Sessions are proposed and scheduled by participants in real time, in real space. Sessions enable participants to find people interested in talking about or doing the things they want at Esozone.

How does the scheduling work?

The way Esozone’s scheduling system will work is simple, and familiar to unconference goers: a grid will be crafted on a wall with painters tape. One axis of the grid will represent times (say, 11 AM to 7 PM), the other axis will represent spaces (various locations in and around the venue where sessions can take place). Participants will write session names on pieces of 8.5″ x 11″ sticky paper and arrange them in the grid.

If this sounds confusing, it’s OK. It all starts to make sense once you start, and volunteers will be on hand to help participants.

What are “sessions?”

A session is any component of the unconference. It could be a discussion, a workshop, an activity, or something else entirely. We only ask that sessions don’t disrupt other sessions.

Who can propose a session?

Anyone who comes to Esozone may propose a session.

1) Show up at Esozone
2) Write your idea on one of the sticky pieces of paper provided.
3) Stick it to the schedule board.
4) Be prepared to shuffle and be shuffled on the schedule.

Who’s going to be the keynote speaker?

No one.

So you’re not bringing in any speakers?

No. Whoever comes, comes. The Esozone Portland Forums (coming soon) will have RSVPs and discussions about potential sessions.

Why an unconference format?

The purpose of Esozone is to facilitate conversation between participants. The role of speakers, performances, etc. in previous years served two purposes to this end: giving people something to talk about, and proving that the event was worth coming to. Now we have to survive based on the worthof the individuals who show up.

After I went to my first unconference, Cyborg Camp in December 2008, and saw it work for myself, I wanted to integrate the format into Esozone. It’s a better way to achieve our purpose.

This is actually something we’ve wanted to do ever since before we even had a name for the event. We had toyed with the idea of having an unconference style component for a while (Nick Pell called it “the meme market”), but we couldn’t figure out the logistics of it within the framework of the rest of the event. We did schedule some open time into the schedule, and one unconference session spontaneously arose at Esozone 2008: the Discordian caucus.

How is Esozone being paid for?

Esozone is now entirely sponsorship and donation funded.

How can I contribute financially?

You can contribute one of four ways:

1. Sponsor. More details on this coming.

2. Donate. We’ll have a PayPal and/or Pledgie system in place for individual
donations soon.

3. Buy merchandise. We’ll have a store up soon.

4. Donate money to someone who wants to come to Esozone but doesn’t have the money.

5. Bring money to Esozone and spend it at our sponsors tables so they’ll sponsor again next year.