCamper and toss it in a garbage or recycling bin!

That’s it for the “rules” – other than that just be prepared to meet a lot of great people and learn a ton!

Many, many thanks

We have a lot of people to thank for making PodCamp Toronto a fantastic event. All of you beautiful attendees, for starters! You’re all participants, and you all contribute to making the weekend a wonderful learning experience.

Our presenters deserve extra mention. They’ve put themselves forward to share their knowledge, insight and experience in the digital media space. Or maybe just general wisdom about living life. For that, we applaud them!

Volunteers are also an important part of PodCamp Toronto. They will be working hard through the weekend to ensure a great time for everyone. Give them a high-five when you see them (they’re the folks in the blue shirts)!

While PodCamp Toronto is free to attend, it still costs money to host. We cover our expenses for rentals, and those extra special add-ons through the generous support of our sponsors.

First, we have our Gold Sponsors. They are Chevrolet and Rogers Communications. You’ll find them at the Rogers Charging Station for refuelling your mobile devices, and the Chevrolet Recharge Lounge, where you can relax and recharge for your next session or deep conversation.

Second, we have our Silver Sponsors, Tim Hortons, ING Direct and Lou Dawg’s, which graciously agreed to play host to our traditional after-party.

Lastly, we have a number of Bronze Sponsors, whose cash or in-kind donations help us a lot. They are High Road Communications, Freshbooks, JS Consulting, Hover, and RIGHTSLEEVE have all contributed to making this weekend happen. Give them some PodCamp love!

And of course, our host venue, Ryerson University, has been a long-time supporter of PodCamp Toronto. For this, we are eternally grateful to them.

Questions?

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us through Twitter (@PodCampToronto) or Facebook. Throughout the weekend you can also just look for anyone with a volunteer or organizer t-shirt on and we will be happy to help you!

That should be all for now! We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Chevrolet Canada has been hooking up PodCamp Toronto as a Gold Sponsor for some time now, and they’re back for #PCTO13! Their Media Relations Manager Laura Nava took a moment to reflect on why Chevy is supporting us, and what it means to them. Check it out!

Why is Chevrolet sponsoring PodCamp?
Chevrolet is pleased to be partnering with PodCamp again in 2013. We’re looking forward to great company, conversation and networking. PodCamp offers us an opportunity to listen and connect with a new and diverse group of people who may not be familiar with Chevrolet. For our team, being active in the social space is a key business strategy to build and foster new relationships.

What “hot topics” of conversation are you looking forward to at this year’s PodCamp?
The opportunity and means to share and participate in the conversation continues to evolve with the ease of integration and technological advancements. Social media is not just a tool to engage, but also a resource of information for mainstream consumers. I would anticipate the use of recently emerging platforms and how they have changed the way we socialize to be a hot topic of discussion during PodCamp 2013.

What can attendees expect from PodCamp Toronto they probably won’t see or hear at other events this year?
Every year Chevrolet has been involved with PodCamp we have been amazed at the dedication of the group of volunteers who make the unconference great. They create compelling sessions with relevant topics that are presented in unique and interesting forums that are both informative and entertaining. PodCamp also gives people the opportunity to connect in real life. PodCamp offers the vehicle to introduce yourself to new people, to join in on conversations, and to add a new level of value to your online relationships.

Rogers, a supporter of PodCamp Toronto for several years now, has returned to PCTO13 as a Gold Sponsor! We hooked up with Elise Ondet (@RogersElise) to chat with her about Rogers’ sponsorship and why they’re supporting us this year:

Why is Rogers sponsoring PodCamp?

Rogers has always been a huge fan of PodCamp Toronto. #PCTO has a true community feeling, and that’s what social media is all about. We love being able to catch up with old friends and finally meet in real life the people we’re interacting with online on a daily basis. We love the variety of sessions and the variety of the conversations in the “sessions-between-the-sessions”!

What “hot topics” of conversation are you looking forward to at this year’s PodCamp?

Social media is constantly bursting with new platforms and new tools. Pinterest, how do you use it? Has anyone dabbed into Vine for brands yet? Is podcasting making a come-back? What about Google+? Instagram –what are the new opportunities now that it’s available on the web too?
Most importantly, who does the best #HarlemShake? The firefighters or the army? Now, this a crucial debate.

What can attendees expect from PodCamp Toronto they probably won’t see or hear at other events this year?

It’s the sense of community that you get at PodCamp that makes it really different. Everyone is on an equal footing, presenters in the morning will be listening in in the afternoon, and whether you’re starting in social media or you’re a “social media guru” PodCamp gives you an opportunity to get out of it what you’re looking for. You’re a session fan? Go to as many as you want and with the variety of topics, you won’t be disappointed. You like to network? Hang out in the hallway and finally meet in real life that witty guy who’s making you laugh every day on Twitter. We’re one community, all social media addicts!

Is Rogers participating in any sessions? Are you doing anything specific this year?

We sure are! We’re participating in a panel: “How not to suck at social customer service”. Come check it out!

We’ll hold our #RogersChargingStation because what is a social media event with dead smartphones? We want to keep the conversation alive and for that, you can come and get some juice for your device at our table.

