Jared Golberg

The monster has grown and taken shape! The Digital Sphere —-> or ‘STAIRCASE’ as I now call it…

I have not blogged in some time for purpose of staying out of an over saturated highway of banter regarding Social Media and its capabilities. I was content on sending and receiving micro snippets of content snacks via my Twitter and Facebook. It’s grown, taken shape and all that’s left is – ‘COMMUNICATION’. Nothing more, just endless opportunity of communication with peers, clients, partners, friends and family. What is Social Media, Really? My answer is – who cares!

With the formal release of Facebook’s Timeline this Friday, there is much anticipation on it’s impact for professional users and those who dabble. Will we like it, use it or be overtaken with backlash from this a grand overhaul? Have we turned into ‘over users’ without real connection, or have we translated digital platforms into our main means of communicating? Are children becoming ADD monsters with arthritis in their thumbs? Do we really need to be everywhere, online?

Over the last four years, I have swam in the deep end of the digital sphere, waiting for the end result. What i’ve learned is, there is no Social Media! I/we communicate the same way we always have, but it’s clear that the speed in which we deliver our messages have hit the ‘speed of sound’. Instead of one means of communication, we have hundreds! I for one use Twitter and Facebook to make plans, meetings and converse with friends. Very rarely do my friends and I SMS or even use Live Profile or Whatsapp. The phone has transformed into a worm hole, transcending messages beyond time and space. The iPad has transformed our ability to perceive images and information with the speed of touch. And the computer has provided the ability to handle multiple tasks with the swipe of a finger and a touch of a hot key. What does this mean for the ever rising digital staircase? How has/will this impact us moving forward once updates like Timeline provide the ability to dive deeper in ourselves and place emotions and history online…?

I’ve been using Facebook’s Timeline for almost a week now and I love it. No, I am not worried about over sharing personal content or private content. It’s up to YOU to ensure your settings, application approvals and posts are catered to your needs. If you don’t want stuff shared, don’t share! Just stop whining! It’s very annoying! Social media is FREE!

Why am I rambling with undertones of Timeline and no real Focus? Well, that’s just it. We’ve created a never ending digital staircase, climbing with no real goal. It’s become a playground of people sharing, chatting and posting. With the ability to share everything from birth, we’ve created the ultimate portal of personal communication. Anyone can know who we are before an initial conversation! The impact of job application and resume delivery may change. The way we perceive co workers and friends may change and the function of email may also progress – all integrated within the growth of Facebook and it’s grasp of you. Obviously this is a personal view, but really, do you see the same thing? I for one cherish the ability to share. We are in the age of WE/ME and EVERYONE has a voice. Why not use it?

In closing, the new Timeline has shifted my focus back to professional use. The ability to personally brand your space, share photos and stories within larger real estate is much much better. The implication? When does it end? The sphere is still heavily over saturated and when Google+ launched, of course I tried it, but it just made me angry! I don’t want to be everywhere on applications that have the exact same purpose and feel! I want to be where it ALL works – FOR ME! After four years, I am still focused on the same applications I’ve always used and they have grown with me. All I need now, is integration into the progressional functionality of our daily jobs for this all to make sense… I want it all to work in unison!

Just my personal views…

@JaredGolberg

Mr. Gil LeBreton! Hello sir… Welcome to Canada! We’ll take your personal belongings and you can join the other ‘NON’ Canadians in one of our lovely Vancouver concentration camps!  All day, you’ll stare at our ‘Maple Leaf,’ while working twenty hour days making hockey sticks for Sydney Crosby! Sound good? Oh, your hungry? There’s a maple tree ten yards out, here’s a straw…. Good luck!  

The above stems from an article I read Monday (which most of you have  read by now) by Gil LeBreton, a journalist from Texas comparing the sensation of patriotism felt by Canada to that of Nazi Germany during the 1936 Berlin Games. If you have not yet had the PLEASURE of reading his FANTASTIC views, read here before moving on! 

