Blogging Dinner in Toronto

Just returned from a blogger dinner to welcome Shel Israel (co-author of Naked Conversations) to Toronto. The beer was a buck fifty more than advertised and the chicken wings disappeared faster than a termite at an anteater convention, but it was all good. To Alec Saunders, Dave Forde and Pete Dawson, who organized the event, a huge thanks.

I'm in the process of sifting through the business cards I collected to see who I need to add to my feeds. I always feel that an event like this demands that people should have a URL or net name or something floating over their head (akin to in a MMORPG). That way you know just who you're dealing with.

"Jeremy, well it's a pleasure to have met you. G'bye. ...wait a minute. Jeremy Wright. That was Jeremy Wright. That was b5media President Jeremy Wright. Oh krunk - I hope I wasn't a total putz when talking to him."

One of the great things about an event like this is you get to hear a lot of interesting conversations. I spent a good deal mixing my way through the crowd and listening in on the discussion. Met a lot of new folks whom I hope to meet again.

I also learned that my doppelganger is also a fan of Shel's work. Seems my like-a-look was in the crowd at the AIMS session on Blogging for Executives and apparently was one of the few there who seemed to 'get it'. Just not a lot of enthusiasm directed Shel's way at that talk. Always comforting to know my like-a-look knows what's what when it comes to the importance of social media. I discover all this as Shel initially took me to be my like-a-look and seemed so happy to see me again. I felt bad that I wasn't, but assured him if I had been there I'd of been nodding right along with my like-a-look.

After clearing that up, I did get the chance to chat with Shel briefly and get a copy of the book signed. The Halton Peel Communications Association is having an evening devoted towards the discussion of blogging and I intend on giving this copy of Naked Conversations to someone there.

I'll have to keep my eyes open for future Toronto blogging events.