Kerry O'Shea Gorgone
Orlando, Florida
Follow @kerrygorgone
Buffer
Thursday, April 4th
Incredibly excited to be among the speakers for Social Slam 2013. I’ve heard that the first two SoSlam events were fantastic, and was glad to hop on a plane when Mark Schaefer asked me to moderate a panel. Am determined not to let him down.
Despite traveling from Orlando, will arrive in plenty of time, bright eyed and bushy tailed…except that the second leg of my trip is delayed due to plane maintenance. Bummer. In a fun twist of fate, I end up seated next to Patty Swisher, who’s also headed to SoSlam! Our ensuing conversation is so riveting that we put the guy behind us to sleep. Seriously. Check it out.
Miss pre-event Tweetup, but arrive in time for the VIP pre-party in the Sunsphere. P.S. It’s FREEZING.
Almost don’t get in because registration people don’t see a name tag for me. Promise them I’m in the program and on the website. They write me a name tag. Silently thank parents for giving me a trustworthy face.
First order of business: hide behind Kevin Lyons in case registration lady changes her mind and looks for me to kick me out.
See Mark Schaefer to say thanks (and hug him till something cracks). Then experience full-on geek-out upon meeting John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing, one of the Keynote speakers.
Have entirely too much fun meeting Chris Reimer, Gary Schirr, John Morgan, Ian Cleary and Jeff Bullas.
Become enamored of Jeff Bullas’s shirt. Learn that he’s wearing Politix, an Australian brand. Also learn that they don’t have a women’s line. Express extreme disappointment. Vow to write strongly worded letter demanding equal access to fashionable clothing.
Take hilarious picture in which Jeremy Floyd and I smile at either end, while Jason Falls tries to assault Jeff Bullas. Or is it the other way around? Whichever. Laugh till it hurts.
9:45 p.m. Ask a local for advice on getting steak this late. He recommends Copper Cellar. Manage to stay awake through dinner, which is a feat in and of itself. The fact that Tom and Tamsen Webster are there makes it easier. Such great conversationalists!
11:30 p.m. Crash. SoSlam registration starts at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. OUCH.
Friday, April 5th
7:00 a.m. Somehow drag myself out of bed and make it to the Knoxville Convention Center. Register and pick up swag bag, which includes awesome Bush’s Best tumbler.
8:15 a.m. Spot Anne Deeter Gallaher, co-author of Women in High Gear. Her book with Amy Howell is one I’ve been looking forward to reading! Snap a pic with Anne and leave to find a caffeinated beverage before the main event starts at 9:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Amy Howell revs up the audience (no mean feat this early in the morning), and introduces a young man with a guitar, whose job it will ostensibly be to chase off speakers who overstay their welcome. Much friendlier than a gong. Must be because we’re in the South.
9:10 a.m. Jason Falls takes the stage and discloses that he suffers from “Stage 3 Klout,” symptoms for which include a swelled head. Feign surprise at this “news.” Love his description of how Mark Schaefer created the {grow} community, and how SoSlam attendees are now part of that community.
9:20 a.m. Jeff Bullas discusses social content (while wearing another fantastic Politix shirt.) Make concerted effort to pay attention to what he’s saying instead of lamenting the lack of a Politix women’s line.
10:00 a.m. Thoroughly enjoy a “Fireside Chat” sans fire, featuring moderator John Morgan (not a fan of LinkedIn, btw), who interviews Xan Pearson and Rick Wion about branding and social media. Great insights, good laughs, memorable discussion.
Realize I’m tweeting so often people think I must have some kind of twitching disorder.
All #soslam social media output is emanating from @kerrygorgone’s phone instagram.com/p/XugzPAAJoS/
— Chris Reimer (@RizzoTees)
Stop tweeting to photograph Chris Reimer, who snapped that surreptitious pic of me tweeting.
11:00 a.m. Sit in the front row for “Strategies to Attract and Energize an Online Audience.” Moderator Dino Dogan of Triberr snaps a pic of attendees, and asks us all to tag ourselves in it on Facebook. Also invites us to friend him. He’s a very approachable guy. Feel sure some non-attendee stalkers friended him on FB after that, but confident he can handle himself.
