▁ ▁B IL ▁started ▁as ▁an ▁una ff ili ated ▁un con ference ▁satellite ▁to ▁T ED ’ s ▁struct ured ▁‘ inv ite ▁only ’ ▁paid ▁conference . ▁B IL ▁is ▁an ▁open , ▁self - organ izing , ▁emer gent ▁arts , ▁science , ▁society , ▁and ▁technology ▁conference . ▁Anyone ▁can ▁come , ▁and ▁anyone ▁is ▁able ▁to ▁sign - up ▁to ▁speak , ▁limited ▁only ▁by ▁space ▁and ▁time . ▁The ▁un con ference ▁structure ▁allows ▁for ▁eg al itar ian ▁treatment ▁of ▁anyone ▁in ▁any ▁role ; ▁ ▁everyone ▁is ▁encourag ed ▁to ▁particip ate ▁where ▁they ▁can , ▁whether ▁that ' s ▁clean ▁up , ▁set ▁up , ▁getting ▁coffee , ▁listening , ▁AV ▁work , ▁blog ging ▁the ▁conference , ▁registration , ▁etc . ▁ ▁Background ▁▁ ▁B IL ’ s ▁mission ▁statement : ▁“ B IL ▁is ▁an ▁open , ▁self - organ izing , ▁emer gent , ▁arts , ▁science , ▁society , ▁and ▁technology ▁un con ference .” ▁ ▁There ▁is ▁no ▁permanent ▁staff ▁or ▁location , ▁no ▁one ▁that ▁organ izes ▁or ▁speak s ▁is ▁paid , ▁and ▁even ▁the ▁ac ron ym ▁changes ▁to ▁reflect ▁the ▁will ▁of ▁the ▁participants . ▁ ▁History ▁▁ ▁The ▁name ▁B IL ▁was ▁proposed ▁as ▁it ▁was ▁catch y , ▁short , ▁and ▁un c laimed . ▁It ▁also ▁humor ously ▁referenced ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁film ▁Bill ▁& ▁Ted ' s ▁Ex cell ent ▁Advent ure . ▁ ▁The ▁week ▁of ▁B