Wanna Mingle?

Wowowow. Longgg day.

Long day, but good day.

This fabulous day, October 12, was FedScoop's ("a full-service government media and marketing company, specializing in government IT news, new media advertising and custom turn-key strategic networking events") 2nd annual FedTalks event.

It was this great, and surprisingly hip & stylish, event where speakers came to talk about how technology and new/social media can be used in government. I know that doesn't sound incredibly interesting, but it actually is (and that's coming from me, someone who requires an obscene amount of stimulation).

I spent the day (7am-7pm) helping out with set-up and registration, and got to meet and see some pretty cool people. I met Craigslist's Craig, and got to hear Arianna Huffington speak. I thought her speech was pretty motivational, especially when she talked about how democracy should not be a "spectator sport". She joked about how we vote once every 4 years, because every 2 years is "just too tiring" (something I am, ashamedly, so so so guilty of). She also emphasized that government needs to highlight the good things that social media is doing for our society, instead of consistently harping on the negatives, because some people are doing some really noble and productive things using all these new platforms. (see http://wevegottimetohelp.org/)

terrible Arianna Iphone pic

My favorite comment of hers, however, was that every time a politician talks, a bubble should appear next to his or her head (on whatever platform they are speaking through) that reveals all their alternative motives (i.e. funding, affiliations, ...). Then, she said, let's see how eager they are to get up and keep talking in front of everyone.

That would be pretty great though, wouldn't it? Everything they said would be seen in an entirely different light.

Anyhow, the event was fun - lot's of free stuff, like t-shirts, POPCHIPS!, Veggie Booty, pens, notebooks, and food food food galore. Everyone was super nice, and the whole thing was essentially a big networking event.

Because of it's networking/making connections nature, FedScoop hired the "Mingle Stick" guys to come and hand out these cool new-age business cards. The "Mingle Stick", a small USB drive that was handed out to everyone at the event, is equipped with a small button that you click as you point your drive at someone elses. Once the light turns green, you've essentially exchanged business cards - but with your social network of choice attached.

At first it's pretty easy to make fun of (which believe you me, we did - especially since "mingle stick" sounds unfortunately like "Disco Stick" - the Lady Gaga song that was then consequentially stuck in my head for the entire rest of the day) - but after a while it really starts to become handy (I say this, though I never actually got one). Later, on the metro, Mine and our new friend were about to write down each other's info, when they both realized that they had carried with them their "mingle sticks"

"Wanna mingle?" They said, and everyone on the metro very overtly turned their heads to watch the strange little awkward point & click ritual take place. I'm convinced that we could have gotten paid for our outstanding example of stealth marketing.

Anything for an additional source of income.