Meet the Candidates!

Rolling along with the SXSW Get the Vote Out campaign, today's potential presenter is me, Dave Olson.

A wee rookie at last years' SXSW, I fell into a groove and rocked it hard, producing an epic barrage of social media extravaganza.

As for presentations, i'm a guy who obsesses about doing something innovative in form and message - i avoid hackneyed acronyms and run o' mill tech babble to create sessions with a positive vibe and useful edu-tainment which you ain't heard before. Here's what I offer for SXSWi 2009:

For your Consideration:

1) F@ck Stats, Make Art - Dave Olson - solo

Via a pictorial journey through his own career of creating grassroots art and publications, renegade social media producer and writer Dave Olson will extol, encourage and explain the importance of taming the intimidation, solving conundrums and digging deep to muster authentic creative self expression in the digital era.

2) Social Media for Social Change - Dave Olson + panelists

Tips and case studies on how social change focused groups with limited resources can use the web, and internet tools including mobile technologies, to spread their messages effectively and inexpensively, as well as rapidly activate constituents for campaigns and activities to effectuate local or international change.

Meet the Candidates!

Rolling along with the SXSW Get the Vote Out campaign, today's possible panelist is Kris Krug.

Krug is fresh off presenting at a social media Symposium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Social Tech Training, nextMedia, Bridging Media, Telefilm Content Creators workshop, Federation of Post-Secondary educators ... and more - See "Catching up with Krug Tour in Banff" for info.

Another multi-year veteran of SXSW, Kris puts forth two panels for Interactive 2009 covering topics he's well known for discussing: doing business in China and photography - check the blurbs:

For your Consideration:

1) International Business in China for Fun and Profit - Kris Krug + panelists

There are myriad misconceptions about doing business in China, but with a massive market, talented workbase and intriguing culture, there are also many compelling reasons for entrepreneurs to consider expanding their enterprises to Asia. Practical questions are answered by a panel of ex-pat entrepreneurs.

2) Become a Semi-Pro Photographer in 10 Easy Steps - Kris Krug + panelists

Think your shots are good enough to pay the bills? A panel of emerging photographers discuss how they've turned their passion into a paying gig after beginning as (sometime self-trained) amateurs and reveal the tactics they've used to build portfolio, grow audience and increase exposure.

Meet the Candidates!

Rolling along with the SXSW Get the Vote Out campaign, heeerrrre's Robert Scales.

Robert Scales is the CEO and Founder of Raincity Studios, a consummate biz-ness-man and an international man of "open everything" evangelism.

A multi-year veteran of SXSW, he is pitching two panels for Interactive 2009 covering some of his dearest subjects: Drupal, Social Media, China and the Olympics.

For your Consideration:

1) Using Drupal to Manage, Publish, and Promote Your Content - Robert Scales + a collection of Drupalista panelists

Drupal is a fast-growing content management system built by a loose knit community committed to making a highly usable and infinitely extendable publishing platform ideal for individuals to enterprises. Learn how to use Drupal to organize content, publicize your message, and activate your audience.

2) Social Media and the Olympics - Robert Scales + panelists

Coverage of the Olympic Games is dominated by IOC's contracted rights-holder and accredited major media conglomerates however some feel there is a role for grassroots documentation of both sporting events and the cultural context. The related conundrums are discussed by social media makers who covered several Olympics Games.

Time for Voting!

The crowd-sourcing portion of the panel-selection for SXSW Interactive 2009 (scheduled March 13-17, 2009 in Austin, Texas) is underway.

The SXSW online panel picker is open for voting and commenting and you are invited (indeed encouraged) to sign-up (you know the drill) and vote for your the panels you think are most useful.

You don't have to be an attendee or planning to attend to vote - just be someone who's you know, interested. Questions about all this SXSW panel stuff? Check the SXSW Panel FAQ.

Stepping up

As the risk of shameless promotion, the topics listed here all seek to deliver solid practical skills along with discourse on the fundamental issues and the details.

If you have questions/comments/curiosities about the pitches, please consider leaving a comment on the SXSW panel picker - sure it takes an extra few moments but will help the selected panelists hone their messages if they are indeed picked. Also offering props publicly helps spread the voting goodness.

Do you have an awesome panel in the mix? Drop a comment and let's get the vote out!