 I AM CANADIAN! Yes, I am, but I’ve never said it before. I never felt the need to. We live in a country where family, friends and personal experience has always been a heavy focal point. I am a musician, a writer, an event designer, Social Networker, graphic designer and a REALLY good friend. To me? That is Canada. A place where you can do MANY things with endless possibilities, test limits, learn different cultures, experience all four seasons and embrace stereotypes as personality traits because in all honesty – it doesn’t bother us! It really doesn’t!

Gil, you crossed a line from critiquing production, press and broadcasting to ‘fascist communication’ of a country completely assimilated to the worlds offerings – We ARE the cultural mosaic this world needs and by using the leverage of journalism, you have stirred controversy into an unlevened cake (oops, did I just poke a little Jewish humour? Mmmm.. Matzah).  I’m not going to be an angry Canadian, yelling for retribution from your words. I am, however, going to be civil and just write, as I like to do! Through the age of new technology and social platforms, I have a voice and so does 36 million other Canadians who own a computer, so I beg you Gil, do not hide, you brought this on. 

What we experienced as Canadians is nothing more than magical! Our country came together as ONE nation, ONE body with ONE goal! To be compared to Germany 1936 is wrong. As a journalist, you should have realized the backlash you would receive. Yes, you showed facts of ticket sales, venues heavily fitted with Canadian fans, the abundance of Canadian Jersey’s bearing our maple leaf, Canadian networks broadcasting Canadian Olympians and the amount of partying in the streets of Vancouver after incredible performances.  Our athletes, who trained night and day for years to sit on a podium in our HOME country, united a nation through sport and competition – NOT fascist views of a religion or people! We will not apologize for this and we never would have too! 

The torch is out… The streets are empty… The red and white flags bearing our ‘fascist’ symbol have been put away for another four years.  It’s back to business as usual. Our country, that saw many heroes, has digressed back to reality.  We have not united in imperialistic views to take over Buffalo and we are not building our military into ‘CTU,’ combatting every nation with minimal threat. I will say this though – For a split second, Sydney Crosby changed us! He showed Canadians that it’s ok to wave our flag! It’s ok to wear RED and we ARE powerful in something other than military or economics. We are a country full of people who want to live without fear or persecution. We are a country full of kind people, tolerant, accepting and hospitable! 

I am Canadian, Jewish and incredibly proud! That’s all… I’m done, Gil. I have to go meet one of my Muslim friends at an Indian Cuisine diner in Little Italy, so good luck… The next few weeks will be tough for you! 

@JaredGolberg 

Gil LeBreton has been kind enough to leave his number and email available! glebreton@star-telegram.com phone number: 817-390-7760 Feel free to speak your mind, Canada! 

I just watched Surrogates this week! The movie features legendary ‘underdog’ action superstar Bruce Willis as a human being confused in a world of machines customized to the individual! It’s based in the future where humans are isolated and interact through surrogate robots of themselves. Yes, Sound familiar?

A Surrogate is engineered to your biology and functions in everyday life as if it were YOU! Scary thought, but certainly in today’s reality – not far fetched.

More and more each day, we are tapped into the digital sphere quick to dis-regard HOW it will affect our futures. A new platform is born and we begin to test its features. Quick ‘disregarded-ness’ (It’s a word, I made it up) is like taking a bullet to the chest! I’m a firm believer in finding your angle and running with it. If Twitter works for you, then stick with it! If WordPress is your outlet, then write as if your life depended on it! As quickly these platforms rise, others are rapidly dying, because, let’s face it, their features SUCK! So, again, stick with what works…

If you have been following my writing/Tweets or Aaron Kaufman’s ( @AKthe5th ), my partner in crime, you’ll know we leverage face to face connections through all our portals and work hard to ensure there is a human touch in everything we do! After all, we are an event firm and interaction is in our blood.

