This question came up on a discussion on a mailing list I am a participant of. Since I am helping coordinate the next LA Barcamp (sometime the end of October) I came up with this response:
Barcamp is the sum of the participants.
The basic infrastructure is taken care of by the organizers (the space, date, internet, rooms, getting the word out, etc) and anyone is invited to come. If you come, it is requested that you present/share some information.
You're an expert on something right? Put something together to share that knowledge. You don't even necessarily have to know what that is. And you don't have to do a session by yourself.
Last year there was a (what I thought) great session on GTD - David Allen's Getting Things Done style of organizing, that had 4 presentation participants. 2 of them met at the conference.
I personally like the geekiness or internet/software/techieness of the barcamp (and I've tried to keep that in the LA Geek Dinners). It's more than just a socialization hour. (Or at least, I would hope so.) It's meeting self-selected like minded people, sharing your expert knowledge (whether it be marketing, programming, organization or whatever).
BarCamp is the do-ocracy/burning man of conferences. Bring the best of yourself and an open mind. And then let the magic happen.
You will get out, what you put in.
David Markland also put together a video based on interviews from the last LA Barcamp to answer this exact question. I think he does a good job.
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