Speak at WordCamp Chicago

UPDATE: Speaker Applications Are Now Closed! Thanks for your submissions!

Most talk slots will be 45-50 minutes, which means that your talk should be 30-40 minutes with time for questions at the end. Longer workshop style talks may be given on Foundation Friday.

For more information about our schedule and topics please read our Call for Speakers.

What makes an awesome WordCamp Chicago speaker?

  1. A love of WordPress
    WordCamps are about WordPress first and foremost, so while there are a huge variety of topics that are presented on at any given WordCamp, make sure they are relevant to WordPress in some way
  2. A desire to give back to the community
    WordCamps are volunteer events, put on by people who have a love for WordPress and the community. We welcome speakers from all locations, but speakers (and organizers/volunteers) are not compensated for their time or expenses.
  3. Experience or passion about your topic
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  4. Comfortable giving a presentation
    While previous speaking experience is not required, you will be presenting to a large group of fellow enthusiasts, as well as being recorded for WordCamp TV.
  5. Embrace the WordPress license
    If distributing WordPress-derivative works (themes, plugins, WP distros), any person or business should give their users the same freedoms that WordPress itself provides. Note: this is one step above simple compliance, which requires PHP code to be GPL/compatible but allows proprietary licenses for JavaScript, CSS, and images. 100% GPL or compatible is required for promotion at WordCamps when WordPress-derivative works are involved, the same guidelines we follow on WordPress.org.

What is NOT necessary to speak at WordCamp Chicago?

  1. Previous WordCamp attendance
    Have you been to (or spoken at) a WordCamp before? Awesome, tell us about it! Is this your first one? Awesome, we know you’ll love it! Plenty of people have spoken at the first WordCamp they ever attended.
  2. Previous speaking experience
    Experienced WordCamp or conference speaker? Given talks at your place of business, local meetup, enthusiasts group, knitting circle? Let us know! First time getting in front of a crowd? We’d still love to hear what you have to contribute to the conversation!
  3. Being a “Rockstar”
    One of the great things about WordCamps is being able to meet (and learn from) some of the “movers and shakers” in the WordPress community. But the other great thing about WordCamps is being able to hear from a wide variety of voices, both locally and (inter)nationally! Stardom not required.

Sounds awesome, how do I apply?

Fill out the form below. If you would like to submit multiple topics, submit the form once for each talk.

Know someone that would make a great speaker?

Feel free to make suggestions in the comments, or forward this page to them directly and encourage them to apply!