The reason I’m talking about futuristic cyborgs, is this: If human history has taught us anything, it’s that we make quick decisions without forecasting. A human made the Atom bomb without the question ––> SHOULD I? Of course my Macbook will not blow up into a large mushroom cloud (although lately I feel it may – I need a Macbook PRO), but more and more each day we tweet, status update and profile ourselves without real strategy – A definite gateway drug leading to rehab and my mommy told me never to take drugs! The anxiety of needing/wanting new platforms is definitely bad for your health and as more and more platforms arise, the more we have to acknowledge what our digital needs are to reach personal and professional goals!

Below are ways to stay out of social media rehab and slow down the process of becoming a surrogate cyborg. Social Media is a gift, BUT you must use it the best way to compliment YOUR needs! Being EVERYWHERE is not as helpful as you think… Choose wisely young padwans!

Stick with what works for YOU!

I mentioned this in the above, but it is vital to your fleshy and boney existence! Build your hub and run with it! I continue to use Facebook as my hub, hosting everything I do from Blogging, pictures, updates, groups and chats. Twitter is my push and connection to the community I reside in and WordPress fuels my creativity. I don’t detour from this and I have yet to find a new platform or application that works for ME! Don’t join Google Buzz because you feel the need to be EVERYWHERE. Focus and strategize your wants and needs and aim to meet your end goal!

Schedule your online presence!

As soon as I get to work, I use the first hour of my day to tweet, Facebook, answer DM’s and connect with my online community. I send out interesting articles and connect them back to what 5^th Element Events does, or even to personal likes. It’s ok to build your PERSONAL brand online on the job. You represent your company online and it’s a necessity to build yourself as a thought leader. Just don’t spend all day tagging pictures of yourself drinking Patron. Next? Lunch! I can tweet and message while eating! It’s fun! And last but not least, 4:30pm – 5:00pm, I end my day with final thoughts and relevant information to leave people with! At home, I un-wind and rarely connect to the digital sphere – ALONE TIME IS KEY!

Ask questions!

This has ALWAYS been hard for me to do. For years, I always thought I needed to figure things out on my own in order to be recognized as a worthy employee. This is extremely hurtful. If you are unsure about anything, whether it be about a platform, application or even your hair style – ASK! Learning is asking! Get the answer and draw your conclusion. I havn’t touched Google Buzz yet because I have been researching and asking questions to see if it is relevant for ME! Sometimes you just can’t find the answers on your own and that’s ok.

Lately I have been writing more about the negative side of the digital sphere, but this is not because I don’t like it. I love it! I just have a feeling it’s moving too fast and younger generations are being conditioned to this quick digital evolution. The human mind is a very complicated map and I don’t think GPS will help you find your way! Only you can!

@JaredGolberg

We have come to a cross roads in the Canadian event industry! To say the recession ‘Changed Business as Usual’ is  too vague and negligent! I’m not even going to discuss shrunken budgets or lack of RFP’s in this post, knowing that I will pull my hair out if i do. We are now at a point where ‘Survial of The Fittest’ is taking affect and it’s  up to YOU and your team to survive and make the necassary steps to ensure your company’s growth in 2010! There are ways to make this happen and it will take collaboration with your fellow peers and vendors to do so!

Collaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together in an intersection of common goals — for example, an intellectual endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus.

Toronto has seen a huge shift in the way events are proposed, designed and executed. For years there have been exclusive and preferred vendor lists where clients have been forced to work with partnering teams, companies and organizations when signing a venue contract. To say this is a step backwards from secure industry growth is an understatement and finally we are seeing this dicotomy fall apart! My company 5th Element Events is a firm believer in client care and  prestine design, but we also have been very successful at avoiding these exclusive lists in order to find and partner with viable and reliable clients – Yes, I just said reliable clients! For venues to limit clients to only a few companies is the ‘Creative  Killer.’ I understand the need for companies to find their place and run with it, but why would you want to force clients to use YOUR team when clearly you are the wrong choice – money? your WORK is your MARKETING and finding the right clients is not just sitting on a list waiting for clients who HAVE TO work with you. Finding the right clients and events takes research, networking, PR, social media, meetings, speaking engagements and building the right content database from past events with video, photography, press clippings and referneces! Basically, hard work, knowledge of your brand and what events you are capable of doing is your edge…

It’s 2010 and most are reflecting back over the past 10 years and analyzing the road taken to this point. I have thought long and hard over choices made and paths chosen… what’s next?

