I was recently invited to a social media gathering in Ottawa. In fact, I received two invitations from the host within ninety minutes of each other; one from Meetup.com, the other from Facebook.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe I can attend the event. Nevertheless, I checked both sites to gauge response and determine if there is any consistency to the responses between the sites. I noticed that Meetup.com indicates 6 confirmations, 4 maybes and 1 regret, and Facebook indicates 17 confirmations, 41 maybes and 55 regrets.

While I appreciate the need to cater to the ‘online styles’ of all invitees, I wonder about the fractured nature of our online reservation systems. I realize that we cannot dictate the online habits of the members of the community, yet I wonder about the administrative efforts imposed on event organizers to promote their events and manage communications with the participants.

If we can get the physical location, date and time figured out for the real-life interaction, can we not do the same for the way we coordinate ourselves in the online world?

When: Thursday, January 24, 7:00 PM

Where: The Arrow and Loon (indoor patio)
99 Fifth Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1S 5K4
613.237.0448

Guest speaker: Alan Neal, host of CBC’s Bandwidth

Presentation: Hosting your show

After years of hosting CBC’s Ontario lunchtime magazine show, Ontario Today, Alan moved to the pop culture section of the CBC dial, bringing a fresh and energetic flair to the music show, Bandwidth — the closest thing to being a podcast while not being a podcast on CBC.

Alan will talk about techniques for planning and hosting your podcast.

Click here to learn more information or to RSVP.

There will be a podcast meetup tonight in Toronto.  Here are the details…

Toronto Geek Dinner/Podcast Meetup (RSVP in Facebook)
Thursday, November 15th at 6:30pm
Imperial Public Library (54 Dundas Street E)

See you there.

I’ll be in Toronto and Vancouver later this month. During both stops, I will be attending geek dinners/podcast meetups.

• Toronto Geek Dinner/Podcast Meetup (RSVP in Facebook)
  Thursday, November 15th at 6:30pm
  Imperial Public Library (54 Dundas Street E)

• Vancouver Geek Dinner/Podcast Meetup (RSVP in Upcoming)
  Monday, November 19th at 6:00pm
  Steamworks Brewing Co., Gastown location (375 Water Street)

Please be sure to RSVP so that the organizers can arrange sufficient space at the venues. Both events are open to everyone so, even if you find out about this gathering at the last minute, show up.

The Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group held it’s second meeting of this season at the Clock Tower Brew Pub on Thursday, October 18.

There were a lot of newcomers at this gathering and one of them, Natasha, won a $25 gift certificate from Steve’s Music Store in Ottawa.

The guest speaker was Jeff Parks. Besides his many projects and podcasts (see links below), Jeff was one of the three founders of the Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group.

This episode of the Sound Connections podcast features the entire presentation by Jeff and the engaging discussion that followed. Key points that Jeff raised during his talk include:

• Pay it forward depends on community
• Don’t think in terms of making money
• Think in terms of advancing the medium and helping others
• Google development rule #9: Users, not money
• Share knowledge, help and the money will follow
• Mentoring can be educational for all involved

Relevant links and resources:

• The Daily Source Code (podcast)
  
• The Pay it Forward Foundation
• Pay it Forward the movie (excerpt included)
• Canadian Podcast Buffet (podcast)
  
• Podcasters Across Borders (conference)
• PodCamp
• Talkshoe Network
• This American Life (podcast)
• Ira Glass YouTube interviews
• Tod Maffin’s From Idea to Air electronic book

Jeff’s podcasts can be found at the following URLs:

• I.A. Podcast
• CapCHI Podcast
• Boxes and Arrows

 

 Pay it Forward - Podcasting and Mentorship [51:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When: Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 7:00 PM

Where: Clock Tower Brew Pub
575 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON K1S5L7

Guest speaker: Jeff Parks

Presentation: Pay It Forward - Mentoring and Podcasting

Jeff will discuss his philosophy on mentoring and podcasting, and how this approach can be a model of behaviour for business and government around the concept of “community”.