Snap pic of panelists Dawn DeVirgilio, Jennifer Kane and Ian Cleary. Curse lack of Samsung Galaxy camera, which would take way better photo than my iPhone. Squelch rising jealousy that Calvin Lee and Ann Tran have Samsung Galaxy. Realize I am in front row. Pic is passable. Move past feelings of camera inadequacy.
The panel includes a lot of fun moments, as well as great tips for building and engaging an online audience.
Your blog has to be different, and you need good quality content. Then go find the audience. @iancleary #SoSlam
— Kerry O’Shea Gorgone (@KerryGorgone)
Use “calculated authenticity.” Don’t tell all your secrets, but do get personal. Share with people. Show your personality. #SoSlam
— Kerry O’Shea Gorgone (@KerryGorgone)
Noon. Lunch from Bush Brothers, followed by keynote remarks from Gabrielle Laine-Peters, who enthralls the crowd, making me concerned that my 1:30 panel will seem lackluster by comparison.
1:20 p.m. Set up for panel with Laura Click, Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez and Christopher Craft, all of whom rock the session! (Takeaways here: http://flybluekite.com/2013/04/08/getting-started-with-social-media/
2:30 p.m. Head spinning as 10 Social Slam presenters each present ten new ideas in ten-minute blocks. Immediately decide to completely revamp my presentation for Bloggy Boot Camp Phoenix so it is as awesome as Jennifer Kane’s talk about Facebook.
3:30 p.m. Take in fantastic presentation by Tom and Tamsen Webster on “Putting Data to Work.” They seamlessly integrate audience input with their polished presentation to create a detailed, applied talk.
4:30 p.m. Convinced I cannot listen to another presentation. Then, John Jantsch starts talking, and I find a second (third?) wind! So much great info on customer engagement! Vow to ensure everyone I talk to about SoSlam fully appreciates the awesomeness of the speakers and their content.
5:30 p.m. After party at Latitude 35. Finally get a chance to talk with Shonali Burke and Jason Konopinski. Sample bruschetta and some good beer (Sam Adams), while chatting up Chris Reimer. Eventually, hunger increases to the point that bruschetta will no longer suffice.
6:15 p.m. Spot Sean McGinnis sporting a sweet ‘stache…on the back of his head. Guffaw! Sean is awesome.
6:30 p.m. Dinner at Bella Luna with Jason Kopinski, Sean McGinnis, Amy Howell, Xan Pearson, Ian Cleary, Jeff Bullas, Elizabeth Reusswig, Eric Pratum and so many other fun people it’s impossible to list them. Am extremely impressed to learn that Gabrielle Laine Peters is a consummate photobomber! She gives a demonstration.
@anntran_ I’m having dinner w/ @howellmarketing at #SoSlam! Next time we all should get together! cc: @2morrowknight twitter.com/KerryGorgone/s…
— Kerry O’Shea Gorgone (@KerryGorgone) April 6, 2013
Late night. Post-dinner, check out some Knoxville night life, before winding down over wine in the hotel lobby with a few die-hards. Realize I have an 8:00 a.m. breakfast to attend. Crash.
Saturday, April 6th.
8:00 a.m. Against all odds, make myself presentable and get to Tupelo Honey in time for breakfast. Sweet potato pancake is so good that eating it qualifies as a life experience.
Talk pancakes, social media, and life with people who are way too much fun to be up this early. Make mental note to study up on meditations that can replace sleep. Sincerely hope such a thing exists.
Photo by Eric Pratum. Special thanks to Jason Konopinski for loaning me his cute hat!
10:00 a.m. Pack up and do some work, before walking around Knoxville’s Market Square to check out the “Chalk Walk.” Floored by how talented artists are when the medium is chalk and the palette is concrete. Especially impressed to see area children creating artwork I couldn’t replicate if I had two days, twice as much chalk, and half as much talent. These kids are phenoms!
After some shopping, head to Knoxville Airport, which is easily the friendliest airport I’ve seen to date. Fly to Charlotte without incident.
