Event Replay ~ RE BarCampSTL Pictures and Video

RE BarCamp St. Louis was a blast today!

We had a great turnout with a good balance between social media veterans and those heading straight to our beginner track. Throughout the entire day I saw lots of smiles and overheard hallway conversations on just about every topic you can imagine.

In typical BarCamp fashion, the 8 of us who got together for dinner last night decided to change up the schedule at the last minute and split the hour long sessions into shorter 45 minute sessions so we could squeeze in more topics.

After a full morning and afternoon of breakout sessions, you would think that everyone would get sluggish in the afternoon. Not true at RE BarCampSTL!

We actually planned for 4 afternoon sessions, but the participants were so engaged in discussions that we we almost had to kick people out of the room at the end of every single session so the next one could start. By late afternoon, running a tad behind schedule, we ended up going from session 3 straight to our networking open bar.

But as the conversations continued over food and beer, no one seemed to mind.

Enjoy the video and some pictures of the day’s events.

Chris Draper (@FPO), Brian Copeland (@NashvilleBrian) and Bobbie Howe (@bobbiehowe)

Brad Korn and Rich Bailey presented well attended sessions.

See more pictures of RE BarCamp St. Louis on our Flickr group page (and make sure you add your pictures to the group!)

BarCamp Venue FloorPlan

http://www.FloorPlanOnline.com/63255

The link above is the interactive floorplan of the Stegeman Facility.  The Venue for REBCSTL!

This link and Tour is  a work in progress – We will add more info to the floorplan including pics of the event and class schedule.  Ill set up a way for you to participate and send photos as well!

Nitty Gritty Details for RE BarCamp St. Louis

We’re only 3 days away from RE BarCampSTL and the registrations continue to come in every day.

Here is a rundown of what will be happening to help you get the most out of the event.

Registration:

Yes, Re BarCamp is a free event for attendees. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t cost money. We have sponsors covering breakfast, lunch, the venue and an open bar.

Since we get charged by the person for food and drink, we need to know if you plan to attend. We’re not saying that we won’t let you in if you show up at the door and haven’t pre-registered, but please be considerate and sign up so we can get an accurate head count.

The same goes for canceling your reservation if your plans change and you won’t be able to attend.

But I can only attend part of the day. Can I still come?

Of course.

My friend called me on Sunday and said she wanted to come too. Is it too late?

Absolutely not. We should have enough space to accommodate anyone who shows up at the door, though they may be on their own for food if we get an overwhelming number of surprise attendees.

Presentations:

As we’ve mentioned in prior posts, anyone is welcome to submit a request to do a presentation. In order to avoid having 5 people plan similar presentations, please leave a comment on this post with your topic.

If you can’t be there all day and need a specific time slot, let us know that too.

When you sign in on Monday morning, you will also be given an opportunity to submit a request to be a presenter.

Breakout sessions will be one hour long and will start at 9:30 am, 10:45 am, 1 pm and 2:15 pm. Since BarCamp’s are designed to be interactive, you should allow some time for discussion or questions.

We will have projectors and screens, so feel free to put something together on your laptop if you think visual aids will help. The plan is to have 3-4 breakout sessions during each time slot.

Depending on how popular your topic is, expect anywhere between 10-50 people attending. If you plan on bringing anything to hand out, you should arrive with copies already made.

Event Schedule:

Here’s an update on the day’s activities:

8:30 AM – Doors open

8:30-9:00 AM – Registration and breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 AM – Welcome and orientation

9:30 – 10:30 AM – Breakout session 1

10:45 – 11:45 AM – Breakout session 2

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM – Lunch and networking

1:00 – 2:00 PM – Breakout session 3

2:15 – 3:15 PM – Breakout session 4

3:30 – 4:00 PM – Social Media Mastermind discussions

4:00 – 6:00 PM – Open bar (beer, wine & soda) & networking

Evening – Tweetup after event to be announced

What to Expect:

BarCamp’s are relaxed events. Dress is casual or business casual.

The event is put together by a handful of volunteers who are trying to pull this together in between selling homes and running their own businesses, so while you can expect a fabulous learning event, don’t expect perfect event coordination.

If you don’t like how the chairs are set up for your presentation, move them.

If a breakout session is out of chairs when you come in, pull a chair off the stacks that will be around or grab one from another room. Or sit on the floor.

If you are in the middle of a great conversation that will offer more value then any of the breakout sessions, find a quiet corner and keep talking.

If you don’t like any of the topics during a breakout session period, find a few other people and start your own discussion.

A big part of the BarCamp experience is networking. Bring lots of business cards so you can keep in touch.

WiFi and Laptops:

The Stegton Banquet Center has free WiFi and we will have plenty of power strips available for you to recharge those batteries if needed. Bring your laptop, iPad or netbook so you can take notes and try out things during the sessions.

