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SXSW 2012: Kick-off Your Austin Experience Right With The Techset Party

Ken Yeung — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:13:39 +0000

It’s almost March and that means that for the tech community, the annual pilgrimage to Austin, Texas is upon many of us. Each year, thousands gather in the Texas capital to attend the South by Southwest Interactive conference (some even stay for music), but it’s basically five non-stop days and nights of learning, networking, and partying! And this year, the festivities kick off once again with the Techset party on Friday, March 9.

Hosted by Techset founders Brian Solis and Stephanie Agresta, this year is promising to be even bigger and better than last year. Make sure you mark it on your calendars to attend the 4th annual Techset party at The Parish from 8-11pm. This is the people’s party…a party catered to help make you feel like the celebrity that you are and to rock out like no one’s watching. Last year’s party at Enzo Austin certainly celebrated this and people definitely rocked out thanks to the amazing performance by Rana June, the world’s only iPad DJ. Who knows what surprises this year will have! But one thing’s for sure, as with all the Techset parties, “dress the part” will definitely be in full effect and get ready to kick off SXSW in style.

Stay tuned for more information on cool sponsors and event information – we’re only getting started!

To wet your appetite, here are some photos from last year’s Techset party:

Rana June performs an amazing set at the Techset party

TheNextWeb's Hermione Way interviews Techset founder Brian Solis

Yammer's Maria Ogneva, TheNextWeb's Brett Petersel, Trulia's Ginger Wilcox, and Andy Kaufman

Hubspot's Laura Fitton with Page.ly's Joshua Strebel & Sally Boldt-Strebel

The Techset party in full effect!

The startups that party together...

Who's got Klout?

Party on at the Techset party!

Ain’t No SXSW Party Like A TechSet Party, ‘Cause The TechSet Party Don’t Stop

Ken Yeung — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:44:42 +0000

One of the biggest parties to start of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive conference has typically been the TechSet Party and this year, it’s coming back. Last year’s event at the Speakeasy was a packed event with both badged attendees and those without badges co-mingling and getting to know each other or reconnect after a year apart. This year, TechSet founders, Brian Solis and Steph Agresta, are bringing the party to Enzo Austin and you’re not going to want to miss this.

Everyone that attends SXSW wants to feel special and treated like royalty, right? Well this year, OnStar and Chevrolet are joining the TechSet crew to put on the 2011 SXSW edition of the TechSet party where you’ll hopefully get the celebrity treatment and get to meet all your favorite friends, Internet personalities and get to meet some really great people! As with all TechSet parties, the “dress the part” clause will be in effect and according to their site, you’re expected to show how you’re “living rock stardom”.

Tickets are available now on the TechSet party Eventbrite page so don’t miss out on this great opportunity. This is not one you’re going to want to miss if you’re looking to start your SXSW experience off right!

Here are some photos from last year’s TechSet party at SXSW:

Mashable’s Brett Petersel & DeviantArt’s Nicole Jordan

Live music at the TechSet party

Guess they’re all living rock stardom, huh?

Stefanie Michaels & Jim “TechFrog” Alden

Bing’s Betsy Aoki, Derek Overbey, Andy Kaufman, Krystyl Baldwin & Mashable’s Adam Hirsch

American Eagle’s Jess Berlin, TECHcocktail’s Frank Gruber & Jen Consalvo

Celebrating the SXSW experience

More photos from last year’s TechSet party are on my Flickr photostream that you can find here.

Photo credit: All photos featured here were taken by Kenneth Yeung

Another Year Has Arrived, Which Means The SXSW TechSet Blogger Lounge Is Back!

Ken Yeung — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:44:51 +0000

It’s almost March and within the technology and Internet scene, it’s a clear sign that we’re approaching one of the biggest events of the year: South by Southwest! That’s right…from March 11 to 15, the city of Austin, Texas will be flooded with geeks, nerds, entrepreneurs, analysts, the press, investors and enthusiasts eager to learn about the latest in tech, social media, the web and also network until they can’t anymore. Known by its acronym, SXSW, this year is sure to be a busy one with plenty of events, parties, sessions and keynotes taking place. But, one thing that you can’t miss is the TechSet Blogger Lounge. And let me tell you, if you weren’t at the last few Blogger Lounges, then you’re not going to want to miss this one!

This year’s TechSet Blogger Lounge is sponsored by Samsung and registered folks that stop on by will be able to check out the latest gadgets and gear from one of the leading electronic companies in the world. What would you say if you could get your hands on a Galaxy Tab device or look at their Galaxy mobile phones? Maybe you’ll be able to check out their Smart TVs or laptops and countless other devices…you’ll only find out what’s in store for you if you register now for the Blogger Lounge.

