Great slides would be any of the following:

• funny
• obtuse
• goofily analytical with graphs and matrices
• pushing the boundary of good taste without ever crossing it
• would pretty much fill any basic color background

In return, we’ll give you credit on the powerpoint and blast it on the internet in podcamp style.

Now, if you do not know what battledecks is – take a look at this video of a Battledecks competition from SXSW.   Mike Monteiro also released some sample Battledecks slides.

I can’t say much more except that yes, for sure, we are going to do Podcamp Halifax in 2010.   Once we confirm the location, we will be updating the wiki where people will be invited to offer their presentation on whatever topic interests them.    Then, we’ll open up the Eventbrite site like we did last year.   Also, if you have Google Wave, you can find a Wave that discusses possible presentation topics.  Just do a search for ‘with:public podcamp’ and you’ll find us!   The twitter tag is podcamphfx, just like last year.

Last year we sold out all 200 available tickets and put 50 more in a waiting list.   That means you probably want to book yourself in early!   The event will still be free, and yes, we will be looking for sponsors.

Thanks Cleverclevergirl

So much for thinking we would have about 100 people!   On Thursday, January 15th, we sold out the last of 200 tickets to Podcamp Halifax!    We are absolutely overwhelmed by the response for this event and cannot wait to meet everyone.

We do have a waiting list available.   You can get on the waiting list by contacting either Craig or Ryan via Twitter  or sending an email to podcamphalifax [at] gmail.    We are going to do our best to make sure that everyone who really wants in gets to come.

Two generous volunteers have already started up our Adopt-a-Podcamper program to match visitors with free lodgings courtesy of local social media enthusiasts. Hey, if you can hit them up on Twitter then you can certainly crash on their couch, right? If you’re looking for a place to rest your head after a long day of innovation, you can submit your name here and we’ll do all we can to help you out.Also, for anyone with an extra bed in the Halifax area, please let us know if you’re able to host a Podcamper. Don’t worry, they shouldn’t need much more than some triscuits and a wifi connection…

Special Hotel Rates:

If you prefer to be waited on with a harbour view (or close to it), take advantage of our Podcamp rate at the Halifax Marriott. Located directly on the harbour and connected by pedway to the Casino for all you high-rollers, you’ll be a two-dollar, eight-minute ferry ride away from the Podcamp facilities and just a short walk from all of downtown Halifax’s many amenities.

You can book your guestroom now by calling the main reservation line at 1-800-943-6760 or do so in typical Podcamp-style online by visiting www.halifaxmarriott.com. Be sure to quote PODPODA as the group booking code.

The Marriott offer is valid until January 14, 2009.  Let us know if you book after this date to see about extensions.

Also if you want to wakeup and roll down the street to the event within seconds the Super 8 Hotel in Downtown Dartmouth has also offered attendees an $ 89.00 for those who want to be right up the street.  Just ask for the rate assoicated to “Podcamp”.

Thanks to both businesses for the offer.

Thanks to orange_beard from flickr.

In the next few weeks, the Podcamp Halifax team is going to be asking people to host sessions. We are going to start with the people who have expressed interest already and then, in January, we are going to pose the question to the wider community.

One of the tenets of the unconference movement is that the participants get a lot of say in what their unconference is going to look like. Once we get to the Alderney Gate Library, we are going to have to be and act like a community, take initiative on what excites us and finally, ensure that Chris Brogan‘s first podcamp rule — that “All attendees must be treated equally. Everyone is a rockstar.” be realized.

The “rock star” poses a question about how we choose speakers.   We could have hundreds of rock stars in the house and comparatively few speaking opportunities for those rock stars to show their stuff.  Any way we can let people show their talents would be more than welcome.

One suggestion I have is that anyone wishing to speak frame the title of their session as a statement that begins “I want to learn about. . .”.  This strategy would turn the “speaking” sessions on their head by making the audience part of the conversation.   It will also help people retain the sessions because people learn best when they are able to teach something to others.   It could result in great things as well — I’d be really pleased if a session got like-minded people together to create a new business, a collaborative project or a new community group.

On the other hand, sometimes a session needs to include a demo, or show off some of the latest new media tools. We can be prepared for that too.

What would you like to share about New Media? What do you want to learn more about? How can you be a rock star at Podcamp Halifax 2009?