5:45 p.m. Board connecting flight home to Orlando. A couple is sitting next to me. The man is shorter than I am (and I’m no Amazon), and as he struggles to load his carryon into the overhead bin, bananas fall out of the open suitcase pocket. You read that right, folks. Bananas roll all over the seats and floor. I help him to properly secure his bananas.
6:15 p.m. Right after takeoff, I regret ever helping BananaMan, who may have eaten too much fruit prior to boarding. Disappear into my zipped sweater and wait for flight to be over.
7:40 p.m. Home in Orlando! Absolutely going to attend SoSlam next year. Might drive though. Flying has its drawbacks. Anyone want to carpool?
One of my favorite shirts from #SXSW! Thanks @markwschaefer! www.businessesgrow.com
Tuesday, March 12th
9:45 a.m. Start the day off right at the Digital Marketers Breakfast. Wonder how I’ve gotten this far in life without having experienced breakfast tacos and mimosas before 10:00 a.m.
Digital Marketers Breakfast at #SXSW, hosted by @volacci #AutomateYourLife vine.co/v/bwlZ2tmrg63
11:00 a.m. Arrive at Exhibit Hall Johnny-on-the-spot and make a bee-line to the Getty Images booth. Successfully obtain coveted t-shirt for @AnnHandley. Pose for triumphant Instagram pic.
11:15 a.m. Get in line for awesome New York Times interactive experience. They take a pic of me using an iPad, then generate a Word Cloud from a category of my choice. Try “technology” first, but words don’t really reflect my personality. Switch to Writing and BOOM. Nailed it. “Law” is my bottom lip. Seriously.
11:30 a.m. Get pic taken in incredibly cool Game of Thrones chair. Geek out.
11:40 a.m. Stop at Mophie booth. Proves an expensive stop. Persuaded to purchase red Mophie to keep phone charged through crazy long days. Because I choose special red case, a portion of the proceeds goes to support (Red). Take some comfort in this, despite having made unplanned purchase.
11:55 a.m. Sweet talk bouncer into letting me into Exhibit Hall 5 for the last five minutes of the Jane Porter session, but really just want to avoid the horrendous line for the 12:30 Jonah Peretti presentation on the Big Power Shift in Media. Worth it. Presentation is awesome! Rationalize nonstop tweeting because will need to refer back to tweets for MarketingProfs coverage later. Stay put for Matthew Inman Keynote at 2:00 p.m.
1:55 p.m. Save spot for @SteveGarfield. Love, love, love him.
2:00 p.m. Matthew Inman from The Oatmeal is pure awesomeness. Knew he was funny, but surprised at how informative his remarks are. Tweet so much that dozens of unsuspecting followers become annoyed and drop me. Their loss.
3:00 p.m. Inman keynote over. Charge phone and organize notes in Samsung Blogger Lounge. Close it out: staff break it down at 4:00 p.m. Sad I didn’t spend more time in here. Make mental note to hang here more next year. Make second mental note to come to SXSW again next year.
Blogger lounge closing at 4:00 p.m. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here! ;) Thanks for an awesome #SXSW! #SamsungSXSW
4:00 p.m. Walk over to check out Moody Theater, venue for Cirque de Soleil event #Evoke13 later on. Find it.
4:45 p.m. Realize I’m a mile away from Bangers on Rainey Street, where I’m meeting @MayhemStudios, @SteveGarfield, @AnthonyQuintano and @tibbon for dinner. Hop into a pedicab.
Realized I’m meeting people a mile away in 15 minutes. #SXSW Pedicab ride. vine.co/v/bdulbqm0OgM
Eat giant hot dog and amazing fries. Have fantastic local beer and take enough photos to make this dinner better documented than the average State Dinner at the White House. Worth it.
Pic by Calvin Lee
Pic courtesy of Anthony Quintano
6:45 p.m. Pedicab to Moody Theater with @MayhemStudios for #Evoke13 @cirque event. We’re both on the Klout VIP list, so excited for cool swag. Create Vine of us crammed into tiny car like sardines. Good thing I love him.
