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I went along to the Evolution Festival yesterday. Specifically the Baltic stage area.
All very good. Lots of very very young people in skinny jeans that made me feel old. But anyway…
What struck me most were the row of tents alongside the stages.
In order, this is what they sold: doughnuts, beer and spirits, burgers and cigarettes.
Now don’t get me wrong I had both a beer and a burger so there is no moral high ground here. But really, that was the entire choice. Nothing healthy. Nothing ethnic. Nothing veggie. Nothing spicy. No water fountain if you preferred to save your liver and your pennies.
And a cigarette counter? At an event where the average age seemed about 14? Whose idea was that?
I don’t want to be the aging grouch on this one and I know you can lead a kid to cous cous but you can’t make him eat.
But…
Okay, so I said I’d try and blog from Thinking Digital…
I’m here. Just eaten my provided lunch and I’m hiding around the corner writing this.
So. It’s been an education. It’s my first techie conference. Except I’m not a techie. Not really.
I certainly don’t think I’m a geek. Everyone here is a geek. Or at least they claim to be.
Almost without exception every speaker that has taken to the stage has announced…
Okay, so I am an economist but I’m really a geek..
Or…
I run (insert high profile company here) but, at heart, I’m a geek…
Then at the end of the day, we’re invited to “geek dinners” and “geek parties”. There’s even a geek get together at the weekend.
Okay, so geek is now cool. They reclaimed the word. Very old news. That’s not what I don’t get. It’s the old dudes in the blazers and jeans saying THEY are geeks. Then is it really still cool? Really? It’s the me-tooness of it all that irks me.
I am slowly getting the rest of the culture. The first two days I didn’t bring my laptop. Worse still I tutted inwardly at all those people who did. How could they be taking it all in? Now here I am. Laptopped-up. Also, Twittering, flickering and blogging.
And those laptops are essential after all. It’s a techie thing. The real networking is not going to be done over lunch.
But what of the content? Honestly. Well, it’s been good. Very interesting and absolutely beneficial to me and my job. Okay so it started badly. I attended a very average workshop and was bored daft. Then the very same content was then turned into a speech and I had to listen to it all again the very next morning.
But from there on it was fabulous. I started to feel at home. I started to think that I was well informed enough to have a valid opinion. I even started realising that I knew more than some.
I’ve just listened to uber blogger the Fake Steve Jobs. I’d previously moaned about his inclusion but, hey, guess what, he turned out to be funny and somewhat inspirational. Finally, too, someone talking about the content, not just the applications.
I liked him. He even took the piss out the idiots who actually queue to buy Apple products. Yesssss.
As for the success of the event, I wonder. I certainly think it can be a success in the future and I hope it is repeated. As a starting point this is impressive.
I am curious about the numbers though.
I mentioned that my ticket had been paid for in full but I wonder how many others paid full whack. I noticed several names on the delegate list which I recognised and I haven’t seen one of them. Where are they?
Meanwhile on reception there are still tens of unpicked-up delegate packs. Who didn’t show? The people given the freebies perhaps. Let’s face it, if you’ve paid £600 then you turn up.
Other teething problems are a little odd. Today’s Twitterfeed has been dominated by people questioning the lack of power points in the hall. Okay so that’s an error. But whose putting it right? Get some sockets and a length of wire from Woolworths and you’re away.
Or maybe they don’t even know there is a problem yet. Could it be that no one is monitoring the Twitterfeed? Surely you would. Surely you’d want that immediate feedback. Wouldn’t you?
The delegate goodie bag? Not good. Nice bag – unfortunately filled with reams and reams of paper. Did no one think of a better way to sell to techies that this? We’re promoting this region to people who use laptops and we’re putting it all on paper. Maaan, too many dead trees.
A local law firm included a mouse mat with their logo on it. Really. 2008. Mouse mat.
Small moan: lunch was good today but yesterday it felt like someone was economising. Veggie wraps, it was. With pasta in a plain sauce and a vat of coleslaw.
Today is fine. In the meantime apparently (I didn’t go), there was a stack of free booze at the geek party. Why pay a fortune on one and cut back so heavily on another? Odd. Different sponsors for different events perhaps.
Today they have bottled water – but only after earlier complaints. Another ill-advised economy perhaps. Is this because delegate receipts were not as much as hoped?
This is, of course, excusable and if it is the case, then no one really cares. I write them here to show they have been noticed in the hope that it’ll help in the lesson-learning process.
Because this should be the first of many such events and it reflects well on Codeworks that they had the bottle to do it. One thing is for sure, people are knocked out by NewcastleGateshead and the Sage. I’m a proud Geordie.
I’ve learnt a lot. And I can almost start to see why people are falling over themselves to show off their inner geekdom.
It will certainly feel tougher going back into environment where new ideas are not so widely welcomed.
Thinking Digital has genuinely made me want to return to work as a innovator, with new desire and an enthusiasm to push for change.
I can’t be the only one feeling this. For that, again, Codeworks deserve congratulations.
Just discovered this. A movie blog from the godlike one - the man who makes radio’s only genuinely unmissable show.