Jeff Parks is an Information Architect who has been Podcasting about IA, User Experience, and Human Factors for nearly two years. In November he will be starting a new role with the Market Research and User Experience Firm, Phase-5 as the Vice President of User Experience.

Jeff’s podcasts can be found at the following URLs:

• I.A. Podcast
• CapCHI Podcast
• Boxes and Arrows

Click here for more information or to RSVP

Tod Maffin’s email came out earlier today: a last minute social media meet-and-greet with Jeremiah Owyang (formerly of PodTech, soon to be with Forrester) would be held this evening in a Vancouver lounge.

As it turned out, the lounge was booked for a private event. Thankfully, us social media types are very adaptable. We ended up talking about the web and digital toys (like Andrei’s Sony Ericcson phone that scans and reads business cards) at Milestones in Yaletown.

By this time tomorrow night, I’ll have attended three new media/social media events in three nights. What’s particularly nice is that I’ve made new friends (Tatsuya Nakagawa, Rachel Newton, Vern Baker, Chuck LeDuc and Andrei Iancu) that I will have the opportunity to connect with, again, tomorrow night. It was also great to hang out with Derek Miller (not because he was my ride).

The Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group kicked off it’s second season last Thursday (September 20). The gathering of podcasting veterans (Charles Hodgson and Steve Reside), potential podcasters (Mitchell Beer, Dan, Chamika Ailapperuma and Chakula Chaluka), out-of-towners (Julien Smith and Isabelle Michaud).

After the community had shared ideas and war stories for a while, Maurizio Ortolani (New Media Producer with the National Arts Centre) delivered a great presentation on the NAC’s podcast and new media strategy.

Maurizio discussed:

• how production methodologies can be traced to the NAC’s national mandate as a public institution
• the use of podcasts and new media to educate and entertain while promoting the NAC’s ongoing activities, music and theatre performances, orchestra tours and special events
• the very different formats and styles, ranging from methodically planned to off-the-cuff, of the various podcasts
• production and hosting challenges and solutions
• legal challenges and how the NAC has found solutions in cooperation with the orchestra, the musicians’ union, guests and rights holders
• measuring success quantitatively and qualitatively
• graduating from consumer-grade to professional audio gear
• podcasts and new media as part of the NAC culture

Maurizio’s presentation should be required listening for anyone and any organization that is considering (or may already be) using podcast and new media technologies as part of marketing and PR strategies.

Links to resources mentioned:

• National Arts Centre website
• National Arts Centre podcasts
• Arts Alive website
• Canadian Podcast Legal Guide

 

 Podcasts and new media as part of the NAC culture [48:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I am taking advantage of a work trip to Vancouver to organize a meetup of podcasters, podcast listeners and the podcast curious. The event will take place 7:00pmPT Sunday, September 23 at the Steamworks Brewing Co. Gastown location (375 Water Street) — makers of great beer including their Nirvana Nut Brown Ale.

Please RSVP so that we can warn Steamworks about our numbers.

The event is open to everyone so, even if you find out about this gathering at the last minute, show up.

Due to very limited space at the Clock Tower Brew pub, a result of three social media gatherings converging on the venue at one time, the Ottawa Podcast and New Media Meetup Group September meetup has been moved a few blocks south to The Arrow and Loon Pub (corner of Bank Street and Fifth Avenue).

Our guest speaker for the September meetup is Maurizio Ortolani, New Media Producer with the National Arts Centre. Maurizio will deliver a presentation about the National Arts Centre’s podcast and new media strategy and their observed results. The latest count: 20 YES, 11 MAYBE.

There will be plenty of time to speak with Maurizio and mingle with other members of the community.

When: Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:00pmET

Where: The Arrow and Loon (indoor patio)
99 Fifth Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1S 5K4
613.237.0448