RIP Salem Beer & Blog
I think it’s pretty safe to say that the Salem Beer and Blog group is dead, with the official time of death (by my estimation) being August 6th, 2009. This is a little disheartening, as the concept behind this group was pretty good.
The local group is (was) a chapter of the original Beer and Blog originating in Portland, OR. Extensions of this group have spanned the whole country, from Hawaii to Massachusetts and there’s even an offshoot located in Tokyo. Coast-to-coast and international. How’s that for a dispersion!?
I was there for the inaugural meeting on June 2nd. This group launched with a good amount of buzz and looked very promising at first. I met several people in person that I’ve had interactions with through Twitter, and a few other great people. Yep, this was looking like a good thing.
Unfortunately, the good vibes died a quick death.
I missed the second meeting, but made it to the third meeting on August 6th. I couldn’t help but notice how this meeting in no way resembled the launch a mere 2 months prior. The focus of the time there had shifted from “bloggers helping bloggers over beers” to something I can’t quite put my finger on. It turned into something more like a “whatever” group; just show up with some beer and see what happens.
I was under the impression that in that meeting there would be at least some focus on blogging, as there was a post put on their website earlier that day indicating that free WordPress accounts on a particular site would be given to anyone who wanted one. And instructions would be given on how to integrate them to advertise any other blogs you had. No such presentation or giveaway happened.
I heard that the most recent meeting was scheduled to take place yesterday, but I haven’t heard of anyone mentioning anything about it, nor have I seen anything posted on the Salem Beer and Blog site. From what I can tell it isn’t readily apparent if it even happened at all.
Two reasons stand out to me as why the local Beer & Blog has faded into a footnote: lack of communication and lack of an agenda. The word doesn’t get out very well on when the next meeting is to take place, and if and when you get there you might find that blogging may not be the topic at this blogger’s group.
Did the Salem Beer & Blog die a quick death, or is it still happening and just not announced?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
The B&B happened as scheduled, the facility continues to improve (now OLCC approved provider, looks & feels like a small English Pub, I think it looked more like an unfurnished living room last time you were there).
I agree that the promotion and organizing have been almost non-existent after the first meeting (ironic, given how much effort has continuously been put into improving the space).
The organizer is (in my opinion, I’ve never heard him say this) taking a Johnny Appleseed approach to a huge number of things: He puts the effort in up front, and then follows up based on excitement and feedback he gets. People are visibly excited about his film festivals, music festivals, pub crawls, downtown improvement, etc, and he pours a bunch of time into those.
Us technos, tending toward being quiet in person, probably haven’t given him the feedback he needs to fuel his particular super engine of activity. We can critique if that’s good or bad, but it won’t change what’s generally worked for him.
Ross has shown no sign of having control issues, so I think the best thing for the tech community would be you or one of the energetic blog-nuts-and-bolts guys to just say to him, “I’d like a free hand to organize and promote the next several meetings and maybe take over indefinitely if it works out.” We shouldn’t try to fragment the Salem Tech community before it’s even started, and any effort would go better with his huge network supporting, if not leading it.
Yup, you hit it on the head. Show up, contribute. Lead. Let’s get this thing rolling. I’m more for stimulating community than control. Fragment away – it will take us longer to get where we need to be. My expertise is definitely not the tech side of this.
It’s the network.
I’m only slogging through mysql, php, wordpress because no one else is. I realize the value and promise of establishing a network using the tech. Same with video, ignite, the pipeline, facebook, print, publicity, music festivals, arts, culture, pub crawls.
After pushing for 5 years and witnessing the predictable ebb and flow of interest/participation, Beer and Blog is typical of Salem involvement. Huge interest upfront, participation drop off, grumbling, fragmentation, apathy, playing video games alone in the dark at home. The cycle is the same in Portland, just stretched out a little more. Full Moon Society, the Pint, Teleport, SMUG, D3, Art Spark, B&B. I’ve been networking in salem and pdx for 20 years now and have seen everything come and go.
And I’m guilty of flaking too. The last two meetings I was reeling in pdx arts and culture big wigs our way. Managed to land Live Wire last Saturday. For my effort, that’s more valuable for Salem’s self-image than talking Raven Zachary to come down here for 5 people.
