I’ve just become a shareholder and director in Pyjama Drama, a fantastic company that offers drama, movement and creative play classes to two – seven year olds.  A bit of a departure from what I’ve been doing until now?  Well yes and no.  I’ve always loved drama and although I didn’t take it any further than A-level, I’m completely convinced of the value that children get out of learning drama skills; namely creativity, communication and confidence. I should probably make it absolutely clear, that this isn’t about teaching children how to become a ’star’ a la Britain’s Got Talent, it’s about helping them to develop their creativity and imagination.

Pyjama Drama has been going a couple of years and has 11 franchises across the UK.  There is an absolute ton of potential and it’s really exciting to come onboard and help grow and shape the business.  As we’re still effectively a start-up and everything will be ploughed back into the company, I will be carrying on with my other work for now and dividing my time between the two.  Hopefully some of my pr and social media skills will help us to raise the profile of the business.

I’ll still be keeping this blog running but do have a look at Pyjama Drama, (we’ll be giving the site a complete overhaul very soon) and if you know anyone who has drama skills and is looking for a new venture, then send them our way.

In honour of my new site, for anyone who has arrived here without knowing me, I thought I’d do my own. It’s pretty accurate and if nothing else, Wordle always make a lovely picture….

Also very timely.  A bit of a rant coming up but I'm getting an increasing number of requests to provide information/advice for free, along the lines of "could you just send me that list of blogger details you mentioned?" or "what's the best way for us to measure xyz and could you just let me see how that works?"

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to provide advice, input, suggestions for existing clients and indeed with peers, potential clients, others in my network.  But there comes a point where knowledge sharing turns into getting stuff for free.

I'm a freelance consultant, that means my knowledge and skills are how I earn a living. The proliferation of content for free on the web, especially around social media and PR, seems to be resulting in people thinking that these kinds of requests are OK.  But really it's like asking your lawyer or accountant to give you some free advice.  And I can imagine the response you'd get to that.

Image by mezzoblue

Dilbert sums up the new world as perfectly as ever.

Incredible times.

Hmmm, I have been seriously slack in blogging in the last couple of weeks.  Nine days out in Austin meant I was somewhat distracted (although lame of me not to blog I mean it's practically the law at SXSW).  Anyway, I'm pleased to report that it exceeded expectations, interesting talk, great people, lots of fun. OK so I know it was my first time and I probably sound a little giddy (maybe next year I'll sound more jaded) but now I really understand why it generates so much buzz.

So highlights and lowlights?
Well, it's best to have the bad news first right?

1. As the lovely Vero points out so eloquently, it became apparent pretty quickly that the organisers had screwed up by not making it clear what level the panels were aimed at and some were really pretty basic.
2. The venue is fine, huge and souless but hey, that's OK but they really need to sort the catering out- a rank wrap and coffee for $18 – yack.

Um, I can't think of anything else bad.  Now the good news.

1. Great speakers and a fanastic range of subjects mean that you have a huge choice of potential panels.
2. The people, the people, the people.  It's great to be with like minded folk who don't mind if you stand staring at your iphone for 10 mins instead of speaking to them.  Particularly big shout to the digital mission crew, a lovely bunch of folk.
3. Parties, free beer – what more can I say.
4. Speaker highlights: Kathy Sierra, Gary V (who was worth going to watch for the astounding hero worship he receives from his fans – GO GARY, you're AWESOME). And of course the British 'anti-panel' #kebab. It was juvenile and silly but hilarious and a refreshing change from all the earnest talk about social meeja.
5. And finally, wi-fi that worked despite the fact that thousands of people where blogging, twittering and probably uploading a gazillion gigabites of data per second.

But you know you've been bitten by the SXSW bug when you realise that there is just no way on earth
that you won't be there next year.

*pic by Kumar

1. The huge number of independent coffee shops with personality and attitude – the opposite of Starbucks.
2. Wholefoods, quite simply the best store ever.  Please open more in the UK.
3. Book People, quite simply the best book store ever.
4. Everything is automated.  The toilets flush by themselves, the paper towels come out on their own.  You need never do anything for yourself again!
5. Friendly people, in every store.  You get very used to the British attitude of aloofness/rudeness/"why are you bothering me by coming in my shop" and you forget that it's actually quite nice to be treated well.

ps.  however, the weather sucks (well at the moment anyway)

Wish me luck.