To say there was huge growth in Social Media in 2009 is repetitive and annoying (To say the least). We talk too long and too hard about ‘Social Media.’ We know it’s big! We know it’s changing fast, but are these changes affecting our lives positively or negatively? Don’t get me wrong, I am connected online for most of the day through various platforms and I love all it’s brought me, but as my good friend @JonCrowley mentioned in his post last week regarding connectivity 24/7, are there consequences for ‘NOT’ unplugging? Is there a need to stay digitally connected for fear of losing relevance? Who knows! I’m asking you….

A topic I adopted in 2009 is that of the ‘Thought Leader’. @ready2spark (Lara McCulloch) discusses this topic in her speaking engagements and is one of my choices for most inspirational  people of 2009. What is it? A thought leader is someone who directs the conversation online and leads the digital community in their discussions. Their topics, Tweets and postings are often shared through the digital pipeline and provides great content on trending topics. Most connected individuals aspire to become a thought leader and spend most their time online. with applications forming daily and new platforms being programmed equally as fast, the risk of overload can have consequences. These consequences are different for everyone and in order to protect your mind share, I suggest creating a plan to demolish the risk of burnout or even worse. You’ve built a great network and you DO NOT want to damage or lose it!

I have spoken often of keeping your network face to face. There are plenty of ways to develop your brand live and in person and I recommend taking steps to bring a more personal touch to your online adventure. One huge growth I absolutely love and look forward to starting myself in 2010 is video channeling. To take your brand one step further, try to create a youtube, Vimeo or Viddler channel. This will rejuvenate your passion and help create fantastic content for your community – and will also replenish your creativity. Hey, get your favourite tweeps and friends involved too. Flip video recorders are dropping in price fast and are an incredible tool (not to mention extremely portable). To sit and type is one thing, but giving your online presence picture and sound changes the game! It’s simple and a no brainer if you ask me. Take the time and have some fun.

Change is good, but know your limits and prioritize your outlets. Know where you need to be and ensure you execute your plan accordingly. Do not sign up for ‘EVERY’ platform in order to make your presence known. Stick with platforms that work for ‘YOU’ and run with it. If you run the risk of burnout and need change, add a new creative element that will accent your brand. My choice is video channeling, as mentioned above! It’s fun, personal and gives your personal brand the voice it truly deserves. It’s NOT new, but you can sense a huge shift in the amount of personal channels being born everyday. Time to begin my 2010 journey!

Keep a watch out for my new video channel!

Happy New year from @JaredGolberg

In a word – depends!

I’ll talk about my own personal accounts on this, but this question depends on how ‘YOU’ use digital tools to network. We’ve always been told  - “Nothing beats a firm hand shake coupled with eye contact and a smile” when developing business relationships. But what about today with digital networking, social media and SMS text/instant messaging? Have we lost that personal touch ? How will the next generation be making biz deals in the next 5-10 years? Do people pick up the phone anymore? Has ‘face to face’ interaction declined due to the ease of Social Media networking? Tell me…. Let’s chat for a second!

We are seeing a rapid ‘CHANGE’ in the way we connect as human beings. When I say it depends on ‘YOU’ when creating that personable touch, it really does come down to how ‘YOU’ use the tools available to ‘Make That Meeting’. Let’s be honest, in order to become a reliable resourceful connector, there has to be a ‘Face to Face’ connection to build trust. No matter how many followers or friends you have, sitting ‘face to face’ in discussion gives you great validity. Of course, content is key (do your research) as well, but the effort to connect live, brings the slew of new technology into incredible fruition. When meeting like minded individuals via Twitter, Facebook or Linked IN, strive to make a better connection by ‘Making a Meeting’…

“Build healthy relationships by listening, speaking and meeting”

Don’t get lost behind your desk, or stuck on the couch with your laptop on your knees, Tweeting! Make the connection, interact, engage and book a meeting! Grab a coffee, go for lunch, grab drinks or even hit that networking event you always wanted to go to! For those too far to meet – Skype, iChat – Use the tools available to hear the voice and see the face! My iPhone calendar has been put to good use and I have enjoyed meeting a lot of new people I’ve connected with via Twitter, Facebook and Linked IN. I have one up on a lot of people living in the heart of  Toronto, but that doesn’t mean I should forget that contact in New York or Vancouver – I think we still have phones in our offices, right?

