kyle.tv

I was going to have a chill weekend but somehow I ended up in Texas.

My friend Bryan called me on Thursday and insisted I join him at the Netroots Nation Convention of bloggers in Austin. It’s a huge gathering of political bloggers and other politicos. We’re both going to the conventions next month, him to represent a product for a client and me to wreak general havoc on his dime. He came down to scope out the scene, start meeting people, and basically start positioning himself to get what he wants from them. You know, politics. So I cashed in some Skymiles and decided to do the same.

The thing to remember here is that working takes many forms and even partying can be working. (Right?) You’re out and about, you’re meeting people, you’re talkin’ your game, and you’re making shit happen. Sure, it’s often with a drink in your hand but whatever. This is how people work and I fit right in.

The plan for the night was supposed to be Bryan heading to a private party with his client and I was supposed to hook up with him later. The party was being thrown by GQ for The Huffington Post and it was Bryan L. + 1, not 2. He left and I was to meet up with him later. But after randomly standing by the concierge and hearing her give someone directions to the same party, I decided to follow the guy.

I texted Bryan. He told me there were two people watching the door. They went to the guy. I walked up to the girl. “Bryan L,” I said. “Great, welcome.” It was too easy.

The place was called Lambert’s and it’s apparently the best and fanciest BBQ in Austin. It was free food, free, wide open bar, and a shit ton of good looking people. Lauren delivered me a Citron and soda and all of a sudden I was working.

I hung out with Bryan and his client. We talked with the director and production crew of the film “Crawford” and met a fair amount of bloggers. At some point we switched to Stella Artois and talked to the VP of Media Relations of Huffington Post.

Once we drank them out of Stella we went with Lone Star (when in Rome…). We had a bit of fun with an Obama poster…

…and then hung out with our other new best friend, Dan S., the Director of Publicity for GQ. I tried to get him to give me the poster but he wouldn’t. He laughed it off saying it was going back to live with him in his office. I guess it wouldn’t be too cool to just steal it, eh? Let me behave myself.

Throughout the night I was able to talk to a lot of people about my current project and make a lot of good contacts for its launch. More specifically, we got invited into the convention VIP suite for Huffington Post, which is key. I wonder how many beautiful and important people will be in there? (Prolly a lot.)

Anyways, it was quite a night. Topping it off, I stumbled back to the hotel and came across a lady who asked “are you going back to the Hilton?” I said yes and escorted her back. Her name was Debbie… a superdelegate from Colorado who will be up front and center at the convention. Nice. I’ll be seeing her there.

So it’s been totally worth it. And this was just the first night. My “focused” weekend-of-work-turned-trip-to-Texas was apparently just the work I needed to do. It’s good to get out and be reminded of a couple things:

One, just putting yourself out there can make things happen you wouldn’t expect.

And two, I never behave… no matter how hard I try.