This will be my first year going to SXSW so I called on a couple of friends who have taken the journey to Austin.  Full disclosure, I created this last year, reviewed it and it’s still powerful for the people. 

An event like SXSW can be pretty overwhelming if you are not careful, so I’ve pull together some resources that I think you would find helpful.  If you are on twitter there are tips being shared by all kinds of folks at the following hashtag: #SXSWTips 

Short Video Resources

1. C.C. Chapman

This is a pretty cool video that is entertaining and filled with great tips.

SXSW Advice from C.C. Chapman on Vimeo.

 2. Monique Johnson & Jenny Blake

Jenny Blake creator of Life After College and Monique Johnson creator of the Virtual Handshake

3. Michael Margolis

Michael Margolis is the founder of “Get Storied“

 4. Pam Slim

Pam Slim from PamelaSlim.com

5. Charlie Gilkey

Charlie Gilkey from “Productive Flourishing“

 6. Katie Felton

Katie Felten

7. Nick Reese (unedited version)

Great video by Nick Reese

The post SXSW For Newbies (7 Short Videos From Folks You Might Know) appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

How to Build Powerful In-Person Networks From Your Social Contacts

Our article on Social Media Examiner that will help you turn #HashtagsToHandshakes with your social contacts.  Enjoy.  The article can be found HERE

As always, my goal is to help you Run the Point (Take Action) from where you are, with what you have.

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

The post Our Debut on Social Media Examiner: “How to Build Powerful In-Person Networks From Your Social Contacts appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

Moving our ideas from ideas to actual tangible things in this world is something many of us struggle with–I know I’m guilty of it.  The 99U Conference is the answer to our woes.  Their whole focus is on helping creative folks make ideas happen.  The people who grace the stage and the workshops (master classes as they call it) are all focused on understanding how series achievers make ideas happen.

I was fortunate to catch up with Jocelyn Glei, Editor-in-Chief and Directory of 99U  for this audio interview.

Grab your favorite beverage, plug in your headphones and enjoy the interview.

Event: 99U Conference

Focus: Making ideas happen

Dates: May 2 -3 2013

Contact: www.99U.com/conference

Remember, long after the conference concludes, it’s the connections that continue.

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

The post Hashtags To Handshakes Interview Show: 99U Conference appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

I had a great time being part of the Massachusetts Conference for Women and it was almost ruined when I ran into a hater who wasn’t selected as a speaker and thought there was something to be gained by saying being a man and being Black is what put me over the edge to be one of the speakers.  I have to SMH because I’ve been working on this deal / relationship for over 1 year.

What Could Have Happened

• I could have been crushed by the comments and ruined the rest of my conference
• I could have been a smart ass
• I could have, like the hulk, turned green and become an Angry Black Man

Lessons To Be Learned

1. Focus: Focus on your circle of control and your circle of influence.  Getting caught up in things that you have zero control over doesn’t help you one bit.
2. You’re on to something: Once you start getting haters, you are doing something worth hating.  Don’t stop; use their hate as fuel.
3. Filtration: Even when you get “feedback” or input that you don’t like to hear or in a way you don’t like to hear it, look for any truth or something you can actually learn from it.

Conferences are a beautiful opportunity to connect with a lot of other like minded people.  Every so often you will run into mean (some on purpose and some unintentional) people.  Keep you head up and remember that what you are creating is a beautiful garden and have no time for weeds.  Pluck ‘em and keep on tending to the garden.

Have you run into haters on your conference journey?  I’d love to hear your story and how you handled it. 

As always my goal is to help you Run the Point (Take Action) from where you are, with what you have.

Your Ambassador,

Bruny 

The post Conference Networking & Haters (Based on a True Story) appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

 ”The story I’m making up in my head; the story I tell myself that fuels my anxiety is, ‘everyone has someone here but me,’ that’s what conferences feel like to me.”

Those are words from Dr. Brene Brown who would want to just be called, “Brene.”  You shouldn’t be surprised if you are familiar with her work on vulnerability and her latest book, “Daring Greatly.”  I just finished the audio version of Daring Greatly and loved it.  It got 2 snaps and a bow tie tug (that’s a good thing).  (Feel free to Tweet that).

The video talks to the experience of meeting Brene for the first time and what brought about the opportunity.  Just in case you were wondering, she is just as cool in person as she was on her TEDTalk.

Below is a rough sense of what we spoke about when I interviewed her at the Massachusetts Conference For Women:

It’s so funny that conferences are supposed to be about 2 things: 1. The exchange of information, but they are also supposed to be about Connection. And very few people feel connected at conferences.

“As someone who suffers from CAD, Conference Anxiety Disorder, it’s about getting to a new environment; a physically new environment, that I don’t know. Being with people I don’t know. They are usually overly large venues and I’m trying to figure out, where am I going to belong; where are my people.

What role can social media and the thought of turning Hashtags to Handshakes play in all of this?

The thing I think social media can do that is great, is help people to start cultivating connections and belonging before they get to a conference; “Hey, I can’t wait to meet you;” “let’s meet here,” “let’s do this together.” And so to me using technology, especially social media helps people get things in advance; especially when there are 50 breakout sessions and we are trying to figure out which way to go and how am I gonna get everywhere.   Many times there are threads in conferences and people try to follow them, but it gets really overwhelming. And people have to make very hard choices, “do I go see her or do I go see him.”

