About 40 people turned up for the first Social Media Breakfast: Singapore at Frujch today and it was a really good experience for me and I just wanted to thank everyone for getting up early on a Saturday to have breakfast at 9am.
It never ceases to amaze me how “flat” interactions are between people involved in social media (ie I can be a student but people doing real research and real work are still interested in what I have to say on certain issues and vice versa). I don’t have pictures (because I was too busy running around) and I’m sure videos will be posted by Michael and Andre in the coming days, so look out for that.
Before going further, I just need to clarify that SMB: Singapore was not organised as part of the social media course I’m taking in SMU. I don’t get a grade for this. In fact, Derrick, who isn’t in SMU, started the ball rolling and I just joined him for the ride. The aim, as emphasised in my earlier post is community.
So, here are my memorable experiences (in no particular order):
Finding out ladyironchef.wordpress.com (aka Brad) is a guy and introducing him to the other foodie in the room, Amelia.
Finding out Jean is a researcher in life science (which you would not expect from a social media person). Thanks Xiao Hui for the introduction.
Meeting Andrew whose passion is virtual worlds.
Discovering Michael’s very cool site: Comiqs.
Putting faces to people like Michael Cheng, Debbie, Joanna, Brian, Enning & Supriya.
And meeting people I never even knew online before like Coleman, Hisham, Ridzuan, Yu Hui, Robert & Kenneth.
Of course, it was great seeing people from social media class: Andre, Amelia, Nabilah, Lydia, Yunying & Xiao Hui. As well to Prof. Michael who dropped by despite having classes to teach today.
Finally I need to say a big thank you to Derrick (for the initial idea to start SMB: Singapore), Sheylara (for really doing a lot of work to get it going and reminding me that if you wanna do something, gotta do it well), Nabilah for kindly letting us use Frujch even when they don’t open on Saturdays and Caleb for appearing out of nowhere and sponsoring SMB:Singapore for everyone. I think one thing the organisers felt really took off was the tagging concept (as explained in our video), but credit has to go to everyone who was game enough to help the activity take off.
Ps: I just know I missed out some people and there are people I didn’t even get to talk to today. So sorry about that, but hey, that means we gotta have another such event soon to make amends! Also, it was sad that Kevin and Vanessa couldn’t make it because they were speaking at NUS (I guess Kevin couldn’t have made it anyway unless he Skyped). Next time us Singaporean social media people must schedule properly! (And thanks for the Tech65 crew for postponing their podcast recording just to make it down. Means a lot!)
I have to say if today’s response, interaction and conversation is anything to go by, the social media community in Singapore is definitely present and definitely posed to progress strongly in the future. So if you’ve been a passive reader or consumer of the blogosphere and social media, it may be that time to get your virtual feet wet and jump right in.
Well that’s it for the first Social Media Breakfast: Singapore. Stay “tuned” for the blogosphere coverage that should occur over the weekend and I’ll post all the links up either late Sunday or early Monday. I’m really looking for feedback on today’s session, so any discussion in the comments or email would be greatly welcome and appreciated!
If you’d like to be in the mailing list for the next SMB: Singapore, just contact me directly or leave a comment below.
Tags: frujch, smb singapore, social media breakfast singapore, tech65
Unique-Frequency 
March 30, 2008 at 9:32 am |
Great job everybody! It appears you pulled together a fabulous event that that you can be proud of. Hopefully my next Geek Dinner can be even half as successful. I wish I did not have to teach, but I am glad I could swing by for even a few minutes.
This is the kind of leadership the 2.0 community can learn from.
Michael
March 30, 2008 at 9:37 am |
Once again, great job D. I’m sure the next breakfasts are only going to get better and better! I’m looking forward to them. 🙂
March 30, 2008 at 11:27 am |
Well Done David ! Hey Virtually – itsReal
March 30, 2008 at 12:23 pm |
Ah. “We all went home tired, but happy”
That about sums up my thoughts for SMB! 🙂
Looking forward to the next.
March 30, 2008 at 2:35 pm |
Here’s the video folks!
http://miccheng.com/2008/03/30/social-media-breakfast-singapore/
Miccheng
March 30, 2008 at 4:23 pm |
I hate myself for missing this one! Really!
Looking forward to the next one!
Congrats Daryl and team for the successful event!
March 30, 2008 at 5:49 pm |
[…] once again, my hat goes off to Daryl, Sheylara, and Derrick for doing so much to pull this together. And all the other COMM 215 […]
March 30, 2008 at 9:32 pm |
Hi Daryl, thanks for organizing, really enjoy the event with you guys. Great job!
March 30, 2008 at 9:40 pm |
@Michael, @Robert, @Amsie, @aplink, @Allquirknoplay: Thanks for the kind words!
@Miccheng: Thanks! Will post it up in the consolidated post tomorrow!
@claudia: make sure we see you at the next one!
March 31, 2008 at 10:05 am |
wow. incredible turn out and i wish i was there. congrats on the first ever local smb (it is the first right?). hope to see another one coming soon and i’ll be sure to be there!
March 31, 2008 at 10:09 am |
i think it was a success, a simple concept that has tremendous networking value. had some really good conversations with the people i spoke too, everyone’s so interesting!
been busy playing FF on my new PSP instead of blogging, but i shall soon!
March 31, 2008 at 10:47 am |
Yeah, as far as we know, it was the first. =).
Really glad everyone enjoyed it. We’ll definitely be doing another one, and hope to see you guys there.
March 31, 2008 at 1:42 pm |
[…] As a run down of last week, CoSpace was launched – wow, yebber turned ONE and held a unique and BINGOMATIC event at the Mint Toy Museum – thanks for the WebCam from the lucky draw, Geek Terminal becomes even more of a hub for entrepreneurs, ping.sg climbs the Alexa Rankings, twinity new T-shirt design launches and gets a public audience – watch out for MEETME when walking around Singapore – recruit.net books into facebook – the Media Slut – well she just keeps getting more evil, My client Hypocol doubles international online sales through Social Media Programs and takes its first bite of virtual worlds – TDM kicks off events planning – and finally the Social Media Breakfast – we crawled out of bed to reach the venue at around 9am – it was funny as NO agenda was set – we were given a “tagging” kit and the rest was up to us – from the video – you can see that the 40 or so managed to tag and get to know each other – i think i got across my waking and dreaming passion virtual worlds proposition. […]
March 31, 2008 at 2:45 pm |
@Yin: Hey I would so have liked to meet you! Come for the next one =)
@Brian: Definitely much value and I’m sure the future conversations will prove that.
@Derrick: Indeed. At least until we get told otherwise!
April 1, 2008 at 9:54 pm |
[…] to talk to everyone, but there’s always SMB #2! You can read more about the breakfast at Daryl’s blog and even Mitch Joel has picked up on it. (Good job […]
April 2, 2008 at 8:19 pm |
Hello, thanks for the finding-out part, many people had the same problem with my identity. lol!!
look forward to the next one! And oh ya, i’m having a food gathering for food bloggers, bloggers, and anyone who loves food this sun! will u be able to make it? details are on my blog : )
April 8, 2008 at 4:02 pm |
[…] has a good roundup of the event on his […]
May 1, 2008 at 6:29 am |
[…] your cowardice? If you reflect, you will really see it. The last networking session I went is Social Media Breakfast in Singapore, organized by Darryl, Derrick, and Sheylara. The experience was wonderful, yet […]