It was a whirlwind few days at #BWE09, and while, yes, Virginia, it was held in Las Vegas, there was a lot more “there there” than gambling and boozing it up.  It’s amazing to think that the whole “Internet thing” (add your own air quotes) has become not only so big that it needs to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, but that there is kind of graduate school for those of us in social media.  And I consider myself lucky to be able to do it for a living – and to keep learning at events like this.

A couple of thoughts about the conference:

1. What struck me the most was, for the most part, the humility of some of the real A-listers out there.  While here, I had the pleasure of meeting people like Guy Kawasaki, Brian Solis, Tac Anderson, David Armano, Shannon Paul and so many others that I’ll stop here.  Everyone whom I met was happy to say a hello, chat if they could, and share a story or a laugh time permitting.
2. At work, often, speaking about social media still emits that look that your dog gives you when you are naked, so there is tremendous camaraderie amongst the attendees.  It’s like one big group hug from people who get each other.  And for the most part, we all share the same stories and frustration at work.  And for the first time in my life, I did not worry when someone was on typing on their iPhone when I was talking – maybe I was actually getting tweeted (and was).
3. Being here is like learning a foreign language.  The more you know, the more you don’t know.  There were not many “well, duh” moments and I found myself soaking up the thinking of some really smart people.  It’s nice to get an intellectual shot to the head every once in a while.  No one can predict the future with certainty, but it was fascinating to hear people talk about where they think our profession is going.
4. Finally, the thing that I think struck me the most – and perhaps should have been the most obvious – was that many of the wonderful people whom I met were quiet and reserved.  A couple of them, I think, were much more comfortable organizing their thoughts via a blog — expressing them that way — than having an extended conversation.  Some folks are just more comfortable behind a computer than behind a podium.

So I feel like one lucky dude – I learned, I laughed and I got the opportunity to cement those friendship with all of the friends that I had not met yet.

See you next year.  I’m comin’ if I have to walk from DC.

Mark

P.S. – A quick shout out to Jason Falls. He made it possible for me to come and enjoy all of the above.  Thanks,  Jason.  Thank, ya, thank ya verr much.

I am currently at the keynote address of BlogWorld Expo 09 – “The Death and Rebirth of Journalism.” Participants are Brian Solis (Moderator), Don Lemon, Hugh Hewitt, Jay Rosen, Joanna Drake Earl.

• Don Lemon of CNN talked about how CNN uses Twitter and how he liked that it provides immediate feedback when they run a story.  In the past, you would send in a letter or even wait to call in a radio show, but now, within seconds, he reads tweets that provide feedback to stories.
• Hugh Hewitt said that when you are pushing out a message, you can test it within one or two news cycles and you will have instantaneous feedback.  He also said that journalism school are now turning out students with “completely irrelevant skill sets.”
• Jay Rosen talked how social media has made patients  learners, partners, and an educated audience.  When you think you have a medical condition, the first thing you will do is to look it up on the Web.  This has forced doctors to be more responsive, nimble, and expect more informed questions of their patients.  This is the equivalent of thousands of fact-checkers for a news organization.

More to come.

Mark

I am beyond psyched for the opportunity to to attend BlogWorld Expo 2009.  And it’s not just for the after-parties either.  I’m psyched for a many reasons, perhaps not so obvious.

First and foremost, I get to finally meet — in person — all of the people whom I consider friends.  Folks like Jason Falls, Eric Berto, Aaron Brazell Kate Buck and so many others.  What’s amazing about social media is that these are the people who have read my stuff, mine, theirs, and in the process, have developed relationships that lack only swilling drinks with umbrellas in the them, face-to-face.

The most important, reason, however, that I am juiced is that, since I stopped teaching at Georgetown University (and launched my little consulting gig while keeping the full-time gig), the intellectually stimulated part of my brain has gotten a little lazy.  I just don’t keep up with what’s new and exciting and what some of the Grand Masters of Social Media have to say.  There are so many people whom I love to read because every time I do read what they write, I learn something.  And most times, I say “wow.”

So with keynote speakers whom I follow like Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, Brian Solis, Jermiah Owyang, Maggie Fox,  CC Chapman and Shannon Paul (whom I get to share dais with – W00t!), I know that my head will be bursting with information and recharge my social media batteries.

I will be blogging a lot from the event- and Tweeting.  And let’s just hope that someone gave the heads up to the kind people at the Las Vegas Convention Center that there could be 1,000 techno-geeks in one room sucking up wireless bandwidth like bloggers at an open bar.  If someone has not warned them, we can just hope that the scenario below does not unfold.

See you in Vegas, baby.

Mark “The Flying Elvis” Story

P.S. – For those of who you plan on attending and have an iPhone, there is a wicked-cool APP with the entire BWE09 schedule on it – note: this was free last night when I downloaded it and now it’s $1.99.  Odd).  You can see who’s speaking, choose events and add them to your calendar.  I’ve added this app and it is beyond cool – and useful.