With the Tyneside Cinema opening again on Thursday it’s gearing up to be quite the movie week.
1 St James’ Park
Specifically the fact that it is in the centre of town. God botherer, BBC pundit and former Toon Star Gavin Peacock described it as being “up on the hill, in the centre of town – where the church should be.”
Gavin, you enjoy your church and I’ll worship at mine.
On match day, the whole city knows there is a game going on. That feels right. None of your out-of-town, flatpack, identikit, blando, modern grounds here.
2 The Ouseburn Square
There are various pubs that could have made this list but all the best ones are in stumbling distance of each other. It used to be a triangle, now it’s a square. The Free Trade wins for views and old style grubbiness, The Tyne for cosiness and friendliness, The Cluny for music and the arts and The Cumberland for outside drinking and ping pong played like you’ve never seen it before.
3. Tyneside Cinema
Our arthouse cinema has been on its holidays in the the ‘heed while its old home is done up. Excitingly it’s due to re-open in the Toon this Sunday. I’m not sure what to expect of the new look site but I think we’re still going to get velvet curtained loveliness. I just hope that fabulous street level coffee bar comes back too.
It was always one of the few places you could get a decent coffee without feeling like a corporate shmuck. Being surrounded by old Italian gadgeys reading foreign newspapers only added to the cosmopolitan feel.
Update: Tickets now on sale for first flurry of films in the new place. Not exactly arthouse but I just booked two seats in the classic circle for the Indiana Jones flick. Can’t wait.
4. Hall 2 Sage Gateshead
Believe the hype. I tend to dislike places that other people harp on about just because I am awkward bastard but the Sage is breathtaking. It genuinely is. Absolutely awe inspiring (see my pic above). But the best bit is not the cavernously beautiful hall one, it’s the intimate hall two. The best place to watch music in Tyneside. Nah forget that – I can’t believe there is a better place in any city anywhere.
5. High Level Bridge
I could have gone for the iconic Tyne Bridge, the flash new Millennium Bridge but for me it’s the High Level every time. Solid, sturdy, unflashy and it suited Michael Caine a treat.
6. Civic Centre Rabbits
I like to think of them as our version of Ninja Mutant Hero Turtles. Fearless Urban Geordie Rabbits. The first time you see them you’re so surprised. Then eveytime you pass after that you can’t help but search for them.
They’re nearly always there. Brave little feckers. (Not to be confused with the Toon’s vampire rabbit)
7. Heaton Park/Jesmond Dene
Stretching from the comparatively mean streets of Heaton to the leafy suburbs of Jesmond – an absolutely gorgeous strip of green that really does make you feel like you’re deep in the heart of the country. In my early twenties I can recall getting very drunk with mates and deciding it would be fun to sleep on the rocks by the waterfall. Twenty minutes later we got spooked. Three hours later we were back in Heaton after incredibly getting lost walking home.
Oh and don’t miss the Shoe Tree.
8. The Metro to the Coast
Sun is shining? Head to the coast – you can be there in 15 minutes. The Metro is our tube, the only difference being is it’s actually pleasant to ride.
Old jowly tosspot Harry Redknapp reportedly said he didn’t want to manage Newcastle because he liked being by the coast. Look at a map dickhead.
9. The Monument
Speakers corners, meeting place and busker venue all rolled into one. The statue itself is pretty cool too but its just the space that really makes it work. It’s loved by Goths and office workers alike. The Christmas market is just too tasty. I am still losing the weight.
10 Baltic Viewing Platform
The art isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I know there is always something there that I enjoy seeing. But the best bit is still the view over the river and its bridges. I could do without the nanny state glass screens but still – nice. Very nice.
Feel free to add to the list in the comment box. I am a bit short on restaurants - any ideas?
Update: Quite by chance two other Toon bloggers have posted their favourite things. Look here and here for tales of Tyne Gods and post boxes.
As ever - not enough pictures on this blog. But here’s a perfect excuse to include these shots.
The Port of Tyne has once more launched their Reflect Photo Awards.
There’s £500 for the winners plus a bunch of Jessops vouchers for runners up. Basically the brief is pictures of the Tyne. More details here. Last year’s winners here.
My shots are all from the homeward leg of a recent ferry trip to Amsterdam. Full set here. Coolest Amsterdam hotel room ever here.
It occurs to me that ahead of the VSO event blogged below it might be of interest to look at the PDF here. It essentially outlines the skill groups most needed.
It’s not exhaustive - as an example I knew a few VSO volunteers with hospitality and tourism skills. In addition, though my background is journalism and PR I ended up a fundraiser. I reasoned that fundraising was just publicising a lack of cash and what it was needed for.
I guess I was half right but close enough.
Just remember everyone is there to teach. The idea being that you don’t just do your job - you train someone else to replace you when you leave. VSO will train you how to do this before you depart.
Two free Thinking Digital tickets available from www.bdaily.info
Please email competitions@bdaily.info with 50 words indicating what you feel you’d get out of the Thinking Digital Conference and what you bring to the conference community.
