There are such gatherings and they are called BarCamps. Here’s the history – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BarCamp. I work at a marketing agency that works exclusively with credit unions. The owner of our company recently attended a BarCampBank (the Bank version is just one of many BarCamps) and said it was one of the most awesome platforms for conversation. Now, I might be butchering exactly how this happens, but here it goes… the group of like-minded individuals gather together and post topics of what they want to discuss. One person will usually champion a topic. They go to breakout sessions on each topic. If you feel that what is being discussed is not adding value, you simply let your feet do the talking – you walk out and join another session. Conversations and fluid and the ideas that emerge are incredible. If this is the future of conferences, then I am in. I want to be at the next BarCamp!