BarCamp Saigon

[There were some very strong reactions from the last post, which was written by one of our sponsors. I'd like to explain, from my personal viewpoint as an organizing volunteer, why this is.]

- An event as large as BarCamp Saigon, which attracted nearly 500 attendees last time, cannot happen without sponsors. It’s especially hard when doing such an event twice in one year. We are truly grateful to the sponsors for making the event possible. There are some who feel that BarCamps should be much smaller and have no sponsorship and this is a valid viewpoint and these people are free to talk to me about organizing such events, as I’d be happy to help, or to organize themselves. But an event which aims to attract a large number of Saigon’s “BarCamp” target market needs to be able to make some noise.

- Each BarCamp takes months of organizing, and much of this time is spent reaching out to and coming to agreement with enough sponsors that the event can happen in a way that attendees will leave satisfied (considering both mind and gut) and feeling they would want to return next time. For any sponsor giving an amount over 10 million VND, a contract is required by law. Getting sponsors isn’t easy, especially as we want to have a variety of sponsors for each event so as not to be too closely dependent on any single sponsor. So one of the ideas that was suggested to make sponsoring more appealing was to permit sponsored blog posts. This came from our team, not from any sponsor. If it turns out that many sponsors would sponsor regardless of blogging, then it won’t be an issue next time, but we’ve already offered it to sponsors.

- We also want barcampsaigon.com to be more active by posting more frequently. This raises awareness of the blog and thus the event, which means our other marketing efforts become easier. Unfortunately, the organizers themselves have limited time to write many blog posts. By having sponsors write clearly marked sponsored blog posts, they can help us bring visitors to the site. Personally, I think an interview with one of Vietnam’s leading digital entrepreneurs is of interest to a lot of Saigon Barcampers.

- Barcamp Saigon’s volunteer organizers do not benefit materially from the event at all. In fact, we take responsibility for any budget shortfalls out of our own pockets. We each get a free t-shirt and meal and some coffee like every other participant, no more.

- No sponsor influences what happens at the event, what sessions take place. Sponsors get logos displayed around the event and on this website, which is the way it’s been for several years.

- No organizer was involved in the Bryan Pelz interview or works for that sponsor. An organizer may end up asking his or her employer to help fill in gaps in funding so that everyone can get a coffee or t-shirt. Nobody, including sponsors, are barred from helping to organize BarCamp, although a sponsor will not have any special privileges or be able to push for any objective not in the best interest of the event. No organizer can arrange free sponsorship for themselves or anyone who employs them.

- Anyone is free to sponsor as long as they understand they will receive only the same benefits as anyone else sponsoring at the same level.