SXSW Interactive Here I Come

I'm a newbie. I live in the Austin area, but I've never attended any part of a past SXSW event. Sad to think that I've lived in and out of Austin for going on 11 years and haven't been a part of it until this year.

So this year I'm going in full force. Not only am I planning on getting my feet wet, but I'm determined to simply wear myself out by attending and chatting with everyone at the Interactive portion of the festival.

Mostly I'm connected with folks from all over the world on Twitter and we've set up a Wiki to keep up with who's planning on attending. And this morning I just joined a Ning site for attendees.

My company, Bulldog Solutions, is a cosponsor with Federated Media and Dell, The Conversation Group, and Social Media Club Austin, an evening of “Conversation Starters” at the Iron Cactus on Monday, March 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Over drinks and appetizers, attendees will have a chance to share ideas with a number of people who have volunteered to start conversations: Shel Israel, Robert Scoble, Jeremiah Owyang, Charlene Li, Chris Heuer, Mack Collier and Lionel Menchaca, as well as several Federated Media authors. If you know anything about social media then you'll know that these folks are the big guns in the arena.

I can't wait. If you've thought about going and they still have badges left to SXSW Interactive then come. Be a newbie with me.