I’m not so sure we’re going to have a keynote speaker at Gnomedex this year. It’s not for a lack of wanting or trying, but we simply do not take that label as lightly as some conference producers do (nor do we sell that title to any bidder). I feel that everybody attending Gnomedex is our keynote – whether they’re participating on stage or in the audience. These people ARE the conference. The tone is set by everybody, so long as the tuning fork is resonating at a harmonic frequency (so to speak).

I looked up the definition of “keynote” on Google, just to make sure I wasn’t too far off the mark with my beliefs:

Opening remarks of a meeting that set tone of the event and motivate attendees.

Hasn’t it always been the case that we share energy between one another throughout the course of the weekend? Wikipedia defines “keynote” in deeper terms:

A keynote in literature, music or public speaking is the principal underlying theme of a larger idea — a literary story, an individual musical piece or event. At political or industrial conventions and expositions and at academic conferences, the keynote address or keynote speech is delivered to set the underlying tone and summarize the core message or most important revelation of the event.

As a lifeform, Gnomedex continues to evolve. Its strength is found in empowering each participant with energy and ideas. Energy. Ideas. Technology. Traditionally, Gnomedex has been a zeitgeist-type event – which is a commodity concept, save the uniqueness of our community and event design and execution.

Should we keep pushing for a keynote, play something in its stead, or suspend the “need” for a keynote altogether?