interactiveAmy.com

This has been a fantastic summer, and while I am so sad to see it go, I am beyond psyched to celebrate Summer’s Last Stand, North Coast Music Festival, being held in Chicago’s Union Park September 3-5, 2010. What a great way to spend Labor Day weekend!  While three-day passes sold out weeks ago, single day tickets are still available. Check out North Coast Festival website for ticket information.

I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work on the PR, press outreach and social media for the festival.  I love that I am living my dream job everyday, and this experience is one I won’t soon forget.   This assignment combines my love of live music and concerts, with my enthusiasm for spreading the word about something I believe in!  It has been an absolute pleasure to connect with fans, bloggers, press and concert-goers in the months leading up to the festival, and  I can’t wait for Saturday, 9/4 at 6pm, when I host the official North Coast Festival Tweet Up by the entrance to the Chicago Reader Living Gallery – I can finally meet everyone IRL (in real life!)  You don’t even need to be on twitter to attend, but if you are, please RSVP to the Twtvite, and we’ll be on the lookout for you.

Working on publicity for the inaugural North Coast Festival has been a rewarding experience, both personally and professionally!  I had a milestone moment when my name (ok, my logo, but I totally answer to interactiveAmy) was listed as partner along side great companies including Groupon, Red Eye Chicago, Time Out, etc,  It was my vision board manifesting!

My vision board manifested! InteractiveAmy is a North Coast Festival partner!

This week has been beyond busy  -  my inbox has been bombarded with press inquiries, press list additions and modifications, band interview requests and figuring out concert logistics, and I have loved every minute! So much so, that I realized I haven’t even had time to write my North Coast Fest preview post (until now) or  customize my concert schedule on Jambase! The festival line up is a great mix of Electronica, Jam Band and non-stop opportunities to dance!  My friend offered a great sneak peek of her Friday concert schedule on The Local Tourist, and I have to admit, this Wolverine will be following closely behind RandomMSUgirl! I can’t wait for Paul Van Dyk, Pretty Lights and Chemical Brothers on Friday, and then following the fest, I’ll be heading over to the Disco Biscuits after show at the Congress.

Saturday brings another jam-packed line up (in addition the aforementioned TweetUp at 6pm), I’ll be hitting De La Soul for sure! I have had the pleasure of working with De La Soul on a past assignment, and even got a birthday tweet shout out from PlugWon!  I am hoping I’ll be able to catch up with them over the weekend, it should be no surprise that even 20 years after the release of 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul is rocking and they are in high demand, they have been one of the most requested interviews!  Then I’m torn… Moby DJ set or Chicago’s own  Umphrey’s McGee… oh, decisions decisions!  The Saturday night after show is also a big decision, I have tickets to Omega Moos at Metro and New Mastersounds at Double Door… Follow my festival tweets to see where I end up… iPhone battery permitting, of course!

The weekend weather looks outstanding, and so does Sunday’s North Coast Fest Line up, I’m planning on kicking off the day with local rockers Loyal Divide, and hitting up Lupe Fiasco in the evening.  The final set decision is another toughie, I expect to be bouncing back and forth between Disco Biscuits and Nas & Damian Marley, and then energy level permitting I’ll be at the Bottom Lounge for Brendan and Joel of Umphrey’s McGee after show!

Chicago's Labor Day Weekend Forecast is sun-tactular!

What a weekend line up!  See why I’m so psyched?

As you plan your North Coast Festival Weekend, please take a moment to review the WILL CALL ticket policy (WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND PICKING UP TICKETS BEFORE FRIDAY!) and also check out the festival map.  If you want to plan you eating options in addition to which shows you’ll be going to; there will be food vendors on site including: Abbey Pub, Bella Luna, Bo’s Concessions, Cevapcici, Chicago Soydairy, Frank’s Greek Delights, Juicy Jays, Lee Concessions, Market Restaurant, O’Brien’s, Pizano Pizza & Pasta, Smoke Daddy, Soul Vegetarian, Tipparos Thai Restaurant, Veerasway, Wishbone Restaurant, plus beer from a favorite Vermont brewery, Magic Hat!

Be safe, have fun and see you at North Coast Music Festival!  I’ll be the one live tweeting…

On my day off, I was not outside enjoying the weather or sleeping in, but instead I chose to watch a video of Ramon DeLeon’s presentation at the Social Media Summit. I encourage you to watch it as well!

