Onto more thoughts about the recent travel jag. This time, Community 2.0 is the focus. This post is a brain dump more than any single topic.
Face to face is fun
For the first time ever, Chris and Lee (my Clue Unit partners) and I were all in the same physical place. We've known each other for years but have never been in the same place at the same time. Me with Chris and me with Lee, but never all three.
SXSW vs. Community 2.0
Both events have radically different vibes. After all, SXSW didn't have tables in the sessions, much less champagne on the tables first thing in the morning.
I was incredibly excited, however, at the vibe and the discussion at Community 2.0. Thing is, I didn't really learn anything new, but I met a great many people who were already working on community projects. Many people there have already built community efforts and were trying to figure out how to take it from the minor, mostly small efforts they'd already kicked off and turn it into something far larger. Something that can grow into the next level.
These folks didn't come from gaming or tech, they came from market research, manufacturing, education, and multiple other industries. Change is happening, and now it's tangible.
Rockstars and Introductions
I've followed Chris Heuer of the Social Media Club for some time. He's a bit of an industry rockstar, to say the least. Not only did I get to meet him, I got to hear him speak, and got to help hlm do up Vegas right. Enough said about that.
Recaps
Lee wrote a fantastic recap of his thoughts of both SXSW and Community 2.0. If you couldn't make either, find out about it now. Great overview.
The event blog also has a number of event discussion.
Red Rock Hotel and Casino
I want to move into my room, seriously. Spacious, huge flat screen TV, fantastic bed, and wonderful overall design. Someone described the hotel as "The W meets the trailer park". Seriously though, very nice place to stay, even if the hallways are as long as a football field and the conference center was hidden, probably on purpose. Don't ask me why – it's probably a security thing. Or poor design, but security issue sounds much more interesting.
On the spot, podcast style
Chris Heuer did a quick podcast asking me "What is 'Community 2.0'?" It was off the top of my head with zero participation, so forgive me if I sound like an idiot.
As we were driving from the hotel to the Strip the last night I was there, Chris Heuer pulled out the mic and podcasting began. Dangerous? Perhaps. Fun? Absolutely.
