Tweetups and Twitter Names? You Decide!

I need your help and I need your input. Please read a little of the background info, then answer the two simple questions at the bottom of this post. Thanks!

I have seen an amazing growth of Twittering music therapists over the past year. One year ago, I basically knew every music therapist who was active on Twitter. Now? I’m consistently adding new music therapy tweeps to my list. It’s great!

To top it all off…it’s conference time again!!! Last year at conference, I used this blog to organize a time for a Tweetup at the national conference in San Diego. We had a lovely little get together (as you may tell from the picture above) and talked about doing it again this year!

I’d be interested in getting this going again, but think maybe we should make it a little more “fun” by making it more spontaneous and less scheduled. What if, instead of working out a time and date ahead of time, I tweeted (and Facebooked) something like “I’m at this-and-this bar. Come on down and join me for a drink!”? Think we can make that work?

I also have a slightly embarrassing story to share with you about last year. While having dinner with some friends, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. I passed by another table of music therapists, some of whom I recognized. A woman at the table called “Kimberly!” I turned, didn’t recognize her, and looked confused. She said, “Oh! I know you from Twitter–I follow you!” It was the first time I didn’t connect a person’s online Twitter name with who they were.

And I have a feeling it will only get worse!

I’ve actually heard stories from other conferences of people who add their Twitter name to their name badges, so that people will make that connection. And given the growth of music therapists on Twitter, I wonder…should we do this as well?

So, with that in mind, I have a little survey I’d like you to fill out. It’s truly “little”–just 2 questions. The first about whether we should add our Twitter names to our conference badges. The second about whether or not we should have a Tweetup.

I will post survey results next week. Thanks for your help!

[SURVEYS 5]

I know that some of my friends will not be able to attend conference this year. But never fear! Simply follow the hashtag #AMTA10 to receive LIVE conference updates from myself and, I’m sure, many other of our Twittering friends.

P.S. Just for kicks, here’s the video I posted last year where I answered the question “What is a tweetup?” Hope the information is still accurate!

Tagged as: Conference, social media, Tweetup