A lot of younger individuals (my opinion) do not engage in phone conversations today. But when trying to build a relationship, SMS really is NOT the way to go! I watch my little cousins SMS and BBM all day and night and wonder what happened to the 5-6 hour phone call to that girl/guy you liked back in high school? Does that even happen anymore? It’s scary to realize just how our social landscape has drastically changed because of these social digital tools (A little off topic here, but certainly a good point – What will happen to the next generation?). Start now and begin calling your friends once a day instead of texting! When getting that date you’ve always wanted, CALL HER! Do not text! She will appreciate hearing your voice and sensing that nervousness. It’s natural and will build confidence (Jared the relationship master? HITCH).

As an event designer and marketing guy, I take these tools and apply them with one question on mind - How can I use these tools to create live interaction? Not just to ‘Make That Meeting’, but even live events, presentations and invites. For me, social media and digital networking is the means to meet face to face, build relationships and create a brand around myself - It just became a lot easier to make it happen, but again, you have to make it happen!

Jared Golberg, Community Marketing Manager for 5th Element Events

Twitter: @JaredGolberg or   @5ElementEvents or   Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaredgolberg

With great speakers like Ferg Devins from Molson PR to one of my favourite speakers Mitch Joel of Twist Image who is a blogger, podcaster, passionate entrepreneur and worldwide speaker by sharing his marketing insights on digital marketing and personal branding –  it’s these individuals who are leading the way and helping others in their online adventures! Word has it, Joel is also a past member/creator of Distort Music which is home to bands like Alexisonfire, Black Lungs and Moneen!

Inspiring speakers for inspiring minds is the key to Mesh Marketing. With a full day of interactive and engaging workshops, there is something available for everyone within the Toronto (or Canadian) tech community. Below is the list of workshops/sessions happening on the 22nd. Have a look and see what fits for you:

- Building Web Properties that Convert (Dan Martell)
- Advertising Networks 101 (Mladen Raickovic)
- Search Engine Marketing/Search Engine Optimization (Jeff Quip)
- Generating Customer-Driven Creative (Andrew Sutherland, Dino Demopoulos)
- The Keys to Mobile Marketing (Amielle Lake)
- Facebook 101 for Marketing (Elmer Sotto)
- Social Media Analytics (Katie Delahaye Paine)
- Inbound Marketing Campaigns (Dharmesh Shah)

Through my adventures in the Toronto tech community, I have come across some great people who are working hard behind the scenes at Mesh to make sure this event is successful! Sheri Moore and Mark Evans are truly inspiring people and having given me a great opportunity to help out, support and volunteer my services to the Mesh team on October 22nd. Both are passionate individuals who inspire, engage and interact which are keys words to live by!

Once again, it’s ‘growth’ that really catches my mind with online marketing and initiatives. As Social Media and the Toronto tech community grows – I choose to grow with it. We are at the begin stages of the transition and being a part of something special and unique is always a great inspiration – Not only personally but professionally too. With the changes in the onine marketing and PR world, Mesh Marketing will definitely be a day ’NOT’ to miss! 

To register for Mesh Marketing 2009 click here!

I’ll see you at Circa on the 22nd!

Jared Golberg, Community Marketing Manager – 5th Element Events

Twitter: @JaredGolberg   or   @5ElementEvents   or    Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaredgolberg

This is not a review of a new album or an inside look to the inner workings of the music industry, but more of a memory of just ‘BUYING’ music.

