Ah-h-h-h IZEAfest
What if Ted Murphy and Company (Carey, Ashley, to name but a few) gave a party and everybody came? Well, at least hundreds of people came. That’s happening this weekend in Orlando and they are to be congratulated on a conference chock-full of rock star speakers, worthwhile content and great attendees. Much has already been written about the jam-packed 3-day event where Mickey lives, but before the Tweet-stream ends I just wanted to add my two cents… and they’re more than 140. And give a few shout-outs to the more memorable (for me) moments and people.
Like everyone on Bus #3 to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, and especially Craig Murphy, Ted’s brother, (who answered my varied questions on the ride back while hiding his connection to the event and its organizer, remaining polite even while surreptiously taking cell phone calls to plan his Friday morning onstage Ted impersonation), I was rolling in the aisles at the video haunted house winner. The guy was so scared I was expecting the worst, but I’ve seen social media seminars more daunting than those houses! Then there are my SoFla tweeps and friends IRL @muurayiz and @amandastewart. The latter got me to ride the biggest, scariest roller coaster I’ve ever been on, just by being her kind and competent self! You can put your brain on auto-pilot when you hang with Amanda because she is always on top of things!
Speaking of on top of things, it was top of the next morning when Ted opened the show, followed by a steady two-day discourse on all that’s new and true in social media. The panels were well-chosen, the topics on-point, PR Sarah Evans, Brian Clark and Liz Strauss nothing short of awesome and Chris Brogan’s delivery by now is so comedically well-timed he could be doing stand-up in Vegas… or anywhere.
And the parties? Well, to paraphrase Brogan…what happens at IZEAfest stays on Facebook!