Headed to #Evoke13 at #SXSW with @mayhemstudios vine.co/v/bdaWXdxBlOX
7:00 p.m. Sign in and enter VIP area. Free drinks and cool atmosphere. Cirque du Soleil performers circulating in full costume, posing for pics. Snap cool pics.
7:15 p.m. Nonplussed to learn @cirque performance doesn’t start till 11:30 p.m. Decide to roll with it, since Adobe, Google, and @nerdist are on the agenda first, and I’m a fan of all three.
7:20 p.m. My +1 — Nick Reed / @nareed — arrives in a suit. Suddenly feel underdressed in sweaty Patriots shirt. Too late now. Snap Instagram pics.
Pic by Calvin Lee
8:30 p.m. Hold front row seats with @nareed while @mayhemstudios holds court at the bar. Love watching him in action! Everyone loves him.
11:30 p.m. Unbelievable Cirque du Soleil performance! Record video on inferior iPhone camera while @MayhemStudios gets crystal clear video on his Samsung Galaxy. Squelch jealousy. Get video of cool moment during which acrobats fail to perform key jump, but reset and successfully accomplish amazing feat on second try. Find metaphor for life in this.
12:30 a.m. Manage to get shuttle back to hotel. Too tired to pack. Set alarm and hope to cram everything into tiny carry-on bags tomorrow, but realize checking at least one bag is probably necessary.
Vow to return for SXSW 2014.
Monday, March 11th.
7:30 a.m. Up early. Check email and do some writing. Linger over breakfast.
10:00 a.m. Determined to bring computer to sessions. Buy Longhorns JanSport backpack to carry laptop, charger, phone charger, umbrella and jacket. Rejoice.
10:45 a.m. Walk by Hilton just as @cc_chapman is hopping into a car to head to the airport. One last hug (and Instagram pic)! Hallway magic at its best!
Walked by @cc_chapman just as he was getting in a car to the airport. #SXSW won’t be as much fun without… instagr.am/p/WuU2E0hoMD/
Waiting for “The Future of Location.”@foursquare’s Dennis Crowley #SXSW via @marketingprofs vine.co/v/bwxAViDQ1vz
11:00 a.m. Attend session featuring Stephen Wolfram — The Computational Future. Sneak out to scour Convention Center for elusive “Getty Images” tee for @annhandley. All out of her size. Make note to return next day to snag tee before crowds swarm exhibit hall in search of free swag.
The #sxswgettyimages booth madness started early.Make sure to come see us early if you’re in Austin for SXSW. twitter.com/GettyImages/st…
12:30 p.m. Tweet like a court stenographer during Dennis Crowley’s presentation on The Future of Location. Learn @dens just got engaged. Disappointed there won’t be a @fourquare badge commemorating the wedding. Realize it doesn’t matter, since I won’t be invited.
Things people respond to about me at #SXSW: 1) I’m here for @marketingprofs; 2) I write for @markwschaefer; 3) my @mayhemstudios t-shirt.
— Kerry O’Shea Gorgone (@KerryGorgone) March 11, 2013
2:45 p.m. Meet @B2design and go for pizza. Any friend of @AnnHandley is a friend of mine!
Serendipity! Met b2design at #SXSW and grabbed a slice of pizza. #HallwayMagic cc: annhandley instagr.am/p/WurUh1BoEk/
3:10 p.m. Check out PayPal Lounge. Extremely cool experience. Get made into superhero. Have blue slushie. Get pic with @DavePeck.
@autumnthered demonstrates “Superfy Yourself” at #SXSW for @paypaldev! vine.co/v/bwQOjXAQgHw
@paypal made me a superhero! #PayPalIt #SXSW @ Austin Convention Center instagr.am/p/WuuefnBoIW/
3:30 p.m. Stand in packed room to hear @nichole_kelly of Social Media Explorer discuss how to measure social media. She kicks major arse!
@nichole_kelly packed the house! “How to Measure #SocialMedia” at #SXSW schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/ev…. via @marketingprofs twitter.com/KerryGorgone/s…
5:00 p.m. Sessions, the standout being “Sex and the Startup: Marketing to Women.”
Presenter really just said this: “You need to know what a woman’s about before ramming products down her throat.” #SXSW #StartUpSex
6:00 p.m. Grab light dinner with @AnnTran_ on the patio at the Four Seasons. Gorgeous view. Very fun waiter! He regales us with tales of his early career in music and his experience on the Warped Tour. He also knows quite a lot about cheese. Decide he needs a talk show.
Snack break. #cheese #SXSW vine.co/v/bw0aX5bjnrl
7:15 p.m. Walk off cheese tray. Go to Second Bar and Kitchen for @nestivity party. Instagram pics of cool venue with @AnnTran_ Photobomb someone’s group pic. Chuckle.
8:00 p.m. Chat with CEO Bahram Nour-Omid about how Nestivity is changing social engagement. Get free t-shirt. Rejoice once again over new backpack.
9:00 p.m. Walk over to check out USA Network’s #GracelandTV party. Huge line. Reconsider. Take silly Instagram pics. Share cab back to hotel with @AnnTran_, who has early flight.
Drinks at #SXSW @nestivity party with @AnnTran_. So honored to hang out on her last night in #ATX! (at Second Bar + Kitchen)
Sunday, March 10th
7:30 a.m. Wake up. Impressed to have slept in for an hour. Sweet talk 20-something into giving me his cab. His backpack looks big enough to carry him through Himalayan camping trip.
8:30 a.m. Breakfast with the totally awesome @MarkWSchaefer of {grow}.
9:30 a.m. Head to Convention Center and check out schedule. Do reconnaissance on Press Lounge and Samsung Blogger Lounge. Obtain coveted blue sticker. Awkwardly hug Samsung rep. Just so happy.
10:15 a.m. Grab mimosa and a breakfast taco at Gannett Lounge. Admire edgy tee that @JasonFalls is sporting. Pose for pic to capture moment.
10:45 a.m. Talk PayPal with @DavePeck. Find out they’re running cool social campaign at #SXSW, journaling experience of people who come to Austin without a badge during SXSW. #PaypalIt. Make mental note to check out PayPal Lounge later.
11:00 a.m. Hear from others more connected than me that @dens of Foursquare has arrived at Gannett Lounge. Wonder whether he checked in. Wonder if I would get extra points for checking into same place as him. So many unanswered questions.
11:15 a.m. Catch ride to Chevy #AllHat Party at Guero’s. Chat with @JodiOnTheWeb. Congratulate her on awesomeness of Gannett Lounge.
11:30 a.m. Meet @britopian in person for the first time. Looks just like his profile photo! Rarity. Snap pic with him and @AnnHandley.
12:30 p.m. Meet @JasonKonopinsi in person. Love his hat! Try it on and want to pose for pic, but iPhone memory full. Sad. Give hat back. Lament not moving pics onto MacBook Pro. Erase some pics off iPhone, but no dice. @Kristinsb to the rescue!
12:50 p.m. @MayhemStudios has arrived. It’s a party now! Smooches ensue. Everyone wants to give Calvin a kiss on the cheek! @nichole_kelly gets in on the action. Things kind of get out of hand. That’s AllHat for you!
1:00 p.m. Find @kristinsb in sunny corner with @chevrolet person. Beg for week-long test-drive (Camaro).
1:30 p.m. Boston people converge on @kristinsb’s corner. Enjoy old home week!
1:45 p.m. Leave with @AnnHandley and walk downtown. Cross perilous four-lane street on the way. Concerned I might be responsible for knocking @MarketingProfs star into traffic! We both survive.
2:00 p.m. Meet @TimWasher and walk over to the Samsung Galaxy Experience. Huge line to create custom tees. Check out the scene. Snap pic with Tim Washer. Leave. Say goodbye to Ann before she heads to airport.
2:15 p.m. Charge phone in Press Lounge, sponsored by @GoToMeeting. Everyone hard at work, except one person getting a massage! See sign-up list. Feel tempted, but no time slots available that work for me.
3:00 p.m. Attend sessions on Apps for Autism and How to Make the Internet Care.
6:00 p.m. Attend Wiley Author Party. Spend some time with @SteveGarfield.
