Scene Hacking by Seb Paquet

Scene Hacking

Seb Paquet

About Seb Paquet● Physics, Computer Science● Thesis on social web &

knowledge sharing (2003)● Research & teaching● Startups: Socialtext,

Sceneverse● Musician, localist,

convener, event designer,facilitator

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1. New York Punk Music Scene2. Standup comics3. Chess players4. The Impressionists (19th C.)5. Coffee Geeks6. Homebrew Computer Club (1975)7. Makers8. Internet startups9. Open Source developers

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Nine Examples of Scenes

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● Call Center Specialists

● Backyard chicken enthusiasts

● Stamp Collectors

● Elite 100m-dash runners

● Medieval Theology Scholars

● (nearly) Any corporation

Ceci n’est pas une scène

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● Group & Interpersonal Awareness● Creativity at the core / Scenius● Emulation / Status● Rituals● A contact surface ● Permeability● Excitement - Fun, Passion, Pull● Peripheral Participation

Every Scene Has

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● Friendships

● A low barrier to entry

● A way to make money

Scenes Often Feature

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● Group● Field● Professional Association● Industry● Movement● Community

Neighboring concepts that are not quite scenes

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Scene Roles

Groupie

CREATOR

Charismatic

Artist

SourceEnthusiast

Geek

Curator Critic

Connector Convener

Prophet

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Exhibit A: Open Source Software

Groupie

CREATOR

Charismatic

Artist

Source

Enthusiast

Geek

Curator Critic

Connector Convener

Prophet

Stallman

Torvalds

RaymondO’Reilly 9

Scenes usually arise from existing scenes

1. Potential actors see each other

2. They begin to play together

3. They perform publicly together

4. They attract more creators

Scene Formation

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Activities that catalyze scene formation

1. Connect. Help creators see each other.

2. Design Experiences. Have them play together.

3. Create Outlets. Make a contact surface.

4. Build Onramps. Tools, experiences, services

that lower barrier to entry.

Scene Hacking

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1. Connect 2. Play together

3. Outlets 4. Onramps

Exhibit A: Open Source Scene Hacking

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● As a scene evolves, it flattens

● If its generativity is not constantly renewed, it can become○ A mythology○ A product○ Pieces for reuse by other scenes○ A market

Scene evolution

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Movements can arise from scenes

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● Moves the scene towards greater cooperation by “preaching the inevitability of values-based change”

● Finds the yearning● Names the unarticulated● Builds on a cultural capital base● Gives permission to be idealistic

The Prophet

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● Patches a “Structural hole” in the social network

● Brings together well-connected people who should know one another but don’t

● Becomes centrally located in an emerging network

The Issue Entrepreneur

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