The Days of Lore

SXSW by ABCD

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 | musiX, pdX | No Comments

Those who can’t afford to go to Austin, Texas for SXSW go to the SXSW Interactive Networking Party in chilly downtown Portland, Oregon. The announcement for this Interactive Networking Party was Tweeted on my Twitter. All I had to do was RSVP by e-mail. Done and done.

Why would I attend an Interactive Networking Party for a music event I’m not even attending? I figured at the very least I would a) get a couple of free drinks out of the deal; b) maybe some snacks; and c) meet a few like-minded creative types who were looking to get a), b) and c). And we did get a) b) and c) … I got d) as well.

I walked up the stairs to the third floor of the Fez Ballroom to a dimly lit room with a DJ and clusters of smartly dressed patrons milling about with drinks in their hands. I got my name tag and a couple of drink tickets. I saw a table filled with trays from Baja Fresh … ooh, is that a plate of taquitos?! They were also having a raffle for free tickets to SXSW—all you had to do was drop a business card into a basket. I dropped one of my handmade handbills into the basket, because that’s how we do things here at The Days of Lore.

“Will this work?” I asked.

Uh, sure,” said a man with a chuckle.

I moseyed. I mingled. Met some nice people, many of whom do Web-based work. I ate some taquitos. Ordered a beer. Ordered another beer. I was all but ready to leave when the event’s coordinator, Tammy Lynn Gilmore, introduced herself and thanked me for attending.

“It looks like you could use another drink ticket,” she said knowingly.

“You are absolutely right.”

I thanked her, made more small talk and headed back to the bar. I was feeling sassy—rum and Coke it is. I was sipping my cocktail, not recalling telling the bartender to put absolutely no rum in it, when a nice gent—probably early 50s—came up and introduced himself. His name was Bill. We started talking about music. I told him I had played in some bands. He said he played in a couple of bands in Los Angeles, still likes to play music, had a hit in 1985 … wait, wha?

“Which song was it?”

“It’s called ‘Obsession.’ I smiled and slapped on the arm. “Yep, I’m the singer.”

So, aside from the anticipated a), b) and c), I also got d) I met the singer for Animotion. Bill Wadhams. In Portland. You won’t get that in Austin, but it looks like you will get it at an Interactive Networking Party in the frigid Pacific Northwest. I wonder if he still has that cuirass from the video … always wanted a cuirass.

“Obsession” by Animotion

Tags: “Obsession”, Animotion, Bill Wadhams, Interactive Networking Party, SXSW