6:30 p.m. @cc_chapman arrives. Great conversation with @rawn and @PeterKnox. C.C. Introduces me to @unmarketing. Impressed at how nice and low-key he is.
7:30 p.m. Make a Vine post with @cc_chapman to say hi to @dangorgone, who’s following the SXSW action from home.
Engage the Spanish @dangorgone vine.co/v/bwD6tgQat9n
7:50 p.m. Get @AnnTran_ and @LViolette to come by. Introduce Ann to @SteveGarfield, who spends some time admiring her awesome Samsung camera.
8:00 p.m. Freezing. Adjourn inside. Talk shop with Ann, Liv, Steve, and Rawn. Fellow attendee @mochasips recognizes @AnnTran_ from Twitter. Pose for group pic. Hear about all the cool SXSW Interactive exhibits and swag I still need to get in on.
10:45 p.m. Back to hotel to check email and status of various projects.
After years of envying from home, I finally made it to South by Southwest Interactive in Austin. If you’ve never been and want a taste of what it’s like, here are some snippets of my experience.
Saturday, March 9
8:30 a.m. people already getting seated for “How Twitter Has Changed How We Watch TV.” #TweetTV
9:15 a.m. Attorney @nareed sits next to me. Sad to see he still has egg avatar on Twitter. Encourage him to avi up.
9:20 a.m. Realize @BillHibbler is in the same room, a row back. Move him on up. Mention him on Twitter while he’s trying to Instagram so notifications keep popping up. Bonus: his phone’s not muted.
9:25 a.m. Recruit @nareed to be my +1 for the Klout perk VIP treatment at #Evoke13 Cirque du Soleil event. Egg-avi needs help.
9:30 a.m. Session jumps off. @jdeeringdavis shared the ways shows engage fans via Twitter. Lots of juicy stats. Lots of discussion about Walking Dead and Pretty Little Liars. Go HAM on the tweets.
10:15 a.m. Q&A starts. First questioner asks speaker to “discuss Hollywood.” Somewhat general. @jdeeringdavis artfully crafts topic specific response.
10:20 a.m. Catch @nareed tweeting. capture the moment with a tasteful black and white pic. Awesomeness of my photo convinces @nareed to switch his avi from the spambot egg pic. Confirm plans to meet for Cirque du Soleil. He deserves VIP treatment now.
This #SXSW was so great, it inspired @nareed to finally tweet! #tweettv Thanks, @jdeeringdavis! twitter.com/KerryGorgone/s…
10:45 a.m. Hang with people outside Iron Cactus waiting for @cc_chapman’s Amazing Things Brunch to start. Kudos to Vocus for hosting a fantastic event!
With alizasherman, waiting for @cc_chapman’s #AmazingThingsWillHappen brunch! #SXSW @ Iron Cactus… instagr.am/p/WpOzGSBoMm/
11:00 a.m. luck out and get a seat out of the rain.
11:15 a.m. Sit with @JasonFalls. Check out photo booth.
11:25 a.m. Meet @MayhemStudios. Hug him for an uncomfortably long time. Get special, limited edition Calvin Lee SXSW 2013 shirt. Geek out and do happy dance, but keep it all inside, so as not to frighten fellow attendees.
Finally got to meet mayhemstudios! #SXSW #amazingthingswillhappen @ Iron Cactus Downtown Austin instagr.am/p/WpUKeDBoFU/
11:30 a.m. Introduce @JoselinMane to Calvin. Fun squared!
11:40 a.m. Find @SteveGarfield and a table full of chocolate. Not sure which takes priority, but opt to hug Steve because he’s awesome. Chat him up, then taste test gourmet chocolate.
12:00 p.m. Try cool, socially integrated photo booth. Immediately regret it. Get over it. Take several fun, silly photos. Recruit others, including @Kristinsb, @soutth and @SteveGarfield. Have so much fun it should be illegal. But it isn’t, because we’re in Texas.
12:30 p.m. Catch up with Ann Handley. Start behaving myself because I’m here for @MarketingProfs, but only till she chucks a breakfast potato at @SteveGarfield. Competitive streak kicks in. Throw two more at Steve. Make contact with both, but he’s so focused on his conversation that they bounce off him, unnoticed.