There is something to be said for those who ‘still’ walk into HMV, or an indie record shop to pick up their favourite new release. With the rise of digital music sales (Somewhat), I can go music shopping while lying in bed using my iPhone. The experience is neat, but definitely does not have the same affect of walking into a record shop, seeing wall to wall CD’s like cereal boxes full of sugary goodness. The colours, sounds and atmosphere of record shops are like casino’s to me; like the first blast of oxygen being pumped into your body as the sounds of slot machines rattles your bones!

Today, I am sad to say, was the first time in a long time where the pure excitement of new music affected me. All day, I couldn’t wait to rush to the mall (of all places) and buy the new Thrice & Muse albums. Great bands – Huge fan! Both albums are on iTunes (Thrice’s Beggars was digitally pre-released to iTunes almost 6 weeks ago), but for some reason, I NEEDED the hard copy, CD, product, artwork, inserts – You get the picture. It’s a dying ‘past time’ to achieve this sensation. Heck, my little cousins havn’t seen a CD in years or even PAID for music in a long time (they don’t understand the VALUE of music! A discussion for another time).

I want to make sure you don’t think this is a knock on what music sales or the music experience has turned into. I am just providing a point of view from an individual who still believes that the CD hard copy has a place in todays digital world.

As I sit and write this, I am looking at my bedroom walls, staring at a Led Zeppelin II vinyl record, a frame full of album inserts of The postal Service, Kasabian, Stars of Track And Field and Refused, wondering who would NOT want to have these ‘collectibles’ as a music lover? It’s hard to think that most people don’t care about that ‘hand held’ product anymore, but what gets to me more, is that my kids may never experience the same adrenaline rush I feel when walking into a music store (I will try and teach them, no doubt).

Today helped me realize that no matter how much the digital world forms our future, there are simple little pleasures that still provide a very ‘human’ emotional sensation. As my network grows and people get to know me better, it’s important to shy away from the typical posts you may read from ‘Vocally Digital’ and discuss the little things that make us who we are. As a recent blogger, I find it important to show more then one side, one thought and one angle. As I listen to Beggars by Thrice, starting with track one: All The World Is mad, I realize that so many probably have this album downloaded for free already – but to me – the sound is much sweeter when I hold the cardboard package and flip through the creative pictured insert…. Priceless!

@JaredGolberg

Join me on Facebook www.facebook.com/jaredgolberg

Listen to my music choices on BLIP http://blip.fm/JaredGolberg

So…. We did it!

Through a lot of hard work, collaboration and interaction, the Toronto tech community came alive on Saturday, Septemeber 12th. Aboard Mariposa Cruises: The Northern Spirit, Twestival TO Local was our little piece of a global pie. Joining forces with other major cities across the world, Twitter activists emptied their pockets to help their ‘voted upon’ chosen charities.  Ours? Meal Exchange: Helping to feed hungry families across the GTA! Our goal was to reach $5000, but with the drive and passion of our ‘Followers,’ we surpassed $6000! A job well done for a community locked in arms…

Our committee of volunteers led by @SarahPrevette (Sprouter), worked extremely hard to ensure this event was not only profitable for our cause, but also a genuine old fashioned BASH! Sarah worked endlessy with media portals, both online and televised, to bring our campaign towards the forefront of hype during a week full of many large events (TIFF & Canada’s Walk of Fame – to name a couple). Everything from the red carpet with the ‘Toronto Argonauts Cheerleaders’ to the live twitter feeds on board, it was little accents that created a proper stage for what occured!

I want to take a moment to give a well deserved shout out to our full team – @AKthe5th (5th Element Events)  @Erin_Bury (Sprouter) @NairaPemberton (Sprouter)  @Skanwar (JetCooper) @Casiestewart (Incredible Blogger, writer and party enthusiast) and myself @JaredGolberg (5th Element Events). We were a strong team that stayed true to the cause and of course true to the community we served. I also want to say thanks to @JonCrowley for his ‘day of’ support and contribution – What a guy! It was fantastic to work with passionate individuals, but most importantly, these passionate people brought to fruition an evening that will now help feed many families across the GTA.

A little taste of what occured