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Introducing: The Gathering of Gamers

October 31, 2007 By 1 Comment

I have a little secret.  Ok, to some it’s not so much of a secret.  But for all of my new media and social networking friends – I have been developing a social networking site over the past few months, and we are growing every day. This was something new to me, and it was for my job, but being part of the “inside” of a social network is an experience to be sure.

http://www.gatheringofgamers.com

It’s a social networking site for casual gamers to connect.  Share your gamer tag, make new friends.  Fill out a chronicle about the latest game, whatever.  Give it a try.   Im open for feature requests too.

[TAGS]social networking, social media, user generated content, troy rutter, gathering of gamers, gog[/TAGS]

Filed Under: Social Media

Will Blog For T-Shirts

October 31, 2007 By Leave a Comment

As one of my latest and greatest “help me help you” ideas, something I’ve been thinking about for a while… T-shirt link baiting.

Send me one of your “techy” T-shirts, literature about your company, and I will blog about it and post a photo of myself wearing the shirt on my Flickr account with a link (thats 2 links) and maybe even podcast about it (3 links!). That will be at least a PR4 (used to be a 5) link from me to you, reciprocal link is not necessary. Again, this is for technology, Internet, web companies only please. Examples include Podshow, Viddler, etc.

The details:

Size: XL
Color: Any
Condition: New only (please!)
Address: Troy Rutter, PO Box 126, Ames, IA 50010

Blog turnaround time: 24 hours.

Please also post a comment to this post letting me know a shirt is on the way so I can be ready for it. I will start a counter on this page. If I reach 200 shirts, I will make a personal donation to one of my favorite charities in the amount of $1000.

The challenge is on you!

I will start tomorrow with my PodCamp Boston 2 T-shirt.

[TAGS]podcamp, podcamp Boston 2, t-shirts, dot com, social media, social networking, blogging[/TAGS]

Filed Under: Social Media

Overheard at PodCamp Boston 2

October 30, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Originally the Podcamp “name badges” were touted as being $200 off the cost of attending the VON expo. By Sunday, however, it was revealed that the VON organizers would now allow anybody with a Podcamp lanyard and badge to attend VON free of charge.

“Hey,” I heard whispering a couple of rows behind me. “Let’s go pick up some extra badges and lanyards and eBay them tonight.”

I cringed in disgust. Thankfully, I do not see any podcamp name badges on eBay tonight.

Thank you Campers.

[tags]Podcamp, podcamp boston 2, VON[/tags]

Filed Under: Social Media

My Take on Revocation of Podcamp Rule #4

October 30, 2007 By 3 Comments

The scene at Podcamp at the last session on Sunday was initially humorous. Christopher S. Penn showed a slide of the Podcamp rules, then advanced to the next slide, with rule #4 blanked out, and proudly revealed that Rule #4 had been revoked?

“What was it?” The crowd asked. Eventually Chris went back a slide and revealed that Rule #4 was that Podcamp should be free.

Wow, that could have been a session unto itself!

In the hours that have passed, I have had time to contemplate just what this rule revocation could mean to the future of Podcamp and the “un” conferences that have sprouted up over the past several years to help podcasters and new media professionals network, make friends, and create new ideas.

The reasoning concerning the revoking of the rule is pretty straightforward and understandable. Despite some 1300 advance “free” registrations, only about 600-650 actually attended Podcamp Boston 2 this past weekend. Even before the conference, I was amazed when Chris Penn actually expected a 30-50% no-show rate. I was shocked, and kept asking myself, “Really?” Well, REALLY. There is a HUGE no show rate at free unconferences and get togethers, no matter how hard you try. This is a big problem in securing sponsors for the events.

A sponsor basically gives you money to help cover the costs of running the event. These can be administrative or even promotional costs – however the organizer sees fit in dispersing the funds. Now think of this – a potential sponsor has visions of 1300 people walking out of the BCEC wearing their logo on the backs of all the visitors to the conference. They sponsor the shirts, shirts are then printed. Only 600 people show up. Attendees are told “take 1, 2 or 7 home with you” at the last panel of the day. The rest are given to homeless shelters throughout the city. Now the charity giveaway sounds good, but it definitely not what the sponsor had in mind. If you reach only half of what you intended, you would definitely rethink your sponsorship next time.

So what about charging a fee? CC Chapman has a good conversation on the topic happening at his blog here . There are many excellent thoughts, but let’s focus on one by New Media Expo’s Tim Bourquin. He writes:

“The moment you charge a single dollar, people’s expectations of what the conference should be change dramatically. ” – Tim Bourquin

Indeed.  Now Christopher Penn and Chris Brogan were not, I repeat not, saying that future Podcamps HAVE to charge a fee, nor were they saying that the fee would be hundreds of dollars and up like some conferences.  Rather, a $20 reservation would secure your name on the list and provide benefits that unregistered attendees would not receive.  Such as a definite T-shirt, admittance to a certain party – whatever.

I  agree whole heartedly with Tim Bourquin – this will change everything.  If people start paying for a conference, or unconference, attendees will start demanding that the event change.  Suddenly, we will expect the “big boys” of the medium to be in attendance which more than likely will mean presenters and keynote speakers will need to be paid a speaker’s fee.   In terms of podcasting, if Podcamp Boston 3 charged money for registration, suddenly those who converged on the site will expect to see the top names in new media. (which isn’t hard since they are there already….)  We will expect to see Adam Curry give Saturday’s welcome, maybe Ricky Gervais will host a panel Sunday afternoon.  We will expect to see Musician’s Friend, Sweetwater, Shure, etc all have booths around the permiter.   At the very moment that there is a registration fee, suddenly it is not a bunch of people coming together … but it because… (drumroll) – a real conference.  And with that, it inherits all the good, bad and ugly that comes.

