This is the current version of the speaker information post having been updated once. The update added the theme announced for the event.
- Introduction
- The Benefits of Speaking at WordCamp Toronto 2018
- The Selection Process
- What We’re Looking For
- Your Role As A Speaker
- What You Need To Know About Submissions
- Tips for Applicants
- Respect One and Another
- Some Additional Expectations of Speakers
- Important Speaker Dates
- Contact
Introduction
Speaker applications are now open.
The theme of the event is Gutenberg and the WordPress of Tomorrow.
Read about the theme and what it means for speaker submissions in the Gutenberg and the WordPress of Tomorrow theme announcement post. Then view the updated talk ideas post. In the event that there is any inconsistency between this post and the announcement post, the latter prevails.
Talks for all skill levels are welcome. A presentation on what you learned setting up your very first website can be just as valuable as a technical walk-through of the changes Gutenberg is making to the WordPress experience.
We don’t require or expect you to be famous, an expert, a programmer, specifically credentialed or anything like that. If you’ve never spoken at a conference before, don’t let that hold you back! What we ask is that you present your chosen topic passionately, knowledgeably and respectfully.
We’ve provided some talk ideas (updated) to get you going.
The Benefits of Speaking at WordCamp Toronto 2018
- The opportunity to be heard by a broad audience, in person, on our live stream and on WordCamp | WordPress.tv.
- That warm fuzzy feeling that comes from giving back to your community and being acknowledged by your peers.
- Free admission to WordCamp Toronto.
- An invitation to the speakers dinner.
The Selection Process
The call for speakers closes Monday, October 15th, 2018 at midnight EDT. Once the deadline has passed, we will begin reviewing applications. Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications on Wednesday, October 31st, 2018. If you submit more than one application, you will receive one response.
Featuring our local WordPress talent and users is a WordCamp priority and preference will be given to local speakers. However, if you live outside the GTA, don’t let this discourage you. Each submission will considered.
What We’re Looking For
The ideal speaker has a WordPress-related topic about which they are passionate and that they can present with useful and attractive slides and detailed, coherent explanations. Designers, bloggers, businesses, developers and users are all welcome to apply. And yes, your topic must be specific to WordPress.
Show us what you’ve made with WordPress and explain how you did it, or what you learned in the process. Give us concrete examples—code snippets, important lessons you learned, advice on how to avoid specific problems and so on.
We reserve the right to refuse any application.
Your Role As A Speaker
- Speakers are given free admission to WordCamp Toronto and an invitation to the speakers dinner but will not be otherwise compensated or reimbursed in any way. Guests of speakers must purchase a ticket to attend WordCamp Toronto.
- Speaking at WordCamp is not an opportunity for self promotion or to promote your own theme, plugin, service or business. We don’t allow selling from the front of the room or stage.
- Be prepared to submit your presentation slides in advance and/or to review your presentation with us prior to the event—this is not optional.
- We plan to record all sessions and submit the videos to WordPress.tv. By applying to speak you agree to having your session recorded and published on that service.
What You Need To Know About Submissions
Talks for all skill levels and topics are welcome.
- WordCamps are volunteer-driven events and speaking is a way of volunteering. As a speaker, you are volunteering your time to create and deliver the presentation and attend the event.
- Sessions will be approximately 45 minutes.
- Spell WordPress correctly—capital_P please—and respect the WordPress logo and trademarks.
- If you are distributing any WordPress derivatives which include WordPress plugins and themes, they need to be 100% GPL.
- Every attendee must be respectful of the WordPress community and the WordCamp Code of Conduct.
- While we do advocate for diversity and variety among speakers, our general policy is that we don’t consider the race, sex, religion or any other factor of the prospective speaker to play any part in our selection process—we only consider the talk title and description and the ability of the person to present it.
You can propose multiple topics by submitting a speaker application for each topic. We allow a maximum of three submissions from an applicant. If you choose to submit more than three, the first three will be the only ones considered.
Tips for Applicants
- Use your real, full name (first and last).
- A clear talk title is better than a clever one—don’t make us (or attendees) work to figure out what your talk is about.
- Provide a detailed presentation description. Your talk description/abstract defines the exact topic about which you want to talk. Descriptions that are vague, unhelpful, or incomplete may not be considered. Explain what attendees will learn or get out of the session.
- Submit your proposed topic title, description, and your bio in third person, as if it were the final version to be printed or posted on the website.
- Don’t include notes to us in your presentation description. There is a separate field for notes if you need to send us a message.
- Don’t submit a presentation that is already on WordPress.tv or you have given previously in the Toronto region. As the WordCamp Organizer Handbook puts it in Speaking at a WordCamp, WordCamps pride themselves on having unique content.
- Your talk must be directly related to WordPress and, accordingly, applicable and relevant to our audience.
- Skip the hype, talks about making money, six-figures, and “killing it.” Focus on helping people do more with WordPress and do better with WordPress.
Respect One and Another
This is an event for WordPress users of all ages. Your presentation and all of its all text, images, videos or other content must be free of offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or disability and not make any use of nudity, profanity or sexually explicit content.
Some Additional Expectations of Speakers
Part of the mission of WordCamp Toronto is to provide a great experience for all members of the WordPress community that attend. To that end, we ask speakers to agree to or abide by the following:
- Review and agree to the Code of Conduct.
- Sign the A/V release form.
- Provide your slides to the speaker committee two weeks prior to the event as instructed.
What are you waiting for?
Apply now to speak at WordCamp Toronto 2018.
Important dates:
- Submissions close Monday, October 15th, 2018 at midnight.
- Selections will be made by Wednesday, October 31st, 2018.
- All applicants will be notified in the following week whether their applications have been accepted.
- Speakers selected will be announced at the beginning of November.
Please understand that, as volunteers, we won’t not be able to provide a detailed response to each submission.
If you have any questions, contact me at mailto:wcyyz18+speakers@gmail.com.
Robin Macrae
Co-Organizer, WPToronto & WordCamp Toronto 2018