So, how was the Web 2.0 Expo in Berlin? Well, I arrived on Sunday. Just in time for the second day of Barcamp Berlin, which was – as Barcamps always are – a lot of fun. Especially since it was truly international. Many of the attendees arrived for the Barcamp and stayed on for the Web 2.0 Expo/ Open.

I met so many energetic, nice and interesting people at the Barcamp and at the Web 2.0 Open. The same applies to the official Web 2.0 Expo, but… I don’t know, maybe the unconference style of idealistic Barcamps have spoiled me for conferences for ever. What do I mean?

There is a special philosophy about Barcamps. Speakers appoint themselves and are chosen by the audience. They are usually very savvy on their favourite subject. You can get in touch with them immediately, ask questions and discuss issues. Every speaker can adapt to new expectations easily and change the course of her/his presentation according to the audience. You can also schedule brainstorming sessions, where everybody contributes their thoughts, experiences, or know how and ideas on a specific topic. The food is usually good and there is plenty. You can move at ease and you will run into the same people often. All of this for free thanks to sponsors.

In short, it’s very different from official conferences. Where you have to get in line to ask a question to the panelists or speaker. Where panelists will present their same very dull corporate slides (because usually only corporate speakers are invited to attract the masses), regardless of the audience (e.g. explaining that authenticity and credibility are what the Web 2.0 is all about). I actually dozed off in the panel about Web 2.0 and corporate communications (unfortunately manned by an Austrian compatriote), because it was so boring and not worth my time. Which is probably because these corporate speakers have presented their dull slides so often, that they can barely stay awake themselves. Robert Basic wrote about this in his post (German). The food came in little paper bags. Despite of many sponsors the conference was very expensive.

At the Web 2.0 Open in the same building I had a blast á la unconference style. I was one of the pre-chosen speakers – on Travel 2.0 – and I listened to Stephanie Booth from Switzerland and to Francesco Ravanelli’s excellent presentation about European social networks and his project MyPacis.eu. Now, don’t get me wrong, I really loved the keynotes by Tim O’Reilly and Kathy Sierra. Some of the workshops were great as well. But the general consent was that the overall quality of the panels and presentations was low. Which is nothing new at conferences and maybe we were expecting too much. Or… Barcamps have ruined us for the rigid, unapproachable style of old-fashioned conferences.