More thoughts on PodCamp Boston 2 later.   I’m still  somewhat bewildered by my 14 hours sitting in Logan Airport.

If you would like to have your voice heard on this topic, join the conversation.  I will have a segment on my podcast dedicated to the subject later in the week.  Please call 1-206-338-2923 and leave a comment on the voicemail line, then listen to Rutter’s Ramblings for the next show.

[TAGS]podcamp, podcamp boston 2, christoopher s. penn, chris brogan, cc chapman, Troy Rutter,  Tim Bourquin, unconference[/TAGS]

Filed Under: Blog, Podcasting, Social Media

Iowa Casting Press Release

October 24, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Here is the press release for the movie I shot last week – notice anything missing? Sigh.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Carol Cassidy, 563.873.1911

Hollywood / Iowa Filmmakers Recruit Talented Iowa Cast for “Duck Farm Number 13”
Local Actors and Scenery Give Movie Distinct Iowa Charm

October 24, 2007 (McGregor, Iowa) – Lights. Camera. Iowa! An Iowa-Hollywood hybrid feature film titled “Duck Farm Number 13” is shooting in McGregor this month and several Iowans are getting involved in the action.

The story is a wry comic tale of romantic surprise centered in an Iowa ice cream stand. The cast, crew and setting are distinctly Iowan.

Los Angeles based writer-director Becky Smith grew up in Lake Okoboji. Executive Producer Terry Trimpe grew up in eastern Iowa, graduated from Luther College and lives in Lisbon. Hollywood-based producer Joel Sadilek is from Cedar Rapids and a graduate of the University of Iowa.

From 30-year veterans to first-timers, the production is delighted to embrace local actors.

Iowa Cast -

Michael Cornelison (Reverend Kerr) is an award-winning actor with 30 years of film and theatre experience. He has worked with luminaries including Norman Lear, Richard Gere, Bill Murray, Albert Brooks and fellow Iowan Tom Arnold. Mike was trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. His roommate there was Peter Waller, who later became Robocop. Mike lives in West Des Moines. If he SOUNDS familiar, it may be because he is the professional voice of many radio and TV commercials.

James Serpento (Kate’s Father) is a writer, director and actor who has worked in Chicago, Los Angeles and locally. He’s just releasing his own film, with the intriguing title of “Haunting Villisca.” It’s about an unsolved murder in an Iowa town. James grew up in Des Moines and was educated at Iowa State University in Ames. James looks forward to starting a brand new role as Dad – his first child is on the way.

Stewart Butler (Candi) is a hairdresser in West Des Moines. He tried out for the film on a tip from a client. This is his first film role!

Brendan Dunphy (Jordan) has traveled to Tanzania, Kenya and Egypt, but he is at home in Iowa, where he is one of the state’s leading experts on mosquitoes. The acting bug bit him two years ago, and he has performed in six films this year alone. Brendan has lived in Davenport, Wilton, Ankeny and Ames.

Julie Mickelson (Amber) has been seen in art and photography galleries from New York to Paris, but her heart is in Iowa, where she has lived all her life. Born and raised in West Des Moines, Julie is a junior at the University of Iowa majoring in Communications.

Ryan Gourley (Harley) was born and raised in Des Moines. Ryan just graduated the University of Iowa with a minor in theater – but he won a major role in the film.

Gabrielle McNally (Terry) had a childhood filled with exploration and imagination – great inspiration for her work as a singer, dancer and actor. Until she was 12, her family raised pigs. Now they live on a dairy farm in Luana. Gabby studies theater and dance at Luther College in Decorah. She cut class to make the audition for this film.

Reese Ravner (Tammy) returned last year to her mom’s home town of Ames after a stint in Southern California. She made her screen debut in Mission Impossible 3. Reese is also a stage actor and a writer – and she’s just in 5th grade.

David Oddy (Eddie) has worked in Los Angeles and Iowa. He specializes in Shakespeare. One of his favorite roles is Petruccio – the cranky husband in The Taming of the Shrew. David and his actress wife Susie will follow in the footsteps of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor – playing the battling husband and wife in the Salsbury House (Des Moines) production of Shrew this summer.

Rachel Salowitz (Rory) is happy to be back in West Des Moines after graduating from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She’s excited to play someone who’s not very nice – although Rachel herself is, of course, an absolute doll. Rachel has done Shakespeare, which she loves. She’s been working in the theater since she was 8 years old.

Clint Curtis was born and raised in Iowa City and lives in Des Moines. He has lived and worked on both coasts. Somehow, he always gets cast as the bad guy. Clint has been acting for so long, he stopped being nervous – so he recently tried stand-up comedy, just to get those jitters again. It worked! Clint is a singer in an indie-alterna-rock band and the proud Papa of a one-year-old Iowa boy.

Annie Li is used to seeing her son in the spotlight. He’s a film production student. That’s how Annie found out about the film, and got cast. In normal life, she’s a real estate agent in Johnston.


Filed Under: Acting