MediaJoltz

So, we ran into some trouble with the Podcamp SLC venue.  Here is how the process went down:

-You have to send in an application to reserve a room.  But for any dates past Jan 1st you have to wait until November 15th to send the application in.

-I called on November 10th to find out if the rooms I wanted to reserve were taken anyway, and how likely it would be that if I got my application in first, would they be taken.  I was reassured that at that time all the rooms were available and Sat. is not a very high requested day-it was just a matter of jumping through the hoops and submitting the application.

-I got up early on the 15th to fax the application in and then waited.  I just got off the phone today with someone saying that while applications are taken first come first serve, internal employees to the venue are actually really first, and someone had reserved all the rooms for that day.

And here is the kicker.  The phone call was to see if I wanted to change the dates, I asked them if I did change the dates what the details would be.

-I was asked exactly what group this was that wanted to reserve the rooms.  I told them there were initially 4 of us who want to gather people who were interested in podcasting.  It was open to the public and there would be no charge.

“Well, I am familiar with podcasting,” I was told “and I have to say that it just isn’t a broad enough topic to extend to the general public, so while you aren’t charging to attend, since its for a niche group of people our venue would have to charge you the regular rental rates on everything.”

Um, not for the general public?  Name me one demographic that CAN’T podcast and I’ll find you someone in that demographic who is.  There have been other “camps” similar to this one that has drawn in a crowd of as much as 1,000 plus people.

So apparently I have been misinformed for these past few years!

Anyway, while this is an obstacle that we need to overcome, it will make Jan 26th, when we do have a kick a** event that much sweeter cause we conquered and overcame.  So plan on still attending and having an awesome time learning, sharing and networking.  Just don’t expect to network with anyone from the “general public” there.