We got Scobleized!

Now that we’re back from SXSW it’s long time I updated how we got on.

First off SXSW is H.U.G.E

I can understand why people describe it as “spring break for geeks” and in the future when we have a huge hardworking team we might just treat it as such. It’s a great way to hang out with like minded people, drink some brewskies, listen to some music and have fun.

In terms of out and out networking though – meh…

I’m not the world’s most natural networker.  Give me structure, a focused event, a speaking engagement or a meeting and I’m fine – sometimes I’m even on fire – but SXSW is so huge you have to really throw yourself in and make a bit of a nuisance of yourself to get results.  It’s not like you’re stood in a room of 100 people all there for the same reason – it’s much more disparate than that.

So by the 4th day I decided I had to make my trip count – I was learning a lot but not making many connections (the brilliant Mok from EverySpace.com being one notable exception).  I had sent a number of emails before arriving trying to hook up with some very influential people, one of the main targets being Robert Scoble (or the Scobleizer as he’s known).  I decided I wasn’t leaving Texas until I had met and pitched him Buildor.

Fortunately everyone is very visible at SXSW and Robert in particular, on Gowalla and Foursquare all day and the public face of RackSpace meant I managed to speak with him and ask him for a demo.  “Call me tomorrow, I might have time in the morning” was his response.  So I called – “Try again at 1pm” then “try again at 2″.

Like something out of a bad movie I finally stalked him down to his hotel and grabbed him just as he was checking out.  He very graciously agreed to a demo, tweeting as he went along.  I had about 15 minutes and he said he thought it was great. A good result if not completely worth the trip across the Atlantic.

It was only when I logged on whilst watching Chelsea get booted out of the champions league that I saw my inbox go ballistic  with new Twitter follow requests – we’d been Scobleized!

Seeing @buildor from @James_law He pitched it as Dreamweaver in the cloud.

10 minutes later…

OK @buildor from @James_law is the coolest new tool I have seen at SXSW and even better pro version is coming.

W00t!  To have such overt praise from one of the world’s most influential tech commentators in a week when he must have seen hundreds of pitches was the best validation we could ever have asked for.

Nice…

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