#Unconv13 ...the Unconvention

I don’t write usually in English as most of my readers are Spanish natives but, this time around, there are some thoughts I wanted to share with regards to Unconvention 2013 and the work we did last week with EYIF in Brussels. For those who don’t know EYIF stands for European Young Innovators Forum, a self-explanatory title to an association created to help entrepreneurs from all over Europe. Every year they organize a wonderful event called Unconvention, which certainly is a convention… out of the box. The point that I find very attractive about this is that, under one roof, you will find

 the two very ends of the industry:

• Those at the top of the food chain, ie. IBM, Microsoft, European Space Agency, etc. 
• And those who are just risking their savings and part of their life to pursue a dream: the entrepreneurs.

I was proposed to jump in and collaborate producing the videos and become the audiovisual director, along with a team of enthusiastic people who would be in charge of various facets of the event: logistics, organization, marketing, on-line exposure, social media, etc.

Being a “young entrepreneurs” event these last two elements came without saying, hence I felt at ease with the initiative but above all with the team involved. We did produce a video created as a build up for the event, and put together with bits and pieces from the previous year as well as some further interviews we performed at EYIF´s HQ in Brussels. All these it was to be delivered by social media to enforce the pre-campaign and promote people to come and join Unconvention and then we thought:

“Social Media and video are intimately related cause, without a doubt, la raison d'être of the first (and in particular of Twitter) it is its immediacy and capability to reach a large amount of people in such a short time. Therefore video is a definite tool that works as leverage to the activities and messages delivered”

So we proposed to come over for the Unconvention with a team to record videos as well as interviews, and have them delivered and uploaded on the day to, as surfers would say, “take advantage of the wave”. 

I arrived with Juan Alfonso from Grupo deMedios de Televisión on a Wednesday evening prior to the event, and felt already the energy and things going on around the Unconvention. Someone asked as with a slight touch of sarcasm, how we would cope with the pressure, and we remembered good all Chuck Norris “we eat pressure with warm milk for breakfast”... event though judging the pizza packs we also have them for dinner.

We were at ease, in an innovative environment and surrounded by good willing people trying to do their best and make the best of the Unconvention, who were to let the creative juices flow and left freedom for us to move around and do what we know best: to tell stories… and it happened.

On the day people kept pouring in and started exchanging cards, contacts and ideas from the very begining. The atmosphere was joyful and Juan Alfonso, helped with an ever helpful and sarcastic Alda, came up with the first video which only pretended to print the atmosphere. 

Later on further videos such as the one of the big data workshop were made and uploaded on the spot, thanx to the great job of Juan Alfonso, technically, creatively and (above all) personally, superb. Alda was bringing the interviewees in her newly created position as production manager, which she performed beyond her duties. At the same time Martin Saive, great artist from Brussels, started printing the ideas that were flowing in the air:

The second day was even better and Juan and Alda even had time to pose at the wonderful site of day 2, Egmont Palace:

The panels kept going and ideas were flowing:

...and Martin kept drawing them and making them tangible:

We had to rush off to the airport back to Spain and had a last moment to pose with Nico, and a sweet/sour feeling that we were leaving something special behind, but also the foundation of a great friendship and future projects, cause (as the Spanish poet said) "the path is done by walking", es decir: "se hace camino al andar". Gracias a todos, sabeis quién sois.

 

Unconvention has been a great success and we hope to carry on working with this bunch of young enthusiasts, all of which know of no language barriers, no hierarchical or bureaucratical obstructions, and do believe in the power of individual togetherness. Thanks again for your trust on us and warm attentions as well as sincere congratulations, not to forget the interviewees for their patience and always constructive and gentle character. This is Europe at its best.

Thanks to you all.

José Egea