If you are on twitter, be sure to use the official hashtag #REBCSTL when tweeting about the event.

Still not sure you should bring your laptop with you?

If you are new to social media and are hoping to get started on twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or one of the many other social media options, you can probably even find someone who will help you download apps and get signed up.

Don’t have a laptop?

That’s ok. You can take notes the old fashioned way.

Questions:

If I left something out, just leave a comment below or send an email to Karen Goodman or Jessica Hickok.

We can also be reached on twitter (@karenstl or @sugarcube).

Waterview Hotel Room above the Casino

Nope, not Vegas- But it has a water view, so its dare I say…better?

Out of towners, or locals that want to hang out – make your Reservations at the Ameristar Casino Hotel.  These rooms are nice, and book for around $300 – but we have a special REBCSTL group rate.  Mention the Code word  and get your room for $109.

The Casino is the location for the Tweet up Sunday night, AND the post – post party Monday night. (Amerisports Pub 6pm)

Located on the Bank of the Missouri River, 1 exit East of the REBCSTL Event location.

Call the hotel at 636-940-4300 and ask for reservations – then ask for the Rebar Stl rate.

Ive also been told Midwest Hospitality is not an extra fee- So I’m booking my room for Sunday and Monday night right now!

Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa

One Ameristar Blvd.

St. Charles, Missouri 63301

What Will You Teach at REBCSTL?

Now don’t freak out. You don’t have to teach a session at Real Estate BarCamp St. Louis.

But the reason that BarCamps are so valuable is because the content is driven by the people attending.

YOU get to decide what we talk about. YOU get to decide what direction the conversation turns. YOU get to decide if the event offers the best education you’ve ever experienced or just more of the same old thing.

So consider putting together a short presentation to share with everyone else. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. If you need a projector or some other equipment, let us know and we’ll see if we can wrangle it up for you.

Maybe you could teach…

• Facebook Basics – the difference between profile pages, business pages and groups
• LinkedIn vs Facebook vs Twitter
• Should you start a blog?
• Which blogging platform should you use?
• Using video to market homes (or yourself)
• Photo sharing sites and how they can help you build your business
• How to take great pictures of your listings
• Tips for hiring a website designer
• Should you use a template or a custom website
• Choosing a domain name for your website
• Branding your business
• Facebook lists
• Pros of cons of iPhone, Blackberry, Smartphones and Droid
• Should you buy an iPad or Tablet PC
• Text message call capture systems for yard signs – do they work?
• Why are blogs better than static websites?
• How to convert internet leads
• Using MLS data in your listing presentation
• What exactly is twitter?
• Mobile apps and how they will change real estate
• Location based marketing (Foursquare and Gowalla)
• Facebook – business or just personal
• How to market your listings on Facebook without getting unfriended
• Electronic signatures for contracts
• Single property websites (or postlets/vflyer)
• Syndicating your listings
• Top Producer database tips
• What is the best way to manage your database
• Keep your data safe with online backups
• Using Q&A forums to find clients
• Email newsletters – create your own vs subscribing to a service
• Using the internet to dominate a niche market
• Using video with to preview homes for your clients
• YouTube and how to use it in your business
• Getting the word out about your open house

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Since BarCamps traditionally focus mostly on technology and social media, most of my suggestions have a technology twist. But don’t feel limited to technology topics.

If you have some knowledge that could benefit real estate professionals, go for it!

*** Keep in mind that the event attendees will be dealing with different MLSs and will be coming from many different brokerages from across (hopefully) multiple states. If you plan a session around using your local area’s specific tech tools, half of your audience may end up sneaking out the back to find something more useful.

Invite Your Facebook Friends to REBCSTL

I just set up an event posting on Facebook to help spread the word about Real Estate BarCamp St. Louis.

Though you don’t have to RSVP on Facebook, we hope that you will pop over to the Facebook page and let your friends know you are attending (when you RSVP that you are attending, it will be posted on your news feed for all your friends to see).

Even better, invite all of your real estate contacts to attend too!

Make sure you also officially register at our EventBrite site. This will reserve your FREE ticket. Space is limited and with the latest round of publicity, we expect seats to fill up fast!

MAR Conference Attendees Invited to RE BarCamp St. Louis

From June 15-17, Realtors from all over the Missouri will be descending on St. Louis to attend the Missouri Association of Realtors quarterly business conference.

If you are coming all the way to St. Louis anyway, make sure you come a day early and attend the Real Estate BarCamp St. Louis.

What is a BarCamp?

It’s a great chance for you to learn and share information on technology and how it impacts the real estate business. You can read more about what a BarCamp is here:

• What is RE BarCamp?
• Who Should Attend RE BarCamp St. Louis?

So sign up TODAY. Tickets are limited and you don’t want to miss this great leaning and networking opportunity!

What is a RE BarCamp?

