Just so the drive by commenters who aren't fully grasping the issue know, the issue here is not objecting to sponsorship.

Sponsorship by individuals and organizations is required at these events. The people putting them together need to deal with getting a space, paying for food, wireless networking, sanitation and a lot more as I saw at PodCamp West. By my estimation the organizers need all the resources they can get. The sponsors should be recognized for their support of these events. So it ain't about that.

And I think specifically sponsoring Scoble to attend is not a bad idea if someone is willing to go in for that know that's where the money is going. I am not sure how the folks at PodTech would feel about that though.

For my part I am willing to sponsor the airfare for some anonymous podcaster to attend the event. And I'll do it out of my own pocket. How should that work? I don't know yet. But I'll throw out some ideas over at http://flymetopodcamp.wordpress.com/.

If no one is interesting in taking me up on the offer then I'll donate the money to charity.

***UPDATE***

I started getting some nasty comments over there from folks who thought I was somehow hiding the fact that I posted controversial comments on this topic. Rather than slush through the mud to try and get someone to New York I'm going to donate the money to a charity based here in New York City.

As someone who is not a native of the tech industry I'm continually shocked by the sense of entitlement that plagues the culture. I continually see individuals and organizations reach a certain level of prominence only to turn their backs on the people who are working on a grass roots level.

People may get to to a certain level of subscribership on their blogs or podcasts. They get a certain amount of attention in the industry. Their companies get a nice round of funding. And sometimes it goes to their heads.

These individuals and organizations expect to be treated differently. They don't show up at events unless they're given a spot on the dais. They don't show up unless their costs are covered. In short, they want the respect they feel they have earned. Everyone doesn't play this way but there are plenty that do. So if the shoe fits then don't blame me.

In the established conference culture this relationship seems to work well for the elites. Conference organizers are paid to put together events that pull in big sponsorships for multi-day events with keynote speakers and exhibit halls. Individuals and organizations pay hefty fees to attend. Everyone knows the deal and the stars expect to be compensated.

Then you have these new 'camp' style events in the world of podcasting. They appear to be (someone correct me if I'm wrong) grass roots efforts that have arisen from a grass roots movement. And when I say grass roots I mean that these things aren't commissioned by large organizations with plenty of money to spend. People started podcasting because they wanted to. Chris Brogan and Christopher Penn, among others, started PodCamp out of a desire to build the community and educate others on podcasting.

I don't think that PodCamp was started in order to recognize the hierarchy of influence or feed the culture of entitlement present in the world of technology. Maybe I'm wrong on that one. It's just my perception.

Grass roots efforts such as the PodCamp gatherings should be free of the normal expectations of other conferences. Individuals are donating their time and money to create something for the community. Sponsors are kicking in money to help make that happen.

In the mindset that I come from (which many recent visitors seems to think is evil and twisted) individuals and organizations should be seeking to find ways to assist with these events in any way they can. Instead of thinking, "What should I get?", they need to develop the attitude of, "What can I do to help?" Draining the resources of the events to put a body on the ground isn't helping. If the event organizers are going out and soliciting selected people with offers of reimbursement then they're failing in their duty to challenge these individuals and organizations to give something back.

I'm saying this now and I don't care who it pisses off. In the world of podcasting there is a responsibility to try to give something back. And those who have the most should seek to support, not drain the resources of the community. So if you can't add something to the community then for heavens sake don't look to take what you can get.

I caught heat earlier this year for a post about podcasting and VC investment. I hoped to see attitudes changing since then vis-a-vis investment in education and respect for the community of producers. There has been improvement and some changes made. But the general attitude I'm seeing here doesn't bode well for the community.

I've done what I can as an individual with limited resources to support the community. And I expect that others who want to be considered leaders do so as well.

That's my attitude. That's my philosophy. And as Bobby Brown says, "That's my prerogative."

I got home tonight and thought to myself, "Time to feed the echo chamber." Though you may not want to swallow the pill I'm handing over.

There are two or more sides to every story. One side says they were asked for an accomodation. One side says they were offered a favor. Another side says you shouldn't talk about conference planning in an open forum.

Everyone's got a right to their opinion and I've done nothing to prevent them from having their say. I've got my opinions too and here's where you'll get em.

There are big conference models then there are these 'camps' which are supposed to be different. Looks to me like the model just started sliding toward the big conference format. Sorry to spoil the party by spilling the beans.

I was at PodCamp West recently and came away with some good impressions of the format. I learned the most from the people I had never met or even heard of. And I enjoyed myself. I saw what it took in terms of administration, sanitation, technology and logistics to put such an event together. I imagine that the organizers needed every dollar donated to pull it off.

I don't agree with special guests a financial incentive to attend these events unless the same incentives are somehow offered to everyone. No one individual is so important that their attendance makes or breaks the event. Everyone should be welcome but I don't think that someone should be more welcome than another person. Once you've set that kind of expectation amongst participants that legacy gets passed down to organizers of future events. Sucks to be them

So if Rob is running an event like this I don't offer or entertain requests for reimbursement. Luckily for everyone, I'm not the guy running PodCamp NYC. So they're free to do as they please with respect to accomodating high wattage guests at the event.