“Hi!” @annhandley @jasonfalls @nichole_kelly at #SXSW vine.co/v/bw5gOu7lnEL
1:30 p.m. sit in behind the scenes while @JasonFalls does a video interview on social media at the Hilton. @nichole_kelly oversees things. Marvel at how many people and how much lighting equipment fit into a hotel room. Consider the broader implications of this.
@jasonfalls is ready for his close-up! vocus @ SxSW 2013 instagr.am/p/WpmZoHBoFh/
3:15 p.m. Too early for Chevy Tweet House, so I head back to the Convention Center to walk the floor and see if @GaryVee is still doing Q&A.
3:46 p.m. @GaryVee still going strong after nearly five hours of Q&A outside Ballroom A in the Convention Center
4:00 p.m. Check out Samsung blogger lounge in the Convention Center. Run into @stevegarfield.
5:00 p.m. Crash @cc_chapman’s “Amazing Things Will Happen” book reading. Love the way he charms the crowd! He’s genuine, relatable, and smart.
6:00 p.m. Meet @MarkWSchaefer at the Ireland party at Kung Fu Saloon. Have a Guinness while sitting at a table that’s actually a Ms. PacMan video game. Retro! Have fun, interesting conversation with Mark before meeting @ClaireMcHugh of @Axonista and hearing about the VC pitch earlier in the day.
Met the enchanting @clairemchugh at the Ireland party! #SXSW @ Kung Fu Saloon instagr.am/p/WqEzLrhoDi/
7:00 p.m. Tag along to Exact Target party. Pilfer centerpiece flowers for use as hair accessories with Jodi Gersh and Nichole Kelly.
At the Exact Target party with @nichole_kelly @jodiontheweb #SXSW @ SxSW 2013 instagr.am/p/WqJRzjhoKI/
8:15 p.m. Copyblogger party at Buffalo Billiards. Sit with @JodiOnTheWeb for five minutes before @JasonFalls finds a table he likes better and hustles us back to it.
8:45 p.m. Meet @AnnTran_ (finally)! :) Ogle her awesome Samsung Galaxy camera with social integration. Bond over our SXSW OCD. Pose for group photo.
Me with @jessostroff anntran_ @kerrygorgone @ professiongal and @andreacook at the Copyblogger party.… instagr.am/p/Wqcmdcj-bj/
10:15 p.m. Ready to drop. Go back to hotel.
Friday, March 8th
6:30 a.m. Wake up. So wrong, but after two kids, can no longer sleep in.
7:30 a.m. Breakfast at hotel. Unavoidably overhear people at nearby table discussing their excursions the night before. One humblebrags about his Klout score. Inwardly cringe and outwardly giggle.
8:15 a.m. Plan sessions and parties, check email, do some work. Not enough time for that this week.
8:45 a.m. I have been RSVP’d to every event known to man, courtesy of RSVPster.com. Appreciate having options. Sift through emails to determine which events seem worthwhile and fun.
Noon. Grab lunch before heading downtown to get the lay of the land. Amazed at how crowded 6th Street is, even this early.
1:30 p.m. Check out pre-event set-up at Bourbon Girl for CafePress Shindig, hosted by bourbon connoisseur @JasonFalls. Admire event staff, who hustle to prepare registration area and set up complicated printing equipment so attendees can instantly receive custom printed shot glass featuring their own Instagram photo, taken at the party.
2:15 p.m. Head to Convention Center to get badge misprint fixed: name and image aren’t visible. Bummed they give me correct Interactive badge, as I received Platinum yesterday. Don’t despair overly, since scanning would have revealed the discrepancy. Bigger issue: they’ve lost the pic I uploaded. Forced to settle for dreaded “driver license” style photo. Lament decision to redo badge.
2:40 p.m. Quell sorrow by picking up second Interactive swag bag.
3:00 p.m. Succumb to Catholic guilt and give extra bag to local, so he can use it for grocery shopping. Austin no longer allows plastic shopping bags. Help Austinite. Help environment. Feel like good citizen.
3:30 p.m. Celebrate by heading back to Bourbon Girl for a beer. It’s 5:00 somewhere.