Bar Camp events bring together anyone using technology who wants to share and learn. The Real Estate BarCamps are specifically geared toward technology and education for real estate professionals.

The RE BarCamp website explains it well:

RE BarCamp is a BarCamp for Real Estate (R.E. BarCamp). What that means- the event is not structured like a typical planned conference. Every session is not planned out in advance. Nobody is paid to deliver a session. Anybody can deliver a session and attendees are strongly encouraged to participate.

How does that happen?

When you arrive at the event, you will have the opportunity to put your name in a slot to facilitate a session. The number of sessions delivered at any given time depends on the venue and number of attendees. After registration is over, a board will be put up that details each session and what room they are located in throughout the day. The length of the sessions varies at each RE BarCamp event.

If anyone can deliver a session, won’t some of the presentations be terrible?
Possibly, but it it not typical. Some of the best and brightest minds attend these events. They lead sessions and they sit in on sessions. RE BarCamp sessions are group sessions. They are not meant to be presentations by a single individual. Because the audience participates, sessions that may start out a little rocky often adjust and get redirected by the participation and collaboration of the audience. Presentations promoting specific commercial products or companies are discouraged. If you feel like you’re being sold, or if a session is really bad and your participation can’t turn it around, practice the rule of two feet- get up and walk out.

That sounds like chaos. How is that productive?
It can be a little chaotic, but some of the best ideas and invention are derived out of chaos. If you go in looking for a very structured day, you will be disappointed. What you get out of an RE BarCamp event is what you put into it.

What topics are covered in the sessions?
This depends completely on who volunteers to lead a session. The sessions are frequently related to technology usage in real estate but cover any topic from mortgages, to photography to philanthropy. If you want to hear a specific session, facilitate it!

Check out this video of a San Francisco RE BarCamp. Keep in mind that every event will look a bit different depending on the venue. Come with an open mind, prepared to go with the flow and to meet new people, and you’ll have a great time.

Should You Attend RE BarCamp St. Louis?

If you work in any facet of real estate, then you should attend RE BarCamp St. Louis!

While many of the attendees will be real estate agents, we expect to have lots of people in real estate related industries too.

• Lenders
• Title companies
• Appraisers
• Inspectors
• Rehabbers
• Investors
• Property managers
• Real estate technology vendors

You should also consider attending if you work in a business that could benefit real estate agents. Maybe you sell office supplies. Maybe you design websites. Maybe you have a restaurant where an agent might sit with clients to write a contract while grabbing lunch.

Get creative.

How could your business benefit by being connected to real estate agents? How could you benefit real estate professionals by sharing your skills with them?

Maybe you don’t work in real estate or have a product that real estate agents need. That’s ok. If you like houses, commercial properties, technology, social media, free training or great networking, then you should join us!

Just remember, all of the training sessions will have a real estate spin to them!

Selling Not Allowed:

I know I just suggested that if you have a service or product that could be a benefit to real estate agents, then you should consider attending.

Just remember, the format and culture of a BarCamp means that this is about networking and education and sharing. If you do a presentation and it is about your specific product, rather than how your industry as a whole can add value, you will probably have people walk out on your session and might just lose more business than you gain.

BarCamp etiquette is that there is no pitching your services or selling your product. You are welcome to tell people what you do, and if someone asks you about your services, then go for it. The best way to get business from attending a BarCamp is to simply network. Bring lots of business cards. Show people your smarts. Show them how helpful you can be. Show them that you are someone they want to work with.

Still trying to figure out how you can get your literature into REBCSTL so everyone will want to hire you?

Sign up to be a sponsor.

We’ll talk about who you are on this website, you’ll get recognized at the event AND there will be a table where you can leave some literature for people to pick up. Sponsorships start at $100.

Or offer us some door prize giveaways. Everyone seems to stop and listen when freebies are being given away.

Restaurant gift certificates, free social media/blogging training, computer tune-ups, graphic design, photo shoots…all GREAT giveaways!

Social Playlist Suggestions

What makes you groove? What tunes inspire you and excite you?  We want to know.

We plan on keeping things moving at RE Barcamp St. Louis and will have a DJ spinning a killer playlist, but since barcamps are about YOU, then we need to know what YOU want.

You Pick The Music.

(or someone with no musical taste will)

MC Hammer or Nine Inch Nails?  Steven Tyler or Taylor Swift?  Nickelback or 50 Cent?

Next time you tap your foot to a cool song, let us know! Three Easy ways to build the REBCSTL Social Playlist:

A) Tweet your song suggestions to the hashtag #REBCSTL

B) Drop your suggestions via the form below

C) Or let everyone know by leaving your suggestion in the comments and we’ll add YOUR music to the queue.

*Yes, you may enter more than one suggestion.

**Yes, we are looking for someone to Sponsor the DJ – know someone in St. Louis Radio?