Sure, TED is the conference that attracts an incredible, self-congratulating lineup of speakers on “Technology, Entertainment, Design” but another conference is looking to step in and create a more accessible alternative. That conference is BIL.
Riding on the coattails of everyone’s favorite $6k genius conference, BIL is run along the same principles as TED and trying to get a good dialogue going between speakers and attendees. Who are the speakers? You are. Anyone can sign up to speak at BIL, for better or worse. The cost? Free dollars. Who’s running the show? You are. No one is “in charge” of BIL; conference anarchy is alive and well with this one.
While they can’t promise star power along the lines of TED (Felicity creator J.J. Abrams is among the creative “elite” scheduled to speak) BIL wants to spread ideas in a more DIY way. Okay, there’s no $100,000 prize plus “One Wish to Change the World”, but if you want to rage against the (TED) machine save your cash and head over to BIL.
TED is moving their conference from Monterey to Long Beach, Feb. 3 to 7. BIL will be nailing TED’s leftover attendees in Long Beach as well, Feb. 7 to 8.
(photo/design by Bill Erickson/Flickr)
