When I first decided to go to BIL – I had no idea how much it would make me wish I’d been at TED.
BIL – which is more anarchistic stands for just about anything you’d like it to stand for. Originally it was – Booze, Intellectuals, and Learning…but it could just as easily be Beauty, Ideology, and Logic, or Brainstorming, Industry, and Love. The great thing about BIL is that everyone is invited and better yet – it’s FREE.
The problem with BIL is that everyone is invited and it’s FREE. Kind of a Catch-22 right?
So I decided to examine exactly what makes an elite conference like TED so remarkable? And why BIL – though an interesting and worthwhile event – left me wishing I’d been on the other side of the fence.
BIL took place in Monterey, California (just like TED) – and was a great gathering of the minds (just like TED) – and had some amazing speakers and some so-so speakers (just like TED). Unlike TED however – BIL wasn’t united around a single theme or focus. And this lack of focus meant that it was harder to find connections and “Aha” moments between the speakers. And “Aha” moments is exactly what TED is all about.
Sure TED boasts a healthy line-up of celebrities – and it’s great to say you sat next to Cameron Dias or Al Gore for 4 days at a conference. But the real value behind TED is something much greater – or it wouldn’t have endured this long and attracted such a wide, varied, and distinguished group of speakers and attendees.
So, what would make BIL more like TED?
- Loose the Open Grid Concept. For me, BIL was a lesser version of a BarCamp. Why? Speakers were all over the place – with no real rhyme or reason. At a BarCamp, at least technology is a common theme. Alternately – if they keep the Open Grid – they should design tracks around specific categories or subjects to help facilitate those very important “Aha” moments.
- More Great Speakers should be recruited ahead of time. I sat through nearly a dozen presentations throughout the course of 2 days – and not one of them – including former TED speakers Aubrey de Gray and Garrett Lisi stirred in me the emotions I was hoping to experience.
- Once a speaker begins – the doors to that room should be shut and locked until the next speaker begins. People can feel free to leave with the understanding that they can’t return until the next speaker’s time slot begins. It’s very distracting, not to mention rude to have people coming and going throughout a presentation. BarCamp and other User Generated Conferences often employ “The Law of Two Feet” – which states that if an attendee doesn’t like a presentation – he should get up and move to another one. The problem is – if BIL ever wants to come even close to the experience of TED – then there has to be a higher standard.
- More Bonding Activities. TEDsters spend 4 days together – with little to no free time. They eat together, watch presentations together, and attend after hours events together. They bond with one another – emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. And at the end of those 4 days – they are exhausted, mentally drained, but inspired. And because they have bonded together – they can help keep that feeling of inspiration alive – and possibly take actions to make the world a better place.
- Start with a Central Theme. This year’s TED revolved around 10 Questions – with each speaker answering one of the 10 Questions in their own way. The Theme doesn’t have to limit a speaker – but it should help them focus and help create connections between talks – and ultimate those “Aha” moments.
BIL was an experiment – and in my opinion a successful one. I’m proud to say that I attended the first ever BIL Conference – but I’m also hoping that next year we can take that experience to a whole new level.
What about TED?
My friend Seth called me out on something the other day. He said – “It really concerns me when you say things like – I’d go to TED, but I can’t afford it.’” Granted 6K dollars for a conference is a lot of money taken as a whole – but when you think about it – that’s only an extra $500.00 a month for 12 months.
Given what you know about TED – do you think it’s worth saving an extra $500.00 a month to attend? And if you were invited – would you go?
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I just have no idea where that extra $500 a month would come from…I make a decent amount and live very frugally, but there is no “extra.”
I agree that BIL and TED are not equals. I have not been to either so perhaps I shouldn’t comment. I will anyway.
I considered going to BIL this year. But with Etech and SXSW right after it I was not willing to stress the system. I probably would have for TED. Or skipped Etech to attend and still get some work done.
Regarding TED being elitist, well, frankly it is. I applied a few years ago and it isn’t that I got rejected specifically. I just never heard ANYTHING back. Talk about deafening silence! Is that a hint? Perhaps they have taken elitism too far if folks don’t even get a reply, or maybe they are just too busy. But it was enough to make me not apply again.
On the other hand if BIL wants to create a top level conference it needs governance. Just like PostSecret is better than JuicyCampus specifically BECAUSE it has a theme and moderation, so too is TED the better deal IMHO.
Enjoyed your very honest blog post. Thanks!
$500 a week is a LOT if you are:
a) Young
b) Studying or in a not-high-class job
c) From a developing country
It’s people that fit those descriptions that should be represented more in conferences like TED. Yet because of this cost factor (not to mention things like airfare, visas, accommodation, etc) this crucial sector gets left out.
I wrote a post on this topic a few months ago: http://wannabeakp.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/no-cash-no-opportunity-the-big-thing-stopping-social-change-and-development/
Have you expressed these concerns to Cody? I’m sure he’s all for making the conference better.
TED may be elitist, and yes I would love to go, however right now just watching the lectures as podcasts from iTunes has been very beneficial.
Should they keep it as invitation only……. Absolutely!
I dunno, being realistic about not having the fat sum of $6000 isn’t silly or short-sighted, it’s smart. Justifying spending money you don’t have (or shouldn’t be spending) is how so many of us get into massive debt.
I dunno. I think it’s the self-organizing culture and its repercussions in attendee thinking that set BIL apart. Remember, there is a difference between order and control. The perceived chaos of BIL actually allows attendees to apply their own level of order. That’s remarkable!