MissingIntellect.Net

I should have posted something here by now. It’s not like I haven’t had anything to write about; I have, but whenever I felt like writing procrastination won out. Well not this time, let’s fix this. Better late than never, right?

I was recently able to attend the 3rd Annual Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California. I’d wanted to go the previous year but something came up that made me unable to go, so I’d been looking forward to this for a long time. Lucky for me it was within driving distance of my home, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have been able to go at all. Saying I had a great time that weekend would be an understatement. I felt like a kid at at summer camp that didn’t want the week to end. One of the greatest things about the podcasting community is that there is such a sense of friendship and comradery. I’ve developed some strong friendships and it’s great to finally meet these people face to face. It really underlined the discussion on Geek Cred Live about online friends: I’d never met any of these people face to face before, but it was like we were all old friends. I went and said hi to many people, but it was kind of weird being on the receiving end of that a few times. People actually listen to my show?

One really interesting phenomenon at the Expo was the use of Twitter. Many podcasters have adopted Twitter, and with so many together, it took on a new level of usefulness. It became an incredibly useful tool to have impromptu get togethers along with letting people know what you’re doing so people can hook up and hang out. While I was eating lunch, I checked Twitter on my phone, and I saw a tweet from Douglas E. Welch only a few minutes previous saying that he was eating, and sure enough, I turn around and he’s right behind me. The sheer number of people there using Twitter on their smartphone or laptop was amazing. And there were a lot of smartphone users there, specifically iPhone owners and a fair number of Treos as well.

While it was cool to wander the show floor and see what companies were showing off and who you might run into, after hours is where things really happened. The convention center kicked everyone out of the Exhibit Hall at 4PM. Podcasters sure know how to party! Just ask the LibSyn/Wizzard Media guys. The joke now is that it’s not a LibSyn party until it gets shut down by the cops. It was great just to hang out and socialize with people you consider friends and other like minded people who share your passions. I spent some quality time with Chuck Tomasi and Kreg Steppe, Douglas E. Welch, and the rest of the Friends in Tech guys, among with others. (If I didn’t mention you, please don’t be offended, there’s just so many of you I had such a great time with, there’s too many to list!)

The whole thing was an amazingly fun experience that I will never forget. Somehow, some way, I’m going to make it to the Expo next year, in Vegas. Even if that means eating nothing but Ramen noodles between now and next August.