by Dot Cannon

Is 2015 New Media Expo really almost over–already?

Here’s a retrospective of some of the best parts, as we head into the final day of this year’s NMX.

Monday saw the start of sessions and Podcast Alley, with a definite high point being the opportunity to podcast Over Coffee® live from the exhibit floor!

International radio consultant Valerie Geller, of Geller Media International, guest starred for a discussion of her new book, “Beyond Powerful Radio: A Communicator’s Guide to the Internet Age”.   And the subject was the core of content creation: storytelling.

“If you speak visually, it will help your story immensely,” Valerie explained.  “So if, instead of saying, ‘it’s a beautiful sunset’, you say, ‘tangerine skies’, it changes it.”

KPCC news anchor Susanne Whatley did a guest appearance, as well, during the second part of the program, for a discussion of news and how to select stories that will be meaningful to an audience.

“Does it have something to do with their daily routine?” she said.  “Or, is it something weird or interesting that…doesn’t affect the life of my listener, but they’re going to want to talk about around the dinner table?”

What a rush, to get to podcast live from here for the first time–and it was great to get to watch the Success Freaks and Audacity to Podcast shows go live from NMX.

Of course, this particular NMX is a “first”: happening in tandem with the National Association of Broadcasters convention.

So, NMX attendees had the opportunity to see NAB exhibits–including the newsgathering drones being demonstrated on the exhibit floor!

A favorite from the Monday night opening party was the giant Twitter wall where people’s #NMX tweets could be posted.  It was the hit of the party!

Tuesday morning’s sessions included a great panel on “Women in New Media”.   Panelists Jenn Page, Sandra Payne, Jenna Edwards and Kristin Nedopak discussed working with passion and the ways to make creative concepts a reality.

“Brand, to me, is your heart,” Jenn said.  “Do your heart.”

“You have to ask (when you need something),” said Jenna.  She illustrated her story with the way she had obtained a SWAT team while producing the 2009 film April Showers.

“The SWAT team pulled up in cars with, like, fifteen minutes of people coming out of (them),” she said.  “We paid zero dollars for it.  We said, “what do you need?”, and they said, “training”.

So, Jenna said, the SWAT team arranged to treat the film as a training exercise, in return for their involvement.

“You literally just ask,” she said.  “The badges alone would have cost us three grand.”

Tuesday wrapped up with a two-part keynote speech by Pat Flynn and Joel Comm.

“Find people in your audience and thank them publicly,” Pat commented, during his keynote, “How to Be Future-Proof: the Difference Between Brands that Thrive and Slackers that Die”.  “You’ll build raving fans…(and) when people say, ‘you’re weird’, say thank you.  Embrace your ‘weird”, that’s what makes you stand out.”

Community-building was the topic on a Wednesday-morning panel, as well.  Charles McFall moderated the group, consisting of Brian Allen Brushwood, Jay Soderberg, R. Mordant Mahon and Brian Ibbott.

“People don’t just want to consume content, they want to be a part of it,” Brian said.  Discussion followed, on ways to keep an audience engaged and means of monetization.  Several panelists talked about their experiences with Patreon, and giving back to audiences was a recurring theme.

“Go get in the communities and give,” directed Charles.   “Then, when you need something, and you ask, people will almost feel bad saying ‘no’.”

A sense of community–and fun–was also evident that evening.

Independent videographers, web series stars, writers and directors walked the red carpet, for the International Association of Web Television awards.

Members of the casts and crews posed for pictures and gave short interviews just prior to the ceremony.

Person after person referenced a “family” feeling on their shows’ sets and talked about the excitement of working on their projects.

While a number of them admitted that shooting video was hard work, the interviewees had a refreshing approachability, a lack of ego and a sense of wonder at the work in which they were involved.

And, for the first time, we had the opportunity to see a drone in action–rather than in demo mode–covering the event.  Exciting stuff!

Have a great final day of NMX, everybody!  Can’t wait to see you at Podcast Movement.