Publicdrum is not a calendar:

We are an automated data service - you put your event information in - and it is made available in a wide range of formats, for free, to anyone who will display it to the public.

We are non-profit, open source, collaboratively developed and all services are free.

Costs and privacy:

There are no costs to use this service - we don't sell data or take advertising and anyone is welcome to use Publicdrum.

Registration:

Registration is not required to get data or use the API. If you want to enter events, or aggregate feeds from multiple organizations, you will need to register. (Registration Form)

After submitting your registration form and responding to the confirming email, you are ready to go. We strongly suggest you describe your organization using the profile form - it will help the public and media find you and your events.

Services:

The data and our open source code are free to use and distribute. We offer a wide range of tools that can be used to find, select, aggregate, extract and display event data. See the sections below to learn how we connect the people involved in bringing event information to the public.

Please tell me more...

---

The problem we are addressing:

In the past, if you wanted to reach most people in a community, you put your information in the local newspaper. The internet has changed that - there is so single place where people go for their information.

• As a result, people putting on events have to get their information more places to assure visibility
• And the outlets struggle to get calendar content as fewer people find (or use) their web forms.

Our solution:

We believe sharing commonly used information (like event data) makes sense. We provide a central place to put event data - and plug in tools to share it efficiently.

People putting on events fill fewer web forms and automate common promotion tasks. People who use event data can use this 'master data', provided by the primary source. Video : what publicdrum can do for you (5 min) Video : why a service like this is necessary (10 min)

Our Premise:

People accept the idea of open source software - we propose the next logical extension is open data.

• Open data is a fundamental change in the business practice of calendaring
• We are an enabling technology that permits a cascade of efficiency improvements
• Publishers and developers are freed from the overhead of acquiring data
• Helps accomplish the business objectives of those presenting event information to the public

We are :

Publicdrum is a collaboratively developed technology co-operative begun in 2007.

• We were a group of venue owners, publishers and performers seeking to cut costs and redundant labor.
• Our sharing services for event data - and tools to help people integrate it into their business - turned out to be so helpful, the service was opened to the public in 2008.
• We are a co-operative created to explore and share the newest technology. We figure it out as a group - so we as individuals don't have to.

Hide this section

Open data makes your life easier!

When you think about it, the event information you put on your web page, send to the newspaper and submit to web calendars is the same - so why can't they just share it?

That's what Publicdrum does! We provide a data service designed to facilitate sharing of event data in formats that support time saving automation.

The beauty of sharing data is:

• You only have to maintain it in one place.
• Your 'master copy' can display on web calendars, be distributed to the media - or automate your web site.
• Publishers get information from the 'primary source' (you) - avoiding transcription errors and saving time.
• And, if something changes, you only have one place update - automation distributes the revisions as well!

The point is to get wider exposure with less work - be loud, be everywhere!

Use your data - automate common tasks and save time

Since your data is sharable - why not use it yourself? You can:

• Automate your own web calendar (example).
• Cross promote with others (example).
• Include your media outlets in our weekly 'heads up' email.
• Link to the detail view of each event in your email, Constant Contact or Social Media blasts.

Publicdrum is non-profit, open source and all services are free.

Please tell me more...

---

The problem we are addressing:

Most people putting on public events spend hours re-entering event information - into your website, social network pages, your ticketing company, emails - plus all the webforms for the newspapers, broadcasters and web outlets you use.

Why?

• Outlets want you to fill out a web form because it saves time - but it doesn't really - it just shifts the burden from the outlet to you.
• You end up having to choose which outlets get your information - and thus limiting your public visibility.
• Same with your website or social networks - your information needs to be up-to-date because some people will see it - but how much time can you afford to invest?

The fact is, to reach the public today, you need to be as many places as possible - which can be prohibitively time consuming.

Our solution:

Publicdrum gives you a place to enter your event information once - your 'master copy' becomes widely available for use via the web.

• This allows you to automate many of your routine promotion tasks - and spend less time filling in web forms.
• And, it assures publishers that the event data is reliable, accurate and timely - they have a direct path to the primary source.

We are a technology co-operative created to explore and share the newest technology. We figure it out as a group - so we as individuals don't have to.

