[hackerspaces] Fwd: [austin-hacker-space] Speaking at Defcon

[Nick Farr (hackerspaces.org)]

On Sun, May 9, 2010 at 16:14, Matthew McCabe <matt at mrmccabe.com> wrote:
> I think it is important to have a hackerspace talk ever year at Defcon

Has anyone noticed that it's a GOOD THING that hackerspaces are so
common that we complain the HOWTO talk has been "been done to death"?

However good that is, there are STILL lots of cities, throughout the
world that either don't have Hackerspaces or have trouble getting them
started.  Some people from the *same city* ended up meeting in the
post-talk session at the last Defcon.

> Again, I propose a 15-20 minute talk about how one hackerspace, AHS,
> started as an example of the good, bad, and ugly of starting a space.

Having given this talk several times, I hate to say that it rarely
works out.  It generally leaves people feeling more discouraged than
empowered.  However, the big spectacle of a talk is STILL IMPORTANT.

Give an all positive talk explaining how Hackerspaces have plugged
into various non-hackerish networks and built amazing things.
Makerbot is just one example of many.  Uncover the non-obvious ones.
Perhaps show non-hackerspace folk how to get involved in the movement.

Get their stories, perhaps get them to submit you some video, and
stitch together a talk that demonstrates how/why Hackerspaces are
important.  THEN hold a working session after the talk and go over the
problems/specifics and how to overcome.  Stick around the Hardware
Hacking Village to help direct people to the right place.

Another idea you might want to pitch to DefCon is to build another
"Prototype Hackerspace" like we ran at Defcon 17.  I can give you
pointers on what we did for that.

Nick Farr