Vine-up!

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Move over Tweet-up; there’s a new IRL meeting in town! And why not? Since Vine opened up the app to android users, they're exploding with fresh activity.

Thrilled to say I attended what could very well be the first Vine-up in my little corner of the world.  Oh, just a handful of us in attendance. Okay by me; this made it easy to converse and exchange ideas.

The app is so simple which makes it difficult. I had to ask someone how to begin making a video! After pressing the little movie camera icon, I couldn't find anything to press to get the video started; where IS that button?



Turns out there isn't one. Put your finger on the pic and Vine takes off! Keep it there for six seconds or try stop motion by lifting your finger up and putting it down again.

The hosts for this vine-up were promoting the shopping center where the Vine-up was held. We all made Vine vids about the center and added the shopping center’s hashtag cinematic creations before posting. Towards the end of the meeting we all reviewed each other’s videos and had some really good laughs! What a fun concept, right? There were prizes too. 
Our hosts also provided beverages (they brought them) and appetizers from one of the local restaurants. Nice!

Some of the folks there were already following each other on Twitter so it made the in real life experience all the more special.

A couple of things I've learned. The android app and the IOS app are not exactly the same. Therefore, friends of android, much of what is already written in blogs and articles on how to use Vine may not apply to you. Suggestion to those who have blogged about Vine prior to the android release; go back and make it clear that you are discussing IOS.

Was trying to figure out how to share a Vine post to Twitter after you've already shared the post only to Vine. For IOS, it’s crystal clear; tap on the three dots under the post and there is a share option. For android, that option isn't there! Sigh. Since I deleted my posts to Twitter that I made yesterday during the Vine-up I’m not able to share them here on the blog at the moment! However, in the meantime, here’s some flax blowing in the wind:



Explore people and have fun with Vine! Lene Lovich sang about new toys in this song over 30 years ago. We don’t play games with your social media strategy! Stop by our website, or say hello on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.   

Friends and Followers: Who ARE These People?

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In Real Life. It’s a bonus attribute in a friendship nowadays. There are folks I know that I feel comfortable with and have conversed with for years, yet I haven’t met them. 

You probably have some too. Some may progress from social networking with you to the telephone. In my experiences, this doesn’t occur all that often but it’s delightful when it does. A common interest usually jump starts it; it’s been both business-related and personal for me.

I’m just back from a vacation where I traveled a few thousand miles from home. I did keep up with social media so you didn’t even notice I was on the move, and I’m thrilled to say that I had the pleasure of meeting several friends for the first time! Note: Some names are changed.

Lunch with Janice was quick and too short. She looked like her pictures and her personality was just as she projects it via social media. Have known her three or four years; initially meeting on a health-related social network. From there we branched out to Twitter, then Facebook, and we support each other’s blogs. Janices’s choice of restaurant turned out to be exotic and delicious!

From Ally's Garden

Next stop was Ally who lives in the same area as Janice. Ally is the real deal. She’s as funny and bright as she is on Facebook, where I met her several months ago after having a lengthy conversation on a mutual friend’s wall. Highly creative, her design savvy was reflected inside and outside of the charming home she lives in. Her dog growled and wouldn’t come close but he sure looked cute! 

A groovy place to have coffee!

Two days later, I met Vivian. She is also a creative type, a fine artist. She and I met on Twitter several years ago. She expressed reservations about meeting me; apparently, this was a new concept to her. On the phone prior to our meeting she asked “Is this really okay to do?” I assured her that I do not bite. At a very tasty flatbread pizza restaurant, then later for coffee elsewhere we talked about lots of cool stuff, including how our friendship started on Twitter and how I came to her defense when someone tweeted blunt criticism about her art.  

Pretty kitty!

And last but not least is Paul. I met Paul when I shouted out for guest bloggers for my Groovy Reflections blog. Paul stepped up and hasn’t stopped writing since. He then became my first admin for the Groovy Reflections Facebook page. And he is still doing just that as well as many other duties for Groovy Reflections. I was honored to stay in his home for two days and meet the Mrs. and the cat (both are my friends on Facebook too).  

I also visited with relatives too during my travels, however, I'm certain you don’t want to hear about that!

The point is: The definition of friendship has perhaps evolved a bit. Friendships can be carried out in a non-physical fashion. I’ve actually struggled with this thought for a few years, but have come to the understanding that friendship is virtually embraceable.

Is this going to put less of a priority on physically meeting people? No.

Looking forward to meeting many more of you in the future!

Elton John sang "If your friends are there, then everything's allright." in this beautiful ballad from early in his career. And if you are feeling friendly, stop by the website, or our Twitter, Facebook, or Google+accounts and say hello.