Twitter and How It Got Me to SXSW for Free
Monday, March 10, 2008 by Kelly Sutton The Background
Regular readers of HackCollege know that Chris and I hated Twitter. First, we tried finding other uses for it. Our favorite was to use Twitter as an emergency messaging system.
Then I signed up for it and slowly began using it. Little by little, I started integrating it into my life more and more. Chris also started giving me more and more shit, but I stuck with it.
FOWA Revisited
While not too many people were using Twitter at the Future of Web Apps conference in Miami last weekend, everyone there had a Twitter account. I shamelessly "followed" some weblebrities and some other people that I had met.
Most importantly, I started following Bryan Thatcher.
One Stupid Twit
During the FOWA hangover period, all the "Internet famous" people I was following started chattering about SXSW. I was not going. I had class. I couldn't foot the $450 walk-up pass. I was sad.
Unfortunately, a lot of Twitter is what I consider "away messages"; stupid pointless updates on what people are eating for breakfast, what their cat just did, etc. I posted one of these emo messages saying "@bryanfuse Bah, I wish I could even afford the ticket price in the first place =\" And that twit in response to Bryan changed my weekend and maybe my life--we'll see.
Windfall
As it turns out, Bryan needed a temp for his company Empressr. Paying for my conference pass would be much cheaper than outsourcing to a temp agency. And, I like to think that I am smarter than your average temp.
My frequent flier miles got me here and my Twitter luck is keeping me here. SXSW is the one conference that every geek needs to attend. It's too much fun and the parties are better than the best party you've ever been to. Even better than Interhouse at Caltech.
So get on Twitter and meet some rock stars. And friend me in the process: twitter.com/kellsutton
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Reader Comments (4)
I don't know if you guys got the pingback, but I gave you guys mention for HackCollege podcast #16 for bringing up using Twitter as an emergency messaging system in the case of a shooting. It's a great idea and I'm glad Twitter got you something!
[...] Twitter - A Success Story | Hack College Kelly over at Hack College talks about how random twittering got him a free pass to SXSW; a good parable on the value of leaving time in your life to explore, and experiment, and seek out crazy random opportunities. (The Hack College crew seems to be constantly flying around the world and attending random, interesting conferences. They’re a great example of how to have an excellent, engaging time at college without overloading yourself with a dozen obligatory on-campus activities.) [...]
[...] If you want to keep your conscience clean, see if you can temp for a company with a booth. Get in touch with them early before they start talking to temp agencies. It’s cheaper for them and you get free a pass! Check out my earlier post on how I got my SXSWi pass for free. [...]
I keep trying, but I just can't get into twitter. I keep up with a blogger who does a live video chat, but other than that I cannot force myself to use it.