After watching the numbers go 20-10-5 and seeing no real interest in planning or sharing the load, what’s the point? salemtribe can get wordcamp down here. Ike Box has no beer. Salemites can get a steady 15 head turnout. The next one is Sept 21 at the Beanery. That seems like a good blogging group. At least there’s beer at the Beanery.
I’ll keep plugging at B&B, regardless of the turnout. It’s a matter of self-education for me. I finally figured out wild card DNS for wordpress and will slowly and steadily grow the network that way. With everything on my plate, family and work need attention too. Just like everyone else.
What do you choose to make a priority? Flushing out the state tech workers? Feeding a blogging portal? Recruiting SAO? I’ve got the platform to do all those. Just no time. Where’s the polling, online crowd sourcing? Help me out people. I’m just one guy, muddling through this tech jungle, learning by doing. It’s been that way with everything.
How about this Thursday, September 17 at 7 pm at the f-stop? We finally have the HD screen up internet access and wifi, so we can do presentations. Who has one? We can go through the wordpress thingy, now that I almost know what I’m doing. In fact, email me and I’ll get you rolling right now.
To those that have stuck it out, thanks. To everyone else, you’re always more than welcome to stop by and show us what ya got. There’s plenty of room for that in Salem.
We could rename it Zombie Beer and Blog.
The next Ignite is October 15 at Northern Lights. Anyone want to present or help organize?
Or you could just come to SalemTribe on Monday, Oct 5th…
Or both, or all three. And the business blogging network. That’s four blogging groups where there were only two last week. That’s what networking’s about, getting together and sharing ideas regardless of who is or is not organizing the event.
Like I said, there’s plenty of room for tech forums in town, always has been. It’s great that people are finally doing things like this again. With all the activity, it’s pretty obvious that a threshold has been reached.
Everyone is still always welcome at the fifth monthly Salem Beer and Blog on Thursday October 1 at the f-stop 335 Grove St NE.
Taking Rob’s advice about the necessity of defending a reputation against negative blogging, I’d say that the rumors of its death are greatly exaggerated
I’m all for going to several as I’m not someone who wants to limit myself to just a single group.
Ross, glad to hear that my rumor is greatly exaggerated!
Partly, I think its the summer thing. Summer is a tough time for meetings as lots of people are out of town, busy, etc.
I will try to get back to the next Beer and Blog. I find it’s a good place to ask questions and maybe find out about new blogging/twitter/social media type tools. I’ll also try to help advertise it if I remember.
Salemites turned out some good ideas for me last night, so that was cool.
Hope to see you all at the next (undead) Beer and Blog!
Rob,
I just now saw this post and I can definitely echo every sentiment you had about the Salem Beer and Blog event.
It was definitely a “Whatever” type of event that had a very weird vibe and tone.
In my opinion, BnB is a VERY easy event to put on as long as you have some basic components. 1) some type of theme or reason to gather that is blogging focused, 2) a PUBLIC place that has beer – optimally a bar of some sort (WiFi is nice to have) and 3) a regular interval. The interval can be weekly or bi-weekly, just make it regular. Every other Thursday – the 2nd and 4th Wednesday — whatever.
The Salem beer and blog occurs on random days at what feels like is some dude’s house. It is BYOB (which was not communicated) and just random.
Anyways – I hope the thing gets reinvigorated. In the meantime, Salem Tribe seems like it’s a lot of fun.
Jason,
We’ve missed you at the past few Salem Beer and Blogs, which occur every first Thursday of the month as they have since June at the ƒ/stop. The ƒ/stop is a public bar with beer, wine and cider available for purchase. It officially opened in August. There is a HD screen for tech demonstrations and free WiFi.
We had 10 people attend on October 1st. Here’s a review written by Salem Man from salemites.com, the most advanced blogging site in Salem:
http://www.salemites.com/2009/10/local-blogging.html
The next one is Thursday November 5. We’d love to have you return and see the progress for yourself.
Maybe Taptu would consider reinvigorating Salem Beer and Blog with free beer and a demo on November 5? 20 oz. imperial pints of locally-brewed Seven Brides are only $4.
Thanks for all you do for the Salem tech scene. Your input is valuable and welcomed. I’m active in 3 of the 4 Salem blogging groups and will attend the business networking one next month. Salem Tribe had an excellent premiere and should prove valuable in strengthening the network.
Have fun in Portland tonight!
Yeah Ross, perhaps I should give it another shot.
thanks for updating us.
-Jason