The last coupe of
weeks I have been distracted on a personal project: a virtual birthday bash. The
plan was to try to sustain a week-long celebration. I was not exactly sure how
this would work, but it sounded like an interesting experiment.
You all know how I
love to experiment! There was a lesson to be learned here…
Others have done
this and I suppose if I look, there probably is data being collected on such
things. But I wanted to document some of the experience and adapt the parameters
of it to a book launch.
When Google Plus
first appeared in the ether, I said that hangouts had a great potential for
book launches. I admit that I did not go ahead with the planned virtual launch
of One
Night with B.B. because I panicked: What
if I throw a hangout and nobody comes? What if they hate the story? What if
nobody wants to buy your silly little e-book?
Tortured by my own
doubts, I denied myself the experience.
Granted, the
virtual birthday bash lasted well over a week and it was such a smashing
success, we kept the group (it is private) and continued the conversations. A
book launch is likely to last a very limited period of time. But I think I have
learned a few things…
Here are the
details that I wish to translate to a book-related event. The group was
international, comprising three continents. It was balanced along gender lines.
Involved were three distinct generations.
Obviously the majority
had two people in common, the minority at last one of the two birthday girls. Some
of them were familiar with my work but not all, but that was hardly important
because it was not a publishing event.
There were no rules
as such, but we did define what the virtual gathering should look like.
Music: Parties should
have music! Dancing music, make out music... Bring us a good song!
Party
Games: What's a birthday party without a game or two? Run your own trivia
threads, if you'd like. I will give away a few books as prizes.
Food:
Of course, you can link up some good food porn. And drinks! I even got you
started in the cocktail department.
Gifts:
No purchase necessary! But you can bring all those wonderfully weird,
conversation pieces you haven't shared on your wall because . . . well, just
because. If you get stuck, K and L enjoy looking at sexy boots neither can
afford.
Stories:
We like words! Stories, poems, songs, jokes. You got some? Share!
Video:
Seen something interesting or funny and want to share or just discuss? Throw it
in the mix. Especially if there's cute kittens in it!
The only thing that
did not go as planned were the games and we did not need them as such (they
were referenced). The conversations pretty much extended 24 hours as the group
spanned several time zones.
What transpired was
an exchange of ideas, philosophies, jokes, stories and ephemera that defined
each of us, the group, cliques within it, the times in a much larger sense and
the event itself.
I had a fantastic
time and was left with ideas for more writing projects; a deeper bond with some
and a deeper appreciation of the whole; a new hangout place simply called The
Lounge; and a playlist
of over 200 videos and 18 hours of sheer entertainment (which you are free to
peruse and amuse, explore and use as a muse).
So it was an epic
birthday, but also it expanded my idea of how to present my work and market it
online. Plus I got to explain kinky boots. Like other defining experiences in
life, it’s always best to try them out with friends you trust before taking the
plunge…
I am ready to do
this! And I am already working out the details in my head for a fantastic virtual
book party (and I'm dying to try out the technology to include a virtual signing as well). O brave new world!
