My Name In Lights. Sorta.

I was flattered to be asked by Cossette West to take part on a panel on The Twitter Effect for Convergence 09, which took place at the newly fandangled gajillion dollar Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre yesterday.

Convergence is a yearly event that attracts digital savvy marketers and social media evangelists, leaders and influencers, as well as, anyone and everyone who is curious or interested in being a part of this digital landscape.

For a non-profit arts organization, Vancouver Opera has been leading the way the past year with using social media tools. We have been noticed and picked up on by newspapers, radio and now conferences. Again, for me to be asked to participate among such heavy hitting digital luminaries, flattered is too small a word.

The highlight of the day was the morning keynote speaker: David Plouffe, Obama for America’s campaign manager. Talk about the big “get.”

Five hundred people came out to see Plouffe speak about the importance of marrying technology and human to human contact. Plouffe revealed some of the strategies, tactics and thinking that propelled Obama into the presidency. It was quite inspiring to listen to Obama’s “unsung hero.”

Then it was my panel. Surprisingly, I wasn’t at all nervous, even as I saw the doors swing open and in floods 275 people interested in our session. We had expected 225 people, but it quickly became standing room only. We were sitting on leather couches “Oprah style”, on the raised platform with moderator Brianna Tompkinson, Now Public’s Michael Tippett and Starbucks official tweeter Brad Nelson. There was a jumbo-tron sized tv and we were even mic’d, so that even the person at the far back of the room can see and hear us.

The hour long session flew by just like that. I was thoroughly enjoying the discussion and gained a lot of insight in listening to my co-panellists’ experiences with and thoughts on Twitter. And it was fun fielding questions from the audience and tweeps who were following online.

I got some great comment and compliments afterwards and was happy to know that people got something out of our panel.

I think my fear of public speaking has been effectively squashed. Although the real test will be if I can speak alone on stage.

The rest of the day I sat in on the other break out panels and got to meet a few people whom I’ve only known online.

This educational and networking day fired up the pistons inside my head with its ideas, strategies and advice. I’m looking forward to attending Convergence ’10 and absolutely recommend it.

Definitely two thumbs up.