I think all people need to do to enjoy conferences is have a sense of belonging; I always say social media is communication not connection, but I do think in this case the communication that social media can help to facilitate connection.

As a speaker at one of the biggest conferences for women in the U.S. I’m scared to death, but I’ve been reading the hashtag, #MassWomen, for the last 2 weeks and people are like, “hey, can’t wait to see you,” or like when I met you (referring to me–Ambassador Bruny), “I was like, I recognize you from twitter–hey.”  We have an immediate connection and we have something to talk about and we have something we share in common.  For me I’m interested in meeting the people I’ve seen on Twitter; cause I feel a sense of connection already and I think that is neat. So I think that is the power of social media as primarily as a communication tool that can lead to connection if we follow-up.  It’s about the conversion. The conversion rate of using communication(Social Media) to convert to real connection. I think we can help facilitate that as conference programmers.

If someone like you could use social media to create tweet-ups and say “let’s meet here,” and connect people interested in a certain thing, that would help. <–That’s where my work with “The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes,” comes in.

What keeps people from fully embracing the conference experience?

The thing that keeps me up in my room paying too much for romantic comedies, is the scared 7th grader inside me, who doesn’t want to walk into a room full of people. The story I’m making up in my head; the story I tell myself that fuels my anxiety is, everyone has someone here but me; has a group, has belonging. And it’s the sweaty palm 7th grader with the heavy tray in the cafeteria; that’s what conferences feel like to me.

What’s the difference between connecting with someone on Social Media and connecting in person?  

The difference is, when we communicate using social media there is not a vulnerable bid for connection. If I call you on the phone and say, “hey this is Brene, would you like to meet for breakfast tomorrow,” that is a vulnerable bid for connection. If I tweet you and say, “I can’t wait to meet you at this thing,” it’s safe.

Parting thoughts? 

Give people a place that they can go. It’s all about belonging.

Thank you Brene.

Remember, Long after the conference has concluded, it’s the connections that continue.

The post Talking Hashtags to Handshakes With Brene Brown at The Massachusetts Conference For Women appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

As always my goal is to help you Run the Point (Take Action), from where you are, with what you have.  

Your Ambassador,

Bruny

P.S. Long after the conference has concluded it’s the connections that continue!

The post A Lesson Learned At The Massachusetts Conference For Women appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Laurie White from the Massachusetts Conference For Women.  I’m honored to be working with them as an emcee for their Blogger’s Lounge and running a social media round table around “Hashtags to Handshakes” as well.  I’d love to see you there on Thursday, December 6 in Boston.  I’ll even throw in a discount code so you can save $40 on a very reasonably priced ticket. Visit this link: Registration Link  and use this code  MACD86.

In the video below you’ll learn:

• How it all got started
• How they answer the question, “The event is over, now what?”
• What I learned from Gretchen Rubin at last year’s event
• How they keep the conference fresh from year to year
• How they are having an impact on the community (you can get involved if you come to the conference)
• How to become a speaker at one of their events
• And much more…

Just in case you can’t see the video above, here’s the link: http://vimeo.com/54494949

More Info

The event is taking place on Thursday, December 6 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and you can learn more about the event at: www.MAConferenceForWomen.Org

Not in the Boston area?  Don’t worry, there is a bigger movement at play; they hold conferences in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas. Learn more at www.ConferenceForWomen.Org

Remember,”Long after the conference has concluded, it’s the connections that continue.”

Your Ambassador,

Bruny

The post Hashtags to Handshakes Interview Show: Meet The Massachusetts Conference For Women appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

Long after the conference has concluded it’s the connections that continue!

Your Ambassador,

Bruny

The post Ambassador Bruny Swings By The Pulse Network appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

Laura Fitton at Last Year’s Brand Camp U conference in Boston

In an earlier post, I shared the case study about How I connected with Hajj Flemings and the good folks at Brand Camp U last year.  The video below is a quick snapshot of why I’m going back this year.  What’s your favorite event to attend?  What keeps you coming back?  Leave a comment below.

As always my goal is to help you Run the Point (Take Action) from where you are, with what you have.

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

The post Why I’m Going to Brand Camp U Boston And You Should Too appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.

Turning #Hashtags to Handshakes With @AlaiaWilliams at Power Boost Live in Arizona

I caught up with Alaia Williams who is the mastermind behind  “At the Helm: Women in Biz” conference (It’s targeted towards women, but a few brave men attended last year’s event).  

Alaia wasn’t finding something that met her need so she decided to create her own.  That by the way, makes her one of my new VBFF (Virtual Best Friends Forever).  I love how she started out by building a networking group and then stepped up her game by provided them a conference so her community could receive more value.  

Event: At The Helm: Women in Biz 

Website: www.ATHWomen.com

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2012

Time: 9a.m to 5p.m 

Location: Santa Monica, CA

Here is the video below:

Just in case you can’t see the video, here is the link: http://youtu.be/LBzO_0gDYnc

Here are questions I asked Alaia  

1. What originally sparked the idea for the conference?
2. Tell me what makes your conference different from other conferences?
3. Who do you think will benefit most from attending this conference?
4. What would you like people to think, do or feel as a result of attending your conference?
5. How have you created conditions and opportunities for attendees to connect with each other during the conference?
6. Anything else you would like to share with us about the conference?  Best link for people to visit to get more information.

The post Alaia Williams From “At The Helm: Women in Biz” Conference [Hashtags to Handshakes Show] appeared first on The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes.