Guest Post from @brandguardian (Jo Porritt): Attending LikeMinds – A Virtual Perspective
Here follows the first of my guest posts this week. The first is from Jo Porritt (@brandguardian) who gives her perspective on Likeminds as a virtual event. Later this week I’ll also be posting another guest article from Trey Pennington (@treypennington), looking at Trey’s views on the comparisons between social media in the UK & US [post-Likeminds].
Here’s Jo’s perspective.
So I was set. I had my ticket.
LikeMinds! A people-to-people gathering in Exeter, Devon – an event bringing together world class experts, innovators and serious social media players. The brainchild of Scott Gould and Drew Ellis, supported by a host of other inspirational speakers and panelists. Like Charlie Bucket, finding one of the coveted Golden Tickets to Mr Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, I was excited and thrilled at the prospect of meeting and mingling with some of the best movers and shakers in our industry, and building on some of the inspiring relationships I have forged with those that I now consider to be my friends on Twitter.
Then fate played a part; I won three new clients in one week prior to the event and I simply knew with these deadlines I couldn’t make the two day, two night trip. After six months hard graft, I had won the work, but as a freelance consultant it meant I could not possibly deliver the goods to my clients and also afford the time away. A cruel irony indeed. No amount of chocolate bourbons could make it better (trust me, I tried) until I discovered that I could watch the whole event via livestream on Twitterface. I would work from my office at home in Guernsey, Channel Islands, and get to participate as a virtual guest!
I am not going to write a lot about all of the topics and speakers; suffice to say they were all fabulous, as I expected. I am going to write about the experience of watching and how it enabled me to participate from my little desk at home and what I was able to take from this.
The live-stream on Twitterface was brilliant. I could log into my Twitter account from the interface which enabled me to not only watch the event in real time, but converse with others on Twitter both at the event, and scattered around the globe in different timezones. An entirely connected audience. The advantage from this stance was being able to see the event, watch the inspiring panelists and speakers in action, but at the same time relay information to the online community. I found myself watching the stream from Olivier Blanchard who was tweeting some of the salient points as soon as the statements had been uttered by the speakers, and then immediately seeing the reactions from those on Twitter that weren’t there. I felt like a bridge between the two – which is social media in motion and at it’s very best!
The connection between the event and the Twitter community was a living, breathing, growing entity. I had inspiring discussions, right off the back of Olivier’s stream, I directed other Twitter users to watch it too, I made new connections and friends through all of this interaction. Some of the inspiring, funny and even moving, topics ignited others emotions and this was reflected in the sheer number of tweets, the positive sentiment and the fact that it all resonated way beyond that conference room. It became clear to me by the afternoon sessions that I wasn’t the only one getting this much from this virtual perspective.
What I learnt is that this truly was, and is, about the people. It was an enormous success in that it got everyone together, from those that had travelled from overseas to attend, to the organisers, the speakers and panelists, the sponsors and the online community. I have always believed in people-to-people as a model for success, way before social media was around. This LikeMinds gathering was a case study in action. I think it will be one of the catalysts for future models of conferencing. Demonstrating success when we all come together when joined by a common theme, regardless of geographic location or barriers, and still inspiring change.
As for any improvements or suggestions? The only thing I would say is that it would be great to have more coverage of the room and the audience. It was great to see Twitter avatars brought to life, and I think to have been able to have seen more of the delegates would have made it complete. From what I have been told, the lunchtime get-togethers were really popular. Again, changing the traditional model of conferencing, flattening any perception of hierarchy between speakers, panelists and delegates.
So I don’t feel that my physical absence prevented me from learning or participating or being inspired. I got to watch from another angle. I got to filter information further afield, and join the community globally that were also following and watching with me. I got to contribute by sharing the information that was relevant. I am still talking about it today, and so are many of my friends that didn’t attend. The LikeMinds Magic worked a treat, we are crackling with the same energy that has spread since last Friday. I can only imagine how fabulous it was to have actually been there. Many reported on the Sunday they were suffering from a post LikeMinds hangover, and not just from the face to face networking in the bar afterwards! It seemed a palpable difference had been made.
All of this from a conference I didn’t manage to get to. A conference that was organised, managed and communicated via social media alone. It goes without saying that I will be at the next one, this time in person. But please continue to provide the live coverage – this is the stuff that inspires miracles and manifests magic!
Scott & Co; I am sure that Charlie Bucket and Mr Wonka would have totally approved.
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A virtual attendee to another, this is great! It is always insightful to have someone else’s perspective
Really great entry. if one is not aware of Likeminds, this post will motivate to enquire more and want to attend, albeit, virtually.
Karima-Catherine
[...] Joe Porrit – Attending #likeminds: A Virtual Experience [...]
I was really interested in this post. The power of being physically there was so strong I wondered how it would come across online, would it be a letdown?
Reading this post I now see that connections and debate can still be made/had and even though it must have been a very hard decision not to come (one that I recognise and applaud) you did not miss out.
It was my first attendance at a Social Media event and I was enthralled from start to finish. (I am told that attending LikeMinds has spoilt me for any other events at is quite simply, ‘The Best’).
The speakers were inspirational, the organisation superb, lunch time sessions a brilliant idea and really insightful. Not only did I meet so many ‘Twitter’ friends in the flesh but I also made many new friends. The opportunity for networking was second to none and I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of some really sound advice.
My only complaint? I do not yet know the date for next year’s event so I cannot a) mark out the time in my diary or b) secure my ticket NOW!
[...] of all of them yet, however, James Whatley’s post from an attendee’s perspective and Jo Porrit’s from a virtual perspective are worth reading. Lots of good content [...]
absolute brilliance from the bourbon-addicted jo porritt! xxx
[...] Another valuable and insighful post about virtually attending the Like Minds from Jo Porritt guest blogging at Chris Hall’s : Attending LikeMinds – A Virtual Perspective [...]
[...] also becomes apparent is that the community curates itself. I love this post about Jo Porritt who virtually attended Like Minds, and says this abotu the experience: I could log [...]