Social Media Week LA 2012

Social Media Week, it's like a week long party. As if "social" media doesn't already define fun, festive gatherings of people, this event exemplifies the reasoning for social gatherings. Not only do you get the opportunity to interact and network with industry leaders throughout social media, you also learn from them through live seminars, and there are an abundance of events which you can register for. Each day of this week long conference targets a specific field (i.e. fashion, entertainment, sports...etc).

Session at io/la (Photo by Gurl in LA)

Social Media Week is a biannual event held in various cities globally. This year's September event comes to Hollywood, right in the heart of tourism and entertainment.  The two main hosting locations for the events were IO/LA offices and the Egyptian Theater, with a few other smaller locations throughout LA including third party sponsored events. There were networking parties each day including the Burton & Nokia collaborative afterparty at The Spare Room in the Roosevelt Hotel, Janelle Monae and Big Boi concert at Club Nokia in the L.A. Live entertainment center, and of course the closing party held at Madame Tussaud's with free-flowing drinks, music, and hors d'oeuvres.

Walking the red carpet at the closing party
(Photo by Gurl in LA)

Each of the events I went to were educational and I felt that I learned a lot from them. I also met a lot of really cool people in various fields of social media including movie and music producers, writers, fashion and arts instructors, event organizers, caterers...just about anything you can imagine. Some of the highlights of the events I attended include the group bike ride led by the leader of Wolfpack Hustle from Hollywood and Highland center all the way to Club Nokia for Janelle Monae's concert, the movie screening of "Craigslist Joe" produced by Zach Galifianakis starring Joesph Garner at the Egyptian Theater, the live taping of Larry King Now online show with guest star Nick Cannon, and of course all the parties mentioned above.

Q&A with Joseph Garner at the Craigslist Joe screening
 (Photo by Gurl in LA)

There were always plenty of space at the events I attended and if planned properly, plenty of time to relax, review notes, check emails, get some work done in between the sessions. My only gripe was that there were no outlets at the Egyptian Theater which made taking notes difficult not being able to charge my Macbook.  ONE Coconut Water was at hand making sure attendees were hydrated throughout the entire week.

Janelle Monae concert at Club Nokia (Photo by Gurl in LA)

I had such a educational and networking experience that I am looking forward to attending future conferences with Social Media Week.