iMedia Connection Blog

I have a confession to make: Networking is both the scariest and most enjoyable part of my job. There is a small part of me that panics about the uncertainty of meeting new people in a professional setting: Who will I talk to? What will we talk about? What if I say something that makes me look like a total idiot?

I've learned a few tricks over the years, the most significant of which is the power of knowledge. It helps to come to prepared -- research the people and companies attending, the venue, anything that will help you to navigate social politics with intelligence.

Here is a great example: Last week I attended the thinkLA Spring Mixer, which was held in the Foundation room of the House of Blues in Hollywood, Calif.

The fabulous House of Blues

The first thing someone said to me was, "Jim Belushi owns this place, and when he comes to eat dinner, he sits at the table you're looking at." What a great way to start a conversation, right?

The view from Jim Belushi's table at The Foundation Room

This inspired me to break the ice by asking folks about how they break the ice at professional functions. Here are... Read more

Who did you root for?
Marketers watched the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens duke it out on two massive screens in the  posh Ritz Carlton ballroom.
Luckily for us, everyone behaved themselves despite the surprising (and very entertaining) competitiveness  displayed by some.
The party kicked off the three day iMedia Brand Summit in Amelia Island, Fla. The summit -- hosted by Bob Thacker --  features the insights of superstar marketers from mega brands such as Macy's, Jack Daniels, Bath and Body Works, General Mills, and more. Be sure to check out my coverage of the event.
Now, for some eye candy:

Day two of the iMedia Agency Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz. concluded with "great America" themed receptions. The cocktail hour and dinner reception proved a great way to end a busy day of keynote addresses, master tracks, industry debates, and one to one meetings.
 
The western themed cocktail party was decorated with cowboy hats and boots.

Vintage signs

Dinner, sponsored by Weather Bug, had a route 66 vibe. 

The party exuded a 50's feel with red lights

Red vinyl

A classic red car

And very cool projections

The 2012 iMedia Agency Summit was held at the beautiful Marriott Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Ariz.
 
If you've read my summit photo blog before, you know that I tend to focus on atmosphere, while my colleague Bethany Simpson, iMedia's video director, works her magic capturing images of attendees.
Here is a taste of the flora and fauna that attendees encountered on the first day of the summit.

The rabbits are definitely used to being photographed by guests -- and, as to be expected, there are plenty of them.

It wouldn't be Arizona without cacti, would it?

Not a soul to be seen in the jackrabbit pool,

But I'm sure that will all change tomorrow with a bright and sunny forecast.

The average room is set up like a mini suite,

With private patios.

At the back of property, there's an old-timey western set.

Exploring it alone was both fun and creepy. It was like a ghost town in the late afternoon, as attendees were in their rooms preparing for the cocktail party and dinner.
 

Day one of the iMedia Breakthrough Summit was fun, informative, and engaging. My esteemed colleagues Andy Cheng and Kyle Montero are doing a marvelous job of covering the hustle and bustle of this event. Kyle wrote about yesterday's keynote address, and Andy has endeavored to capture the entire event on camera.
While Andy took snapshots of people, I ventured to take snapshots of the environment. This is what the summit world looks like between keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking breaks, and one:one meetings at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Texas. 
This morning I spied grazing alpacas from my hotel balcony. I'm not certain that they're alpacas, but I like the word so the name stays.

Say it with me: "Alpaca." Doesn't it feel exotic?

The alpacas came with a warning. As far as I know, alpacas don't grow horns. But then again, we don't even know if these cuddly mammals are actually alpacas. The white one likes to do somersaults in the grass so -- regardless of actual genetic makeup -- he passes my litmus test.

On my way to the attendee breakfast I passed by Butterfly Meadow.

The garden definitely attracts butterflies.

But where there are butterflies, there are also other bugs like giant wasps... Read more