Started by Brian Solis and Stephanie Agresta, the TechSet Blogger Lounge is a place…nay…destination for those seeking a smart guide to what’s relevant. From meeting up with influential people, bloggers, member of the press, entrepreneurs, investors and even celebrities, you’re going to find a lot of great things at the Blogger Lounge. And while last year was confined into one room, this year, it’s only going to grow! That’s right, there’s going to be more space — twice the size from last year, showing that it’s probably the number one place to be during South by Southwest (unless you’re attending the sessions and keynotes).

Let’s recap what’s going on…the Samsung TechSet Blogger Lounge is taking place this year at the South by Southwest Interactive conference on Friday, March 11 (1-6pm) and Saturday, March 12 to Tuesday, March 15 ( 9-6pm).

ONE MORE THING: Samsung is organizing a really great program that bloggers, photographers, videographers and attendees will be interested in. Announced on their Facebook page, Samsung introduced their SXSWi Press Corps and they’re looking for YOU. That’s right…they’re looking for that one person to join their squad and go out and meet some of the “most influential people in social media”, have your work featured on Samsung.com and the Media Wall, attend a private dinner party at the Four Seasons, and much more. All you’ll need to do is, if you’re selected, provide some real-time coverage about the SXSWi events/panels/speakers and all the other fun stuff taking place this year at the conference. Submit your entry by March 7, 2011 for your chance to win!

And now for some highlights from last year’s TechSet Blogger Lounge:

SimpleGeo’s Andrew Mager

BlogWorld’s Rick Calvert interviews Jason Falls

American Eagle’s Jess Berlin and 50Kings Francisco Dao

Edelman’s David Armano with Powered’s Aaron Strout

Each evening, the TechSet Blogger Lounge has live music performances along with great refreshment & entertainment

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh stops by to autograph copies of his new book “Delivering Happiness”. Pop17′s Sarah Austin photobombs this scene.

To register for the Samsung TechSet Blogger Lounge, you’ll need to sign up on their Eventbrite page here.

For more photos of last year’s TechSet Blogger Lounge, you can find them on my Flickr photostream by clicking here.

All photos featured here belong to the photographer, Kenneth Yeung

Gary Vee & Brian Solis Take Over SXSW With A Live Taping of WineLibrary.TV

Ken Yeung — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:57:37 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, the entire “Vayner-nation” was treated to a real delight as Gary Vaynerchuk, host of WineLibrary.tv and co-founder of Vaynermedia, hosted a live-taping of his widely popular podcast right in the heart of South by Southwest. As an added bonus to those in attendance, Vaynerchuk had Brian Solis, author of the new book “Engage” and principal of FutureWorks PR, on the set to help taste and grade several variations of champagne. I was fortunate enough to be there with a camera on hand and you can view the entire live recording in the above video or on WineLibrary.tv.

Taped live at the offices of PGi, Vaynerchuk and Solis truly got the crowd behind them and interactive. From random hoots and hollers to questions being tossed to Vaynerchuk, this was definitely one lively program. It all started out with Solis promoting his new book Engage which is out in stores now and available directly on Amazon. Four champagne bottles later and it’s time to open up the other bottles and give the audience a sip of the good stuff. Those in the audience included Jeff Jarvis, Frank Gruber, Dave Mathews, Wm. Marc Salsberry, Sloane Berrant, Darren Rowse, Jesse Thomas, Leslie Bradshaw, Nick O’Neill, Leora Israel, Peter Corbett and many others.

Here are a few photos from the event:

Brian Solis & Gary Vaynerchuk

Brian Solis talks about his book “Engage”

Gary Vaynerchuk

Taking a “sniffy sniff”

It’s a packed room for this live taping!

Cheers!

Gary Vaynerchuk has magical powers? He can make “Engage” float in mid-air??

Jeff Jarvis & Brian Solis

Darren Rowse & Leslie Bradshaw

Sloane Berrent

A large contingent from Washignton, DC geeks

More photos from this event can be found by going to my Flickr photo set.

You can purchase your copy of “Engage” on Amazon right now by clicking here.

The Mashable SXSW MashBash: A Giant Flash Mob or Really Great Party?

Ken Yeung — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:43:52 +0000

One of the highlights of the South by Southwest experience is the parties and each year there are a select few that really stand out that you just have to be at. Sure, there are going to be complaints and criticism about things are handled, but for the most part, the party seems just fine. Was the Mashable MashBash one of these events? Sure…I’d chalk this up and say that the MashBash was the party to look out for at SXSW.

Held at Buffalo Billiards in downtown Austin, the Mashable team threw a soiree that rivaled all others that night and the entire venue was nearly filled to capacity, or at least it seemed it was pretty hard to move around. With free drinks (<$4) and entertainment put on by DJ Chicken George, who said that Mashable can’t throw a lively party. All sorts of ce-web-rities showed up, including Leo Laporte, Robert Scoble, Brian Solis, Michelle Feldman, Drew Olanoff and even Pete Cashmore (well…it was his party, after all).

The party started at 9pm and kept going until 2am when Buffalo Billiards kicked everyone out and we dispersed into the streets seeking the next source of entertainment. The Mashable party was definitely one that I looked forward at my time at SXSW. Definitely something worth going to if you get a chance.

