A few hours have passed since I have returned home from this year’s BizBash Expo & Awards in New York. Overall, I thought it was a very successful event and look forward to attending additional BizBash events in other cities.
I can count the number of times I have been in the Big Apple on one hand (my next trip there will change this) and was looking forward to seeing the Jacob Javits Center. I can now cross that off my bucket list. Note to the Javits Center – you may want to reexamine your policy on accessible wi-fi in the venue. I am extremely pleased that I had the 3G service on my iPad.
David Adler and Liz King had invited me to participate as a Social Media Coach in the Social Media Lounge on the BizBash Expo floor and I was happy to do so. The Social Media Lounge was packed with attendees as the show first opened and it was so nice to meet so many other #eventprofs that I had never met face to face before and only knew from conversations on Twitter. I truly believe that social media helps facilitates meeting in person and my experiences at BizBash just reaffirm that. The folks who run BizBash “get” social media and were heavily promoting its use on the show floor and in it’s pre-show marketing – many other events industry organizations could learn a thing or two from the BizBash team.
Two hours had flown by with me participating in many coaching sessions with various attendees with questions on LinkedIn, Twitter and blogging. I was very impressed with the quality of the questions being asked and the willingness they had to try new ideas out.
Finally had the opportunity to walk around the expo floor and check out the various offerings from different entertainers, party venues, prop providers and other various suppliers. There was an energy on the expo floor that was very upbeat and had a positive vibe. Music was blaring from a variety of deejays and it was fun to walk around. In other words, it was the exact opposite of what I expect to find when I am on the trade show floor for IAEE’s Expo! Expo! in a few weeks (a good event I enjoy attending, but not the most exciting either).
I was very glad to see that Brad Wilson was able to accept the BizBash Readers’ Choice Award on behalf of The Three Waiters as Entertainment Act of the Year during the closing awards ceremony. Those of you who attended the original EventCamp in February 2010 may recall Brad and The Three Waiters entertaining us during lunch. I’ve had the opportunity to see The Three Waiters at a few other events and they are always entertaining. A well deserved honor!
On a personal note, I was pleased to get a few direct messages on Twitter and a few emails from folks who were able to earn FourSquare badges while attending BizBash. I am glad that my post was able to assist you (A big thank you to Liz King for posting that article on her blog as well!). I was able to earn five FourSquare badges while I was in town. If it was raining after BizBash was over, I might have jumped on the subway over to Brooklyn for quick tour and possibly another badge – maybe next time!
Congratulations to David Adler and the entire BizBash team for a job well done!
