Call for Speakers
The 2020 Call for Speakers is Open
Topics, Tracks, and Technologies – What We’re Looking For
Topics we’re looking to highlight this year tracks to be featured, and technology examples for anyone interested can be found here –
We are seeking submissions from established technologists with many years of experience, technologists, and community members that may be new to “open”, and everything in between. In addition, we are proudly seeking talks from traditionally underrepresented groups and organizations. In short, we’re seeking a diverse lineup as we firmly believe it delivers the most value to attendees.
Nearly 1,000 submissions were received for consideration in 2019 and just over 250 speakers and talks were featured at the event itself.
Talk Formats
- 15-minute keynote in front of a plenary audience.
- 15-minute “burst” talk designed to highlight a topic/micro-topic delivered on a traditional track. Much like a 45-minute session, but shorter.
- Traditional 45-minute session.
- Extended 1.5 – 4.0 workshop session.
Travel Assistance Policy for Speakers
The team at All Things Open considers all travel assistance requests from speakers on a case-by-case basis. We’re a small team/organization and proudly keep registration costs low to maximize accessibility. Because of this, our budget is limited. We do give priority consideration to independent and historically underrepresented individuals as diversity and inclusion remain important goals and have been from the beginning. If you have questions or would like to speak to us about our policy please contact us directly at [email protected].
Why Speak at All Things Open 2020?
Access to a Large and Sophisticated Audience
All Things Open is the largest open-source/tech/web event on the East Coast of the U.S. In 2019 nearly 5,000 attended from 41 U.S. states and 27 countries. Keynote talks are routinely delivered to thousands (3,000+ in 2019) and breakout sessions are often overflowing. In addition, attendee “type” varies widely and encompasses technologists, decision-makers, and those in the education space.
The 2019 Attendee Breakdown:
- Engineer / Scientist – 25.62%
- C-level / IT Manager – 11.65%
- Developer / Programmer / Designer – 36.2%
- Education (professor, student, university IT staff) – 6.5%
- Sysadmin / Database Admin – 3.8%
- “Other” (BA, QA, Community, etc) – 16.23%
Tremendous Networking Opportunities
We place great importance on networking and meeting new people, and we structure the event with this in mind. Multiple socials will be available before, during, and after the conference as well as after-hour events hosted by partners designed to promote education, communication, and sharing.
Speaker Only Networking Opportunities
We fully understand speakers find tremendous value in meeting other speakers and sharing information, ideas and expertise. We host a stand-alone speaker lounge (entirely optional) as well as a Speaker/Sponsor dinner designed to give you additional face-to-face opportunities. We also frequently facilitate introductions between speakers and generally help ensure ROI in every way possible.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We strongly feel a diverse event bringing together diverse people and backgrounds results in the best possible experience for everyone. In 2019 we partnered with more than 15 historically underrepresented organizations to offer scholarships and ensure attendance and participation.
In addition to attendees, we consistently feature programming focusing on the topics of diversity and inclusion. Examples include the stand-alone Diversity & Inclusion in Technology and Open Source event (it took place Sunday, October 13 in 2019), a panel discussion on D&I Best Practices, and a session on Race in Technology. Similar programming is planned for 2020 and into the future.