Here are some photos from the event:

Team Mashable

The crowd at the MashBash

Jeff Pulver

Gregarious Narain, Drew Olanoff & Jenn Van Grove

Wm. Marc Salsberry

Pete Cashmore & Leora Israel

Robert Scoble with Leo Laporte interviewing Lisa Bettany

Chris Heuer & Pete Cashmore

Khayyam Wakil, Drew Olanoff & Brett Petersel

Having fun at the MashBash

Stephanie Agresta and Pete Cashmore

DJ Chicken George

Many more photos from the Mashable MashBash photos can be found online by clicking here.

Photo Credit: Kenneth Yeung

TechSet & Windows Phone Welcomes You To South By Southwest

Ken Yeung — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:51:20 +0000

The 2010 edition of the South by Southwest Interactive conference kicked off with a bang at the TechSet & Windows Phone party in Austin, Texas. Held at the Speakeasy, thousands of SXSW attendees flocked to get in on the fun and meet new friends and rekindle old friendships. Thanks to the tandem team of Stephanie Agresta and Brian Solis, the TechSet & Windows Phone party was rocking through the night, complete with a Bing photo booth, musical acts, and a DJ pumping out beats.

All the digerati were out in force this night and surely the TechSet Party help set the tone for the parties during the rest of South by Southwest. From seeing folks like Sean Percival, Robert Scoble, Dave Mathews, Jess Berlin, Chris Heuer, Scott Beale, Adam Ostrow, Adam Hirsch, Wm. Marc Salsberry and many others, the TechSet party was definitely the place to be.

Here are some photos from the event:

The hosts for your evening: Stephanie Agresta & Brian Solis

Welcome to the TechSet & Windows Phone Party

The Speakeasy

The line of people waiting to get into the TechSet & Windows Phone Party

Jess Berlin, Frank Gruber & Jen Consalvo

Chris Heuer, Khris Loux and Nancy Cole

Jess Berlin, Melissa Rowley, Brian Solis, Laura Fitton, Reem Abeidoh and Rick Calvert

The band entertaining the crowd at the party

Hey look! It’s part of Team Mashable with other attendees!

More photos from the TechSet & Windows Phone party can be found online by clicking here.

Photo Credit: Kenneth Yeung

SXSWi: Mashery is Back with its Circus Mashimus

Miiko Mentz — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:07:46 +0000

If you’re at the South By Southwest (SXSW) interactive festival this year and you haven’t had a chance to swing by the Circus Mashimus lounge, I suggest you do. It was a smash hit at last year’s SXSWi and I’m happy to see Mashery CEO Oren Michels and team are back at this year’s SXSWi.

The Circus Mashimus lounge is not only a great place to grab free coffee in the morning while you check your email, and then beer and popcorn in the afternoon; but it’s the place to be to talk mashups and visit with the Mashery team and its customers and sponsors to learn how to get more from your data by opening it up to developers.

Mashery offers customers a flexible, secure and effective way to manage their application programming interface (API) programs. Offering developers open APIs is an ongoing process from performance and security to registration and provisioning, so having a way to manage it all is critical to the success of an API developer program. And nowadays it’s all about the apps and giving information to customers in new and creative ways, and in the manner and places that they want it, so having an efficient API management platform, such as Mashery, can greatly contribute to the success of an API developer program.

Mashery has an impressive list of customers from Best Buy, Netflix and Etsy to CafePress, among many others. Best Buy, with its Best Buy Remix, and CafePress are sponsors of this year’s Circus Mashimus lounge, so swing by and grab a coffee or beer (depending on time of day) and check out the cool mashups being created by developers and how it’s all managed easily through Mashery.

The Circus Mashimus lounge is open from 9:30AM-6:00PM through tomorrow and is located on the first floor in room three near the Screenburn Arcade in the Austin Convention Center where SXSW is being held.

And check out Bubblicious Reporter Alison McNeill interviews with Oren Michels and Best Buy’s Michele Azar from last year’s Circus Mashimus at SXSWi 2009.

SXSW: Interview with Best Buy’s Michele Azar

SXSW: Interview with Mashery CEO Oren Michels

Social Media Club Hosts Pool 2.0 at SXSW

Brian Solis — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:37:43 +0000

words and pictures by Brian Solis

During SXSW, Social Media Club hosted Pool 2.0 at Buffalo Billiards. Attendees from the conference competed against each other throughout the night until there was only one team left standing. But as you’ll see, there was much more than pool to keep everyone entertained.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…

Kristen Nicole

Chris Heuer

Julia Roy

Amanda Coolong

Erica O’Grady

Brett Petersel, Gregarious, Chris Saad, Sarah Townsend

Brian Oberkirch

Jeremiah Owyang and Brian Solis

PimpMyNews.com

Nicole Jordan

Francisco Dao and Sarah Townsend