This being my second business conference, I expected very similar insights to the Alterian Engaging Times Summit. However, the Social Media Masters’ Summit instead focused more on the variety of case studies while interviewing the speakers and their thoughts on social media. Hope Bertram, the founder and creator of the Windy City Social, was very organized and timed the event well. A perfect mediator, she allowed me the time to write in my notebook, take yummy snack breaks, and introduce myself to speakers and neighboring guests.

There’s no question that several different speakers enhanced my understanding of social media and increased my appreciation of the art form that it is, yet, as any attendee can vouch, part of these new feelings and understandings were due to the relationship between owners and customers that Ramon painted through his use of pizza. I can only hope to one day to be one of those lucky patrons like my boss, interactiveAmy. Believe it or not, Amy was a first-hand witness to his concept of #RamonWOW. I recently discovered this story; Amy complained about bad Domino’s Pizza service, only for Ramon to respond via YouTube and Twitter. Not only did this situation evolve into a perfect case study and teaching opportunity, but also became a hit on YouTube. If you have time, please check out this video apology from Ramon DeLeon and you will see why his 6 Chicago Domino’s stores are so successful.

Ramon has WOWed over 125,000 people with his Videoapology!

Ramon saved interactiveAmy as a customer and gained a friend!

The most I took away from this summit were the tips that each speaker provided in their presentations. One that stuck out in my mind was the tip from Christopher Barger, Director of Global Social Media at General Motors who stated, “Think long-term. The greatest value of social is the relationship, not the initial interaction.” If you have a strong long-term relationship with a client, chances are that they will recommend other clients and speak highly of your consistent efforts and results.  This also refers to Liz Strauss’s belief that mutation is good. If a professional has a long-term partnership with a client, a symbiotic relationship evolves; the client and professional grow from the experience as the client benefits from the professional. Thus, both parties continuously improve.

Overall, I can say that I have delved much deeper into social media and its benefits to companies. Hope’s Windy City Social Masters’ Summit presented a great take-away that helped me gain a better perspective on social media as a whole: social media is not just a business tool. In fact, the Windy City Social emphasizes the duality of social media; while social media is a unique and growing method to advance a business’s promotions and campaigns, it echoes a sense of responsibility and understanding of the customer’s daily life. In its own way, it personalizes relationships not only between management and customers, but from one person to another person. Without the Windy City Social, I’m not sure when I would have learned this important life lesson.

Imagine walking into a room full of entrepreneurs who have tons of experience and trying to introduce yourself. To add to these circumstances, imagine being the only college student in the room.  Aware that first impressions can determine everything, I tried to make a good presentation of myself by dressing business professional and carrying a huge blue notebook with several pens in case I wanted to take notes. I had never attended any sort of business conference before; I had no idea what to expect as my boss, Amy Korin (aka interactiveAmy), and I walked into the Westin Hotel off of Michigan Avenue last week.  Immediately upon entering the Alterian Engaging Times Summit, I was not only inspired and well educated about social media, but I also realized that I found a passion for it. Throughout the day, I made friends from all different companies and learned that being in today’s business world requires so many positive traits, but one stands above the rest: having guts!

Energetic and highly motivated, I was not at all nervous as most people might be about stepping outside of their comfort zone. I was eager to learn, meet, and remember new faces. I was fortunate enough to listen to Stan Rapp, Don Peppers, and many other influential entrepreneurs. Did you know that according to Stan Rapp, iDirect marketing was formed at the conference of digital marketing, and that the total concept of engagement begins with the magical letter “i” (i.e. inspiration, interactive)? Or Don Peppers and his concept of how eBay works and how we are social animals who thrive on trust and reduce obstacles? His example of how customers are bees and companies are the flowers? To get the bees to the flowers, a company must have bright colors and a good smell. What keeps a bee or the customer coming back is the quality of the pollen (i.e. the service).  I also really enjoyed listening to the case studies of various businesses and how they used social media to better their company and relate to customers on a more individual basis by using such engagement.

Don Peppers, Stan Rapp, Kristen Smith, Jeannette Kocsis, Irfan Kamal with moderator Ginger Conlon

As if the speakers alone weren’t motivating enough, the Alterian employees made my experience even more fun and memorable. This conference was ideal for a business student. I learned what it takes to network, educate, and perhaps most importantly, how involved social media’s role is in helping companies gain clientele and maintain relationships with their customer base. I was so incredibly lucky to be exposed to a conference such as Alterian Engaging Times Summit 2010, and I know that I have learned above and beyond what college kids are learning at school and in other internship experiences. I’m looking forward to the next Alterian conference – I will be first in line.

Marni Levine & interactiveAmy at the Alterian Cubs Rooftop Happy Hour after the Summit