We have been slowly seeking sponsorship for Podcasters Across Borders 2007. It’s not something that we’re particularly comfortable doing. The fact is, we believe in PAB and we are willing to invest personal funds to account for any shortfalls (as we did last year) and to keep registration costs modest — we would obviously rather not be on the hook financially.

All of this has led us to think carefully about sponsorship. It isn’t about funds; it’s about trust relationships for which there is value for all parties. It’s about value, integrity and credibility — not just our own, or that of the event, but the community as a whole. We owe it to the community to offer value to our sponsors and treat them with respect so that the experience is good for the sponsors and the attendees, and we owe it to the registrants to give them great value for their investment in the conference. A good experience for the sponsors means that they may consider it worthwhile to entertain other opportunities within the community; a good experience for the community means that PAB is a great event that’s worth attending. If we mishandle the relationships, we burn bridges and opportunities for everyone that may follow.

In our view, sponsorship of PAB is an endorsement of the event and everyone who is a part of it — the organizers and participants — it’s not just about collecting money and saying thank you.