And surprises for you: we have amazing prizes to win and we’ve organized a SMavenger hunt, aka a social media scavenger hunt, to enter. Details will be at the #RogersChargingStation table, or you’ll easily spot one of us in our red shirts: come and ask us questions 🙂

At the end of 2010 I left Dubai to Toronto. The Digital marketing world was still a puzzle and I was avoiding figuring it out. To make it easy for me back then I told myself Ahhh it is just some kids playing on facebook wanting to monetize it. It is social how on earth we would need it for our business. Then I told myself: Ok, I am going to Toronto soon. I will figure all about it there. They should know better. To my surprise, digital marketing was already huge here. Social media was already established and used for small business and organizations. I wanted to be part of this new space. Actually it is not new. It is just new to me.

I came to know about Podcamp 2012 and honestly I was nervous to attend it. It seemed to me that this is a high tech, geeky event that I would not understand a thing. Luckily, two of my friends were presenting there so I just kicked myself in the butt and went anyway. I attended couple of very good sessions and the discussions were very engaging. I started to think. Maybe digital marketing and new media is not that bad after all. I was impressed with the simplicity and efficiency of the event and the content of the program.

Nothing like what I used to in Dubai where every event has to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and sometimes millions. I thought not everything has to be big, impressive and complicated. This is a simple event organized by young professionals adding value to the digital scene in the city of  Toronto. The concept itself was very motivating to me. What could be better than adding value to other people’s experience? Creating a space where meaningful conversations take place. Experienced professionals allocating time to add value to other professionals’ experiences, promote their work and network with their audience directly. This is how I see it and this is why I wanted to be part of this amazing energy. In addition to that, I found my next job in a digital agency because of the possibilities that opened to me after attending PodCamp 2012. So part of my desire to volunteer is a token of gratitude to this amazing event.

About May

May Tartoussy is working as a business development consultant with Stone Canoe – a digital advertising company. Prior to her arrival to Canada in 2011, May served as Marketing Assistant Manager in Dubai Holding, the Dubai government conglomerate that owns many high profile developments and investments in Dubai and around the world.

May immigrated to Canada in January 2011 and has already become an active member contributing to the community in Toronto by volunteering in organizations and groups such as TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival) and the Social Media Café Toronto.

Photo courtesy of griffintech on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffintech/

If you’ve never been to PodCamp Toronto before, you’re probably wondering what it’s all about and what’s in it for you. Mostly, you’re probably asking yourself “why would I want to give up my weekend for an “industry” event?” Fair questions. In just three reasons, here’s why:

It’s free!
You read that right – PodCamp Toronto is 100% free for all attendees thanks to the support of our amazing sponsors. On top of that, it’s open doors at PCTO, and you can come and go as you please. Join us for a few sessions, or stay for the entire weekend – it’s up to you! Just be sure to register ;).

You’ll meet awesome people
Attendees of PCTO don’t “network” – they make friends, share knowledge and become a member of the PodCamp family. Some amazing collaborations and lasting friendships have been formed at past PodCamps, and PCTO13 will be no exception. Expect to leave with some new friends!

You will learn A LOT
PCTO13 is packed with great sessions on everything from “How to develop a killer content marketing strategy,” to “The ‘Glamourous’ World of Entertainment PodCasting,” to “Easy and Beautiful Video Blogging,” and everything in between. At PCTO you choose the sessions that will be most valuable to you. If you’re not getting what you expected out of a session we encourage you to use the “law of two feet” and make your way to something that will be more beneficial for you. Check out all of the awesome sessions we have lined up here.

Bonus reason: it’s FREE!
Oh wait, we already told you that… see you there, Ryerson University February 23 & 24!

If you have any questions, tweet your Qs to us anytime @PodCampToronto or reach us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PodCampTO

It’s our amazing community – the presenters, sponsors, volunteers and attendees, that keep PodCamp Toronto kicking ass year after year. If you’re new to the PCTO community and wondering how you can take part, here’s a list of five ways to get involved:

Submit a session

We’ve got a ton of great sessions lined up so far, and there’s always room for more. Give a session or form a panel and share your knowledge with the PCTO community! Anyone can submit a session for PodCamp Toronto – just fill out the session submission form.

Sponsor

PodCamp Toronto is free for all attendees thanks to our amazing supporters. Sponsoring PCTO has several benefits – most importantly the earned goodwill of about 1,000 of Toronto’s top creatives, techies and communicators. All money raised goes directly into making sure PodCamp is a killer event.

Become a Friend of PodCamp

Friends of PodCamp chip in because they see the value that PCTO provides and know how important it is to the community. Friends of PodCamp are featured on our donor wall, and are guaranteed good karma. Donating is easy, just follow this link and click the “Become a Friend” button!

Volunteer

Volunteers will be needed on the weekend of the event to chip in and help out in a number of ways. If you want to work with a great team and be a part of making PCTO13 awesome, just fill out this form and someone will be in touch!

Spread the word.

Tell your friends and get them to register!

Without the amazing minds that we have in our community, PodCamp Toronto wouldn’t be the buzzing hub of knowledge that it is each year. It’s the great conversations and fresh idea sharing that make PodCamp Toronto so popular… share your brilliance with your fellow PodCampers and keep that tradition going!

You can host a session, get hands-on with a workshop, or form a panel – the format is really open and totally up to you. And submitting a session is super easy. Just fill out this form with a few details and hit submit!