The deadline for competition entries is 2pm, Thursday 15 May. We’ll let the winners know by Friday lunchtime.
Discounted tickets, giveaways, competition prizes. A last big push or panic? Has it all gone a bit Jay-Z?
If anyone manages to get their hands on a freebie or a discounted ticket then let me know how you managed it and I’ll pass it on.
I’ve agreed to do a (very) short talk as part of a Meet VSO event to take place in Newcastle.
It all happens at the Civic Centre from 7.30pm on June 10th.
There’ll be me and (I think) other ex volunteers all taking the stand for seven to eight minutes to tell our stories. I believe there will also be an opportunity for questions too.
Not sure what form my speech will take but there might be some brief readings from Our Man in Hanoi detailing my experiences in Vietnam.
Just to reiterate, yet again, if you have ever thought about VSO but dismissed it for whatever reason - think again. If your really want to do it then find a way. If the problem is the mortgage, or the kids, then think about doing it in your retirement. VSO just loves oldies.
Some more facts to dispel any myths:
1. It’s not all floppy haired gap-year kids
2. It is people with skills and experience doing in the developed world what they get paid for back home.
3. It used to be all two-year stints but there are some shorter options now available.
4. You might end up in a mud hut in the middle of nowhere but, then again, you probably won’t. I lived in rather a nice house.
5. While you’d be advised not to pick and choose too much, you can say what you’d be prepared to do and what you just couldn’t do without. Don’t be too picky though or they might not be able to find anything.
6. You do get a living wage and your flights are paid for. It’s enough to cover the basics. Volunteering for VSO shouldn’t cost you anything. You even get a resettlement grant when it’s all over.
VSO Flickr pool here. Facebook here.
As a final spur here’s a brief snippet of something I wrote about the experience:
“I am so proud of what we have achieved at KOTO. So proud just to be a part of it. So proud that the new KOTO is going happen. And if you’ll forgive me the indulgence, I’m proud I stuck it out. Not just the two years but the extra time to see this through.
“It is easily the single best thing I have ever done with my life.
“My future has many more adventures ahead but I will see and experience nothing like this ever again. I am the luckiest guy in the world to do this.”
For more info, or if you’d like to attend, go here.
Just posting this because there appears to be a desire by some of this blogs readers to attend the Thinking Digital event in Gateshead but the cost was proving prohibitive.
On Friday, Lewis from organisers Codeworks commented on a previous post regarding the £599 attendance fee. He said:
Worth pointing out that the prices were significantly cheaper if you booked early on (I’m not saying ‘cheap’, mind you, but we feel the conference content will be good value for money. For the speaker line-up we’ve got, you’d usually have to get on a plane across the Atlantic before you even paid the ticket price.)
Tickets were also available for £175 to companies who’re part of our membership organisation, Codeworks Connect, which supports local digital businesses.
That’s not exactly free, of course… but like I say, we will be taking into account any feedback we get on pricing (and anything else, for that matter).
Unless I am missing something that is slightly at odds with their own website which states Codeworks Connect members pay £399. Lewis feel free to put us right on this one if I have missed anything.
Anyway, not mentioned by Lewis, or by the website, but news reaches me that tickets are actually available at a much reduced rate - possibly even half price or better. Apparently due to cancellations they still have some tickets to shift. It might be worth giving them a ring. Tough luck though if you already shelled out the £599.
If they are having problems selling then it’s surely the marketing that’s to blame because the line up itself seems pretty impressive.
However the website and all things social media, is a little half arsed - The blog was updated on Friday for only the first time in a month. Comments seems very thin on the ground. The Flickr account seems entirely pointless and hasn’t been updated since January and, three months on, one pic is still yet to be turned the right way around.
Hmm but what else could they take pictures of for the Flickr feed? Here’s a hint guys. You have a nice venue there. It could even be the star of your show if you raised it’s profile just a little.
Elsewhere regarding the whole web2.0 conversation thing, Thinking Digital is sadly hardly bothering either Technorati or Twitter.
All in all, not much of a ripple in the blogosphere.
Still, the good news is that it does appear to be getting cheaper.
Update: This blogger appears to have three free tickets to give away. Well if he can get them….
My ticket is already paid for but does anyone at Thinking Digital have some spares for OMIN to give away? They’d be going to those people who had already expressed an interest in my comments section.
Update 2: Meanwhile, it appears Chinwag website seems able to offer a 25% dicount if you buy through them. Irritatingly while their About page describes them as being: “.. a focal point for digital media practitioners in the UK and beyond“, regarding Thinking Digital it states:
“And if you’re thinking Newcastle is a big ole schlep up from the South-East, bear in mind it’s only 3 hours on the train and the East Coast line has passable wifi, so you need never be off-the-grid.”
Obviously the people at Chinwag think “digital media practitioners” are only ever to be found in the South East. Ick. Guys the first W of the three stands for WORLD - and you can’t even think beyond the M25. Shame on you.
Any more Thinking Digital cheap tickets or giveaways out there? It seems there is finally a bit of a PR push to get rid of them. I wonder how many are left.
Has it all gone a bit Glasto?
