PorcFest 2012 -- Biggest Bitcoin event ever

[ben-abuya]

I just got back from PorcFest 2012 near the White Mountains in northern New Hampshire. I believe this was the biggest experiment in person-to-person bitcoin usage to date.

What's PorcFest

PorcFest is the annual Porcupine Freedom Festival, organized by the Free State Project. Hundreds of libertarians take over a campground in northern New Hampshire, pitch tents, eat, drink, trade, talk and party.



What does this have to do with Bitcoin?

This year, lots. You could wake up, have coffee, then breakfast, lunch and dinner at different vendors, and you could pay in bitcoins at all of them. Want something sweet? Get some ice cream and pay with bitcoins. Somebody was selling a used car for bitcoin. It's been reported that 80% of the vendors accepted bitcoins. I talked to some of the ones that didn't, and even they knew exactly what I was talking about. They were interested in doing it, but just hadn't gotten set up yet.



The BitInstant bitcoin booth was a huge success, with people streaming in all day, every day, asking about bitcoins, getting set up to accept bitcoins, and buying bitcoins for FRNs, copper and silver. There was a panel on bitcoin which packed the big tent with about 100 people. There were interviews about bitcoin and the new bitcoin card on Free Talk Live, an award-winning radio show which was broadcasting out of PorcFest for the week.

As a Bitcoin fan, this was hugely exciting for me. There were a lot of alternative currencies at PorcFest and internet was spotty, but I think Bitcoin really shined. If there's a better place to see bitcoin in action, I'd sure like to hear about it!

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[MatthewLM]

I like the ice-cream names. 

Glad it was a success.

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

THIS...WAS...THE...BEST...WEEKEND...OF....MY...LIFE!!!!!

The whole team came out! Roger, Erik, Ira, Ayaka, and it was a pleasure meeting Zach and Josh.

EVERYONE loves Bitcoin! This was by far the largest meetup ever.

The coolest thing? Bitcoin transactions were happening without us! People told me how they used Bitcoin to buy stuff, exchange and get change as well.

Staying up late, educating people about Bitcoin, our campsite was fully stocked with Bitcoin, Beer, and NEFT Vodka!

Our Bitcoin panel was STANDING ROOM ONLY! The tent was packed!!

Looking forward to next year!

As the free staters say, Live Free or Die!!!

-Charlie

[Kluge]

Oh man.... If I saw Mary Ruwart buying ice cream with Bitcoins..... wife would've preemptively slapped me. Thanks for sharing!

[bearbones]

This year, lots. You could wake up, have coffee, then breakfast, lunch and dinner at different vendors, and you could pay in bitcoins at all of them. Want something sweet? Get some ice cream and pay with bitcoins. Somebody was selling a used car for bitcoin. It's been reported that 80% of the vendors accepted bitcoins. I talked to some of the ones that didn't, and even they knew exactly what I was talking about. They were interested in doing it, but just hadn't gotten set up yet.

I personally set up at least a half dozen vendors and a couple dozen individuals to use bitcoin. I know Roger and Erik were even more on top of things. I did not talk to a single person throughout the week who hadn't already heard of bitcoin. Of those who didn't know much, almost every one was eager to learn. The Free State is thrilled about bitcoin. I can't agree more that this was the biggest bitcoin event in terms of use that I've been to or heard of.

[ShireSilver]

It was great meeting y'all there. The panel was fun, although I thought it was a bit too geeky and not enough about "how can I fit this into my existing business processes". Next year will be even better.

[punningclan]

OMG I want to go!! However I'm still recovering from vodka soaked fruit, but I had a great time too! Tell me this happens again. 

[kiba]

How they accept bitcoin? Through a smartphone app?

[Bitcoin Oz]

This is brilliant.

[OgNasty]

THIS...WAS...THE...BEST...WEEKEND...OF....MY...LIFE!!!!!

