As much as I like Kris, I disagree with his How to save your unconference post.
It’s #2 that gives it away:
“Awesome hallway conversations”
If you’re having awesome hallway conversations, it’s not an unconference. It’s a regular conference. Sorry.
A good unconference has the awesome conversations within the sessions. Otherwise – why bother with the sessions? Maybe you enjoy sitting quietly while being pitched to?
If the goal of the event is to be a conference – then absolutely take Kris’ advice. Be a conference; plan the hell out of it, have tracks, boring lecture/presentations, and tasteless box lunches. Sounds like a waste of time for everyone.