This past Tuesday, the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival adjourned. Unfortunately, my employer felt SXSWi too expensive and unworthy for me to attend 7-11 March. Why spend money to attend a conference about social networking tools when I use many of these tools and virtually interact daily with several of the conference attendees already? Luckily, on my own time and dime, I was able to obtain a day pass and attend Monday, 10 March, events.
Upon my return I was asked by another conference attendee if I would have paid $500 to attend SXSW for the networking benefit excluding speakers/panels . My immediate answer was “Of course!” The enchantment of a day meeting social media mavens and awe of being a kid in a candy store has worn off a bit and I have reconsidered my answer to the question. I am still digesting Monday’s conversations, the SXSWi Twemes, live blogging, and podcasts posted during the conference week.
The panels, speakers and evening events are conversation starters. Kami Huyse, SXSWi Future of Corporate Blogs panel speaker, reflects why conferences are more than just free cocktails and bs, “I always learn a great deal from the attendees when I present at these conferences. There are a lot of challenging questions and interactions that help to shape and energize my thinking. I am sure that teaching is one of the best ways to refine old ideas and develop new ones. In fact, I wonder if presenters don’t learn more than attendees from these things.”
There will always be the bobble heads in the room lacking original thought and agreeing with everything and everyone. At SXSWi, I encountered more stimulating conversation than followers. Without the panels and speakers I would not have been introduced to new ideas and thoughts from those outside my circle.
Photo courtesy melody.gates.