I may have to take a flight next year.  I haven't been to a Bitcoin meet-up yet, but I haven't met a campsite with beer I haven't liked and Bitcoin in the woods would only make it that much greater.

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

THIS...WAS...THE...BEST...WEEKEND...OF....MY...LIFE!!!!!

I may have to take a flight next year.  I haven't been to a Bitcoin meet-up yet, but I haven't met a campsite with beer I haven't liked and Bitcoin in the woods would only make it that much greater.

Dude, thats exactly what it was. We literally had a revolving dozen people hanging out, drinking beer, talking and learning Bitcoin.

We stayed up really late, and had a glowing Bitcoin LED sign!

How they accept bitcoin? Through a smartphone app?

Yes, we helped the merchants get set up via Bitcoin Spinner app for Android or Instawallet and QR code scanner for iOS.

Some merchants we printed the QR codes for their signs, so anyone can just scan and pay!

It was great meeting y'all there. The panel was fun, although I thought it was a bit too geeky and not enough about "how can I fit this into my existing business processes". Next year will be even better.

Was such a pleasure meeting you as well! Thanks for hanging out and looking forward until next year 

[Joshwaa]

This is just Awesome new to hear!

[adamstgBit]

THIS...WAS...THE...BEST...WEEKEND...OF....MY...LIFE!!!!!

The whole team came out! Roger, Erik, Ira, Ayaka, and it was a pleasure meeting Zach and Josh.

EVERYONE loves Bitcoin! This was by far the largest meetup ever.

The coolest thing? Bitcoin transactions were happening without us! People told me how they used Bitcoin to buy stuff, exchange and get change as well.

Staying up late, educating people about Bitcoin, our campsite was fully stocked with Bitcoin, Beer, and NEFT Vodka!

Our Bitcoin panel was STANDING ROOM ONLY! The tent was packed!!

Looking forward to next year!

As the free staters say, Live Free or Die!!!

-Charlie

fuck and i missed it!

you guys doing it again next year?  


edit: why didn't i get an e0mail about this 

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

THIS...WAS...THE...BEST...WEEKEND...OF....MY...LIFE!!!!!

The whole team came out! Roger, Erik, Ira, Ayaka, and it was a pleasure meeting Zach and Josh.

EVERYONE loves Bitcoin! This was by far the largest meetup ever.

The coolest thing? Bitcoin transactions were happening without us! People told me how they used Bitcoin to buy stuff, exchange and get change as well.

Staying up late, educating people about Bitcoin, our campsite was fully stocked with Bitcoin, Beer, and NEFT Vodka!

Our Bitcoin panel was STANDING ROOM ONLY! The tent was packed!!

Looking forward to next year!

As the free staters say, Live Free or Die!!!

-Charlie

fuck and i missed it!

you guys doing it again next year?  


edit: why didn't i get an e0mail about this 

Sorry! We keep making this mistake of doing this last minutes.

Yes, they do it every year!

[BitPay Business Solutions]

I saw the baklava guy sent quite a number of orders through.  How was it?

[viboracecata]

What alternative currencies were present there in the camp?

[evoorhees]

I saw the baklava guy sent quite a number of orders through.  How was it?

Hahaha yes he got tons of orders via his Bit-pay QR code card. I bought three of my meals from him, he had a full cafeteria to sell from.

[BitPay Business Solutions]

I saw the baklava guy sent quite a number of orders through.  How was it?

Hahaha yes he got tons of orders via his Bit-pay QR code card. I bought three of my meals from him, he had a full cafeteria to sell from.

Nice!

next year I will definitely make it up there for this event.  Sounds like fun!

[mccorvic]

Looks like a pretty cool event.  Also really cool to see that BTC in a "real world" market working pretty smoothly. 

[MemoryDealers]

I agree that this was by far the biggest Bitcoin meetup ever.

Here are some additional photos from the event.

http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/25983303/1/New%20Hampshire%202012?h=69dc71