The TuesdayTweetUp

Last night a flock of tweeters gathered in a basement bar in central Southamtpon to meet, share ideas and generally have a good night. As media, marketeers, developers, students, educators and entrepreneurs mingled and networked, the first Tuesday Tweet Up was born.

The Southampton Tuesday Tweet Up was the brain child of @tuesdaytweetup (real name Lisa) who, with the help of partner @spindrwoody, spent a month working the Twitter machine to raise interest in a local networking event. Many of us assumed @tuesdaytweetup had a background in PR/Marketing or Event Management, but as a project manager from a large insurance firm “Tuesday” (as Lisa became affectionately termed around the TweetUp) had only started on Twitter as a personal hobby. Speaking to me at the event, Lisa seemed pleasantly surprised at the power Twitter had, that over a month she was able gather 125 followers and arrange a meeting where at least 50 unique Twitter users showed up (95% of whom where total strangers to her).

For myself, I had a great time at the TweetUp. I had the chance to meet with users I had been following for almost a year as well as re-connect with an old uni friend from halls (@cminion). The TweetUp gave everyone a forum to not only discuss Twitter but also their businesses, interests, and aspirations. This is what social networking is about, making connections online that carry through to the “real world”.

The night really was varied, from about 7pm to when I left at 10.20pm the following topics were amongst those discussed at the TweetUp (there were more I am sure):

Twitter – Ok that’s a given but people discussed its use as a personal medium, news aggregator, within business, and for PR and marketing

Ghost tweeters

3D printing

Solent Uni vs Southampton Uni

Virtual worlds

The ultimate set top box

Owl cakes – not made of owls but looking like an owl

Unique business cards – best of the night was from @RAndyVee. Each card had a different photograph on the back which had a story to it. First time I’ve been given a business card with a padded cell on the back!

Children using social networks and internet safety

Healthcare on Twitter (and chickenpox)

I didn’t get a chance to meet everyone in the room and I really wish I had, which is why I am excited that @tuesdaytweetup is planning on making this a regular event. As Lisa explained, there are a lot of events/tweetups/conferences/un-conferences happening in London but nothing locally. A regular networking event for likeminded people is just what Southampton is after. Check out www.tuesdaytweetup.com for more pictures, video footage and information about the TweetUp and to vote on how often you think they should run. @TheRoryJackson and @mynameisbainsy also knidly interviewed attendees and recorded footage of the event which will be available on www.tuesdaytweetup.com and YouTube shortly. I'll blog and tweet when it's available.

If you attended the TweetUp please leave a comment below and tell me what you thought, who you met and what you talked about. Better yet, leave a comment or email @tuesdaytweetup!