I've been around, paid my dues in a number of situations and have every right to speak my mind. Call me a jackass, whatever. I've heard it all before. Grab the moral highground based on how things are always done. Enjoy the view.

And to those who talk about people busting their asses for social media I say this. Open your eyes and ears. There are many people who've been forwarding the mediums of blogging and podcasting over the last few years. Very few in that number actually get paid to do it. Some of those anonymous people would appreciate knowing they've gotten equal respect and treatment.

So whaddaya say we ixn-ay on the litisme-ay and recognize the contributions of the unsung leaders of the movement?

Evidently Robert didn't ask to have his expenses paid to come to PodCamp in New York. I could have never figured that from the statement made by the organizer on the Google Group relating to the planning process. He presents his side of the story on his blog.

Some kind of an offer was made evidently. So you can't blame a person for considering or accepting an offer of that kind.

I also want to let folks know that my personal views don't represent the views of the group that is planning the forthcoming event. I know they're concerned about the image for the event and how my ideas might be construed. The group may or may not be open to covering expenses for Robert.

One thing has become evident to me though. This ain't a world for a new media idealist to express his views. This is an echo chamber. And the same voices seem to be heard over and over again.

The future of the medium of podcasting hinges on the adoption by the everyday individual who knows nothing of the pecking order in the world of social media. These are the people we need to be catering to. These are the people who deserve an opportunity to be heard. And in order to do so I'm sure they will be paying their own way.

I can't even believe this is true but it seems that it is. A recent thread from the Google Group for the team planning PodCamp NYC goes like this, "Robert Scoble is interested in coming to podcamp nyc but has intimated (okay, said) he'd want his expenses paid. My vote is we pay them and try to find someone in NYC with really nice digs to save on housing. Why should we do this? Answer below."

WHAT???????

Has King Scoble not heard that PodCamp is an Un-Conference. As in Un-full of the graft and inside favors standard at the major conference events. As in Un-selfish approach by speaker and attendees alike. As in Un-like the fiefdom hierarchy that stinks up the streets of Silly-Con valley.

Almost as ridiculous as the request for travel expenses is the statement by one of the organizers that legitimizes the request and even recommends they meet it. So basically PodCamp NYC is planning on taking sponsor money and handing it over to Scoble so he can put his ass in a plane seat and get a nice room at the W hotel in Times Square. Meanwhile PodCamp participants will get to eat potato chips and drink soda as a reward for paying their own way to be in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Another member of the organizing team chimes in, "He gets a ton of speaking invites, and he's not on Microsoft's travel account anymore. It's fair of him to ask for expenses. It may be fair to tell him "no" as well - if that's what the group wants."

Is it fair? And if so then why is it fair? Many other people are going to fly themselves from all over to be in our city. Some of those folks will contribute their wealth of podcasting knowledge to the conference. Are they getting paid?

And let's not forget the fact that Scoble's current outfit PodTech is famously cashed up to the tune of $5.5 million in VC funding. They can well afford to pay for Robert to come out to this groundbreaking event. If they don't want to do that then Robert should reach into his pocket to pay his own way or stay home.

I have no animosity towards Robert or PodTech. But I can quickly develop some if this is the way they treat the community of podcasters. I was planning on providing more support for this event but honestly can't do so if money granted to the effort is going to pay for travel and hotels so stars of the world of technology can attend.

Dave Winer points out that Evan Williams of Odeo seems to get more than his fair share of love from the New York Times. Seems like he's on to something here.

Ev gets lots of love at the start of Odeo and then more love when he buys back the failed effort from the venture capitalists. So why all the hype even though this company still hasn't done anything all too noteworthy?

It's an inside job plain an simple. Those with the money can buy the PR juice and get love in certain online and offline publications. Evan Williams himself has admitted that even as he was trumpeting his great knowledge on how to launch a Web 2.0 company that he didn't even follow his own advice. He took the money, got the love and launched an un-inspiring product in Odeo.

Now they bought back the failure, renamed to Obvious Corp. and he's hailed as a pioneer of a new business model. Completely ridiculous.

Evan had his success with Blogger and that needs to be recognized. But in business (and certainly in the business of podcasting) there's no such thing as a guaranteed legacy. Me thinks that the money and fame bestowed upon the young Silicon Valley lions goes to their heads. And then they believe that further efforts will be lifted like helium.

The lesson here is that no matter who you are you can have failures or successes. If you stop following the basic principles and believe your own hype then the former is very likely to occur.

I recently announced that the Dailysonic audio podcast had moved to a weekly format. Unfortunately the folks over their have decided to call it a day. That's too bad because they put together a high quality show. In the end, the time and cost required was probably too much given their difficulties raising appropriate revenue to allow the team to focus on producing quality content.

I have no doubt that there is a great demand for unique independent audio and video content. How much people or willing to pay or advertisers are willing to support that content is another issue altogether.

Best of luck to the members of the Dailysonic team.