It’s the most humbling time of the year.
PanelPicker‘s launch bombards us with requests or outright spam from aspiring pundits trying to participate in South By Southwest.
& who can blame’em? I mean, erm, us. We’ve assembled a stellar roster for discerning thumbs to vote up-up-&-away to Austin, Texas in March, 2012.
Why the unwavering obsession with this Shiner-soaked conference? Since 2005, nerd Mardi Gras has been exciting & energizing, & conveniently bleeds into the music industry’s only upbeat gathering post-Napster.
During this raucous 10-day marathon run of panels, workshops, parties & performances, startups’ fates are sealed, business cards exchanged (or ‘bump’ed) & socially autistic coders finally make it to third base.
Despite grizzled veterans’ gripes about its increasing size & commercialization, you’re hard pressed to get more bang for your buck as a film, music or digital conference attendee elsewhere.
Speaking of bucks…It’d be dishonest to not mention the financial considerations behind the apps. Speakers receive free conference badges, which is a lovely gesture & makes the trek somewhat less unaffordable to non-profit sector folks & entrepreneurs.
Cue the violins….
Until Friday, September 2, you can make “Social Media, Social Change & Social Filmmaking,” a panel to assist the non-profit sector, advocacy organizations & independent filmmakers, a reality.
Simply visit this site & log in or create a SXSW account, then click the thumb-up icon. (Extra brownie points = share this: http://bit.ly/r4EX2P)
The panel features Dorothy Engelman, who co-founded q media solutions, built GetInvolved & specializes in non-profit-sector digital shorts; Sherien Barsoum, former social worker, documentarian & founder of taza media; & the inimitable sk8 king of all social media for non-profits, Rob Dyer, founder of Skate4Cancer, subject of DreamLoveCure documentary & overall tireless advocate.
