blogging for dummies: my foray into blog/vlogging

It all started in November 2006. The midterm elections were in full force: debates, interviews, propoganda, candidates shaking hands and kissing babies, mudslinging-dirt-digging-campaign-adds, and, of course, network news coverage of all-of-it. I was fortunate enough to be privy to CNN’s election coverage at a local DC watering hole, the Cafe Tryst in Adams Morgan. We planned, we prepped, we set up, we tore down…and somewhere in the middle we invited bloggers from all over the country to come hang out, sit down and share their perspective of the election coverage for the duration of the evening.

There was something about it. The interactivity. The culture. The climate. The sense of community that was created. Watching people respond to every little event that occurred that night, right down to our incredible IT staff handling some last minute “who decided to share their internet connection and drag our band width down” issues. People were hanging out and drinking coffee, chatting in semi-circles, sitting side-by-side and broadcasting the event in their own words to the masses right along side their Mass Media counterparts that invited them out for the event. I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to run home, jump on my PC and partake in the conception of ideas, the paying witness to, and the new community of digital denizens shouting from the roof(lap)tops. I wanted to be a blogger.

Knowing what you want to do and knowing how to do it are two different things all together. It wasn’t a week later that I noticed a posting on DC’ist about a new group getting together in the district called DC Media Makers. Live in DC. Check. Media. Love it. Maker. Ahhh, there’s the catch. That’s what I want to do. Not sure how to swing it. So I went, and met, and checked it out. I made some connections. And I’ve been digging in ever since. So were this a how-to, which I’m pretty sure it’s not — I’d recommend joining a group like this because it seriously helps to a) foster your creativity b) hone your skills and c) just makes you DO IT.

What it all comes down to is having a passion, pursuing it, and making connections. Through meeting people “in the know and how” I’ve followed advice, and links that lead me to more advice and more links that have generally filled my brain and bookmarks tab beyond capacity. I’ve toyed with Jott, Twitter, MindMeister, Protopage, Jaiku, del.icio.us, JumpCut, Avacast, UStream, and other toys/sites. I’ve visited the blogs and vlogs of Steve Garfield, Jay Dedman, Jonny Goldstein, Jill Foster, Andy Carvin, Carl Weaver, Chris Brogan, Rupert Howe, Bryper, Mark Cuban, Ze Frank, Rocketboom, JetSet, TechCrunch, Galacticast, Blogotheque, TVNewser, FishbowlDC, Wonkette, Lost Remote, Huffington Post and a host of others (this could literally go on forever).

So right now I’m absorbing and retooling. Thinking and writing off the blog - which I hope to translate at some point to blog worthy postings and eventually video blogs. I’ve got some ideas I’m kicking around that I’d like to see come to fruition and hopefully with a little luck, a lot of motivation, and a push from my muse I’ll be rolling in no time.

My goals as of current are to: a)write a meaningful posting a week b)buy a dvcam so i can get rolling with the video end of things and c) develop my own thematic content and or style.

So friends, wish me luck and keep on blogging on your own - YOU all are my inspiration.

Cheers,

scottstead