4:00 p.m. Have entirely too much fun with @JasonFalls, @JoselinMane, @BillHibbler and @SWonderlin, to name just a few.
5:00 p.m. Happy that @MarkWSchaefer stops by with @SGFrerich. Hugs and quick conversation about social media marketing strategy ensue.
5:30 p.m. Sad someone took my custom shotglass featuring fun pic with @JasonFalls. Lose faith in humanity.
Me and @jasonfalls at the cafepress #SXSW Shindig! #PressIt @ Bourbon Girl instagr.am/p/WnTRndhoI9/
6:00 p.m. Check out cool music store. Learn to smile again. Floored at how many different band tees they have.
6:15 p.m. Torn between Ramones and Johnny Cash. Distracted by piano shaped toilet seats for sale. Diversion saves me $35.
Guitar or piano toilet seats! #SXSW #ATX @ Wild About Music instagr.am/p/WnewR5BoJA/
6:30 p.m. Check into store on Foursquare. See promotion. Happily leave store with free guitar pick. Thanks, Foursquare! Leave to walk 6th Street.
7:30 p.m. In search of good barbecue. Take @JasonFalls advice and check out County Line. Outstanding food! Envy cows because they have four stomachs. Realize cows also get made into barbecue. Consider irony of this. Eat bread pudding bigger than my face. Delectable!
Bread pudding countylinehill is big enough for your family of six! #SXSW #foodporn #ATX @ County Line On… instagr.am/p/Wn1tWcBoIc/
9:00 p.m. Take in more Austin scenery before heading back to the hotel to work. Between tasks, follow social media posts of friends doing fun, awesome things.
Thursday, March 7th
Skipping around a little, but it seemed worthwhile to go back and blog about how “Hallway Magic” kicked in the moment I arrived for SXSW 2013!
4:30 p.m. Arrive at Austin Convention Center to pick up badge. Want to avoid waiting in line for hours on Friday. About to approach the window when C.C. Chapman spots me. Hug C.C. hard enough to qualify as chiropractic treatment. Also hug @davedelaney. Collateral damage.
What are the odds that he’d be the first person I see out of 20,000+ Interactive registrants? Pose for Instagram pic with C.C. to celebrate serendipity.
Bumped into @kerrygorgone already. Bentley at #SXSW instagr.am/p/Wk2Yq5g4u3/
4:40 p.m. Go to next window. (First staffer gave up on me when she saw me become entangled in Chapman hug.) Get wrong badge printed sideways from brand new SXSW staff member. Code still readable, so don’t worry about it, especially since incorrect badge is Platinum. Collect swag bags x 3 (Platinum = Film + Music + Interactive = Swag x 3).
5:45 p.m. Empty swag bags at hotel. Disappointed to find directories, session guides, and other paper goods. No nail polish. Swallow disappointment.
6:00 p.m. Get call from awesome friend and mentor Mark Schaefer — my boss at {grow} — inviting me to dinner with some friends. (He saw C.C.’s Instagram post and realized I was in town.) Marvel at how quickly the magic of SXSW takes effect. Apply lip gloss and head out to wait for R&R shuttle.
6:15 p.m. No sign of shuttle. Dinner in 15 minutes.
6:45 p.m. Still no shuttle. Dinner started 15 minutes ago. Hunger intensifying. Ready to chew own arm off. Jump in cab. Regret decision to purchase shuttle pass in advance.
7:15 p.m. Walk by 219 West without seeing door. Mark spots me and comes out to get me. Happy hugs and introductions all around.
Finally met friend and mentor @MarkWSchaefer of Obsesión fame! #SXSW @ 219 West instagr.am/p/WlEG6mhoAG/
Have incredible sliders and mac and cheese with Mark and three others, including @robzie81 and @swonderlin, who I see at nearly every event I attend the rest of the weekend.
9:45 p.m. Return to hotel and work. Reasonably sure I won’t have much chance to get work done later in the week!
If you’ve never attended Social Slam, make this your year! I’m moderating a panel on “Social Media Start-Up — Kick-start your social media program.” and I’d love to see you there. SoSlam.com