YOU can easily:

• Automate your website's calendar.
• Create more informative emails.
• Cross promote with related organizations.
• Cut the time required to update your social media (Facebook, Twitter).
• Automate distribution of your event information to the media.

Additional Resources.

Learn how Publicdrum can help contributors save time and promote more effectively!

Hide this section

At a glance:

We provide event data for free to newspapers, web calendars, aggregators - anyone who will present it to the public.

You can...

• Surf the data base - find and use event data.
• Subscribe by RSS - customize your data selection and lead time.
• Subscribe by email - add yourself to our media list.
• Get open source tools to use the data you select.
• Get events as xml, json and other data formats - (available via Surf the data base)
• Get complete data access with our open API
• 'Second Webform' - safely import data to your current publishing process (contact us).

Please tell me more...

---

The problem we are addressing:

Part of your business rational is to provide the most comprehensive calendar possible - the challenge is to do so at a reasonable cost.

• Getting the needed content is often a problem because contributors may not have time to fill out multiple web forms to reach multiple outlets.
• What if the content you need doesn't reach your web form? Do you surf the web, navigate different websites, type in the data yourself - or offer a less complete calendar?

Our solution:

Publicdrum is a data service designed to efficiently connect you and the individuals and organizations putting on events.

• Access to their event data is free - you can search, aggregate and extract - use it in any way you like.
• Publicdrum was founded to be a trusted resource. Efficiently work with the primary source - get their data and tools to help you use it.

Key point: The shift from a 'submission' to 'aggregation' data model is a key feature of Web 2.0 business practices. Publicdrum allows you to embrace this change - affordably.

YOU can easily:

• Surf the database. Did any events miss your web form?
• Aggregate event data from your regular contributors.
• Extract event data in useful electronic formats.
• Import event data directly into your current publishing process.
• Replace your current calendar system with a free, open source alternative.

Additional Resources.

Learn how publicdrum can help outlets provide better calendars.

Hide this section

Video:

• Learn how to combine events from many organizations into a single 'community calendar'.
• Step by step guide to creating a community calendar using Publicdrum.

The problem we are addressing:

Highly visible and trusted advocates like a Visitor Bureau, Chamber of Commerce or region Arts organization play an important role informing visitors and residents

• Providing calendar services can be time consuming and expensive. Declining funding makes it even more challenging.
• Getting people to submit their events often proves difficult - and the result is time spent seeking data or encouraging participation.

Our solution:

Since we help contributors promote their events in many ways, they are motivated to enter and maintain their data.

• We make this data - and open source tools to select, aggregate and display it - available for free to anyone who will display it to the public.
• Publicdrum can help cut (or eliminate) the cost of providing a community calendar.

YOU can easily:

• Aggregate event data from multiple contributors.
• Import event data directly into your current calendar system.
• Replace your current calendar system with a free, open source alternative.

Additional Resources.

Learn more with our step by step guide how publicdrum can help third party advocates provide community calendars.

Hide this section

The problem we are addressing:

Most web calendars are designed to handle discrete events - not exhibitions extending for weeks or months.

Most event calendars do not display continuing events - like museum exhibitions. Publishers seeking story leads or calendar content have no single index of regional exhibitions.

Our solution:

Publicdrum has expanded its data services to include events that extend over long periods of time - typical of museum and gallery exhibitions.

This makes it possible for:

• Museums associations to easily create a combined calendar aimed at informing the public about exhibitions throughout the region.
• News outlets can quickly find information they may want to publish.
• Existing web calendars can add an additional resource to their pages.

The next step:.

Visit our "calendaring for continuing exhibits' section for examples, ideas and 'how to' sample code for your web developer.

Hide this section

The problem:

A calendar is only as good as it's content - but getting valid event data in useful formats can be difficult.

Our solution:

Publicdrum allows developers and data managers to offload the task of data acquisition and validation. This permits you to focus on creating new or populating your existing calendar applications.

We are a free, public data service designed with developers in mind.

• Get complete access to event data in all common internet formats.
• Import selected data into you current application's database or flat file - or embed an API call.
• Avoid writing an admin function - instead allow users to maintain their data in a public, shared resource and extract it as a feed.
• Provide your clients with a free, open source calendar system for their web or print applications.

Our Services:

Learn about our API.

Hide this section