Gene, I love it when you get metaphysical like this. So I’m going to respond in kind.

As a veteran now of three barcampbanks on three successive weekends, on two coasts, I can report that each of the three camps were very different beasts. You are absolutely correct that it’s all about the people. That’s what makes these great. And because the people are different every time, the experience will be different every time. If you go into it expecting to, or trying to, recreate a previous ‘camp’ experience, you are only setting yourself up for disappointment.

BarCampBank SF was flavored by its collegiate setting, UC Berkeley, and by the Silicon Valley across the bay. Technology startups were front and center. BarCampBank NewEngland was held at America’s Credit Union Museum, so blending new technology with one hundred year old principles were the order of the day. BarCampMoneyNYC (which is officially a member of the BCB family despite its slightly different name), was all about entrepreneurship, angel and venture capital funding, with tech mixed in. Having a camp on the 40th story of a mid-town Manhattan skyscraper gave us a 30,000 foot view without having to be on a plane.

Three different camps, three different geographies, three different groups, three different flavours. The geography shapes the people, shapes the event.

By the way, the “Camp” flame is being fanned by gushing essays such as this. We’re excited to have BCBDallas, BCBCharleston, and BCB BC coming up, and now even BarCampBankMadison is being discussed. Thanks to Frederic Baud, Jean-Christophe Capelli, Jesse Robbins, and everyone else who is fostering the movement in the financial world. This is cool stuff growing stronger and stronger.

@rshevlin – I look forward to seeing your talking head next week!