Last weekend a selection of some of the most interesting artists and art professionals spent the weekend at The Roger Smith Hotel for the first ever SMartCAMP (Social Media Art Camp), a two day symposium on social media and how it relates to the arts. The weekend was designed to address how social media can be used to create relationships, networks, dialogue and ultimately, a sense of community via the very accessible social web tools that have emerged over the last few years. Included in the program was Marc Schiller from the Wooster Collective, Nancy Proctor from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Molly Crabapple, of Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School and Allegra Burnette of Moma, to name just a few.
Although there were a total of 33 speakers and panelists enlisted to share their perspectives on the subject, some of the weekend highlights were:
Michelle Shildkret, the Head of Social Media and Digital Communications at Cake Group, is in the business of online community development, and discussed the key components in building a comprehensive social media strategy. Shildkret gave us the 'why and how,' prompted by the occasional witty outtake. The obvious pleasure she takes in strategizing and community building, and her enthusiasm for sharing her knowledge proved to be infectious. How could it not be, when it is suggested that social media is like a party; and the same behavioral qualities that make a popular party guest also make a successful online personality. According to Shildkret, assuming the formula translates, to be a good guest at a party, you'd bring a gift, the equivalent online would be bringing something interesting to the table, a fun, interesting video perhaps. You would also make an effort to get involved, talk to everyone, meet new people, ask questions, listen, be genuine, make new friends. The online community should be approached with the same energy and sincerity. After all, these are real people you are communicating with. As you would eventually make plans with new friends outside of 'the party,' at some point, she proposes that you take the relationship out of the 'virtual' and invite them to an offline party
The idea is that by investing in these personal connections, online and offline alike, you are practicing what is called Relationship Marketing, which can have both a network value and a monetary value, if approached with patience, good will and a sense of humor.
Another highlight from Saturday's speakers was John Birdsong, a producer, director, editor, and technical director for Panman Productions. He focused on the methods of producing and sharing video content, the goal being, to concentrate on video making basics. Birdsong shared his video toolkit recommendations for the beginner videographers amongst us: the Flip or the Kodak Zi8, a Camcorder Access Bracket, a LED Light, a Monopod, and 'Final Cut for Dummies' would have us on our way to producing pre-recorded video content to make available through the online distribution channels available.
Typically behind the camera, Birdsong also has an easy public speaking manner that allowed him to translate his knowledge and wisdom into an engaging dialogue with his audience, and lead a hilariously awkward and perfectly timed dialogue with several unsuspecting characters on Chat Roulette. Birdsong predicts that this is the next big thing in Social Media -- live video, thus, the one-on-one interaction with your audience that is such a critical component in the process of building relationships. Using Chat Roulette as a prime example, he led us through an entertaining cycle of brief conversations with a variety of randomly chosen people; it was engaging, fun, and personal. On a more serious note, it proves that this kind of application is a valuable channel to share your story.
Birdsong's most resonating message was, effectively, "start telling your story and share your process as an artist," a point also emphasized by the first keynote speaker, Marc Schiller, Founder of The Wooster Collective. He explained why he thinks video is such a vital component to a social media success for artists: "you can tell an amazing story, and we can see things that most of us don't get to see, which is artist at work....it is interesting to see an artist take a camera with them as they are putting work up and have it go directly to the web."
On the subject of the practicing artist, one of SMartCAMP's guests is worthy of a mention for the fact that in a small but significant way, her presence, showed that there was room to loosen the generational gap that technology seems to wedge.
Angiola Churchill has a successful career spanning over sixty years as an artist and academic. Her installations have been exhibited in many prestigious locations in both the states and the rest of the world. She has simultaneously held a post as the first female full-time professor of art and twelve years as chair of the Department of Art and Art Professions of the Steinhardt School of Education At New York University.
Churchill attended both days of the conference, demonstrating that social media technology and the concepts that it supports, are as pertinent to someone with a lifetime of professional experience as to those with little of it.
SMartCAMP was by any measure, a small and intimate event. Ninety people, all interested in two very particular topics, social media and the arts, gave it the feel of a secret society. We were a select group of people that had recognized the potential in the marriage of these two spheres. Without a doubt, the specific nature of the topics attracted a group of successful, ambitious and above all, curious individuals with common interests and goals. That said, SMartCAMP's reach went far beyond the ninety people attending the conference. We saw 120,000 individual views on ustream, and enough twitter action to trend in New York on both days of the conference. This exposure and reach is proof that by using the tools of social media, conversation is no longer limited to our friends, family and work colleagues via traditional methods of communication. We were able to reach a massive and willing audience using the exact channels up for discussion at SMartCAMP.