Lorelle has been nagging me for a year, and I finally had the opportunity to attend my first (and definitely not my last) WordCamp here in Denver this past weekend. WordCast had a big live coverage bash all day long, and they even let me up on stage to do a presentation on podcasting with WordPress.

While I’m sure many of you have heard this spiel before, I simply have to blog about why WordCamps are the greatest things for anyone involved in the WordPress and blogging community, and why anyone involved needs to get to one. Now.

8. Because, somehow, everyone is photogenic. I don’t know how or why, but I haven’t yet seen a set of photos (and by photos I mean taken by an actual camera) taken at a WordCamp that don’t look great, and make everyone in it look at least partially respectable. There’s something to be said for that, right?

7. Because it’s all about the schwag. If you honestly have no better reason to get to a WordCamp, go simply to  pick up all sorts of cool stuff – stickers, buttons, bottles, books…

6. Because $20 for a day of education and entertainment plus a free t-shirt is nothing to sniff at. You’re not finding through the roof attendee prices here.

5. Because free inspiration is cool! Spending a day with bloggers talking about blogging is one of the greatest ways to get past that writer’s block that we’ve all had. Even if it ends up in writing another post about how great WordCamps are, inspiration comes from being around inspiring people – and those are the kind of people you’ll find at a WordCamp.

4. You’re no longer outside of the inside scoop. At many of these events, a prominent figure on the “inside” with WordPress – be it Matt Mullenweg, Jane Wells, Joseph Scott, Andy Skelton or whoever – can be found speaking and/or socializing, carrying with them a lot of the knowledge that won’t hit the blogs till a few days after. (Plus, you know you want to have the bragging rights on that one.)

3. Schmoozing galore. Go to a WordCamp for the ever-prevalent exchange of business cards, if you really have nothing else (because there’s enough that you really should). All sorts of great contacts can be found there, and wonderful network connections can be made in the best way possible: a face-to-face conversation.

2. You’ll learn an encyclopedia and a half in one day. The educational presentations at these events are extremely good. Why? Because they’re done by the people who SHOULD be doing them. It’s not about the big names, it’s about the big tips, and that’s what you’ll find at a well-done WordCamp.

1. The community you’ll find is simply awesome. WordPress has something unique about it. Be it the open-source architecture that lets each and every one of us contribute or maybe they “just got lucky”, the people surrounding you at a WordCamp are the most relatable, insightful, and just downright friendly people ever.

I had the opportunity to talk to some of the most fascinating local and national faces who do what I do and love what I love. We all run in different circles but the common theme that brings everyone to this conference creates such an incredible group that more than earns its placement at number 1.

WordCamps are truly awesome, and users of any level are welcome to join. I’ll be at the very next one I can get to, and I expect to see all you WordPressers there with me.

Thanks to Brad Crooks for the pictures. You are good at taking them.