UPDATE:  I’ve taken down the “donations” in light of Google’s interesting “no sharing” policy we’re seeing with the latest batch of Google Glass’ers.  But this isn’t over yet….

I’ve been offered a bit of a proposition, it seems.  I was sitting down for a Wheeling Nailers game with my buddy Saturday night when I received an @ reply on my phone.  Always interested at my flashy device, I found this…

Project Glass deems me worthy

While there’s plenty of debate on the validity of these responses, and even some ridiculous entries being disqualified after the fact, I did get one, and needed to prepare myself.  I mean, this was a chance to get my hands on something game changing long before the masses.  And I do love tinkering with new, bleeding edge, technology.

Right?

Sure, I can’t really afford the $1500 on a struggling empire builder’s income.

After a chat with Norm and Chachi on AwesomeCast this week, I was convinced I had to give this method the good old college try, though.

The Deal:  Donate to help me aquire a Google Glass

Could this happen?

What’s in it for Me?  A few things can be done.

• Are you local to Pittsburgh?  If you donate $50 or more, I will schedule a lunch, coffee, etc meeting with you to try it out too.  Maybe several.  Anyone putting that much green on this becomes a partner in this venture.  It beats dropping $1500 or waiting until who knows when, right? 
• Not local?  Let us entertain you.  We’re going to push this thing.  Once we get our hands on Google Glass, I’m going to employ everyone interested to help test this thing out in every situation that doesn’t mean imminent danger for the device or the wearer.We’ll put this thing through it’s paces and report back right here at Sorgatron.com in blogs, videos,

What if we don’t reach the goal?

• If it’s close enough I can cover the gap, we’re going to do this thing.   
• If we’re too short, I will refund everyone’s donation. 
• How can you trust me?  You’re protected under Paypal’s dispute service.  I’d be screwed.

What do I want to do with it?

• Hangouts:  Where can we reach out from?  We already do Hangouts from our phone from airports, football games, and more with our Mayhem RAW Hangouts.  Where could we go with this thing?  What sort of presentation perspectives can we use this for?  Live feed from Podcamp?
• Lifecasting?  iJustine had a giant camera on a hat with a companion laptop.  What can we do with this?  Walk around and get live responses right into your eye.  Could be boring.  Could be interesting.
• Get kicked out.  How will the general public react?  What happens when we walk into a bar?  Will the police pull me over?
• Represent Pittsburgh.  As always!  How many of these things could be floating around town?  We could be part of the first!

Can we do this?  Who knows?  Do you want to help?  Who knows! Help sponsor!

Any questions, leave a comment or email me (mikesorg@gmail.com) and help me hash this out!

Of course I did a little bit of talk about Podcamp Pittsburgh 7 a few weeks after, but most of my work has been trying to get all of those videos up on YouTube we recorded.

So this year, I had a good mix of solo, panel, and the usual AwesomeCast recording…

First was the “Podcaster’s Toolbox” where I got into a little bit of the tech and tools I use to do Podcasting.

Then we brought back another “We’re Still Here” panel with our friends from Burgh’s Eye View and Comic Book Pitt.

And of course our usual AwesomeCast Live presentation…

And our InsertCointoBegin.com crew with a break out session about social video games…

And beyond that, there are TONS of videos on the Youtube from this, and past Podcamps. Enjoy!

In 2010, I was talked into doing something incredibly stupid to start the New Year.  I came back for 2011.  And 2012.

And never looked back.

Well a little bit.  I was questioning this year’s Polar Plunge off the Mon Wharf on New Year’s Day.  It would be my fourth.  I was a little sick over the holidays and worried a little too much.  But after seeing Uncle Crappy remind me of my stance in his first call out blog post, I had no question about being all in…

“Once you do this, the rest of the year is easy.”

It was a small, motley crew.  My contribution was convincing Frank aKa @fuzzwad from our InsertCointoBegin.com venture, and grand accordianer.

It was great, and the most intimidating snow I’ve seen going in, even if it wasn’t the actual coldest year out.

But I went a little off…

Seems in the craziness, I forgot one of the first rules.  Jump far.

Moments after my escape (courtesy Burgbaby0

It went well enough.  I hopped in, clamored out without elbowing Frank out of the way in my haste.  Held my hands up in celebration, and noticed my finger was bleeding.  Then someone pointed out my leg.  Aw man.  So I said, “hey, gonna go find those friendly paramedics to patch myself up” and took a hike.  I was feeling “warm” and had no problem heading down without more than a towel over my shoulders.

“@unclecrappy and this is the face I make climbing out if the river in the morn…” Pretty close…

Got patched up and came back, and took a look at what I expected to be a large bruise on my hip.  Oh man, was that wrong. Went BACK to the medics to see if I could get a little larger bandaid, and was pretty

Tis a scratch…

much told to peroxide the hell out of it.  There were two.  So I had my second opinion.  j

Either way.  Aside from changing a bandage and keeping an eye on that one, it went pretty well.  I got that “one big thing” out of the way, and as long as this cut doesn’t kill me, I’m golden to rock 2013 again.

YinzTeam Triumphant (courtesy Burghbaby)

This year, we returned to Pittsburgh Comicon representing Sorgatron Media with a new game plan.  No longer did we have Mangtoons to team up with since it’s proprietor headed out to New Jersey for the next step in his career.  But this year, we had something more.  Something to actually sell.  So we upgraded from the lowly Artist Alley to Small Press booths selling IWC and RWA DVDs that we’ve been producing and distributing lately.

As usual, it’s an educational experience…

Stan Lee doesn’t pack a Con.  I was shocked on how many people A. didn’t know the yearly Comic Con was that weekend and B. didn’t pack the Monroeville Convention Center with word of Stan Lee.  Attending the Baltimore Comic Con, you could barely move.  You needed to buy a ticket to get a glimpse at Stan Lee.

Less to see.  I don’t know if I’m jaded from my first year on the Con circuit, but there wasn’t much to get excited about.  I brought a camera, but had no interest in filming much of anything.  Those I was interested in talking with we already talked with last year, or already feature on other shows on our network.  The best thing I saw all weekend was the World’s Strongest Redneck who came to our booth and bent a nail.  Amazing.  The people were there, and the community

World Gets Smaller.  Again.  As I run around and hit these wrestling shows and Cons, I’m starting to feel the world shrinkage.  It was great to see the Dork Trek and Torres vs Zombies guys I met up at Baltimore just a few booths down from our setup.  Seeing all of the comic book crew like Jon Towers, Scott Hedlund, and Dan Greenwald just bouncing around and hanging out was cool as always.  I love I was able to introduce them to the World’s Strongest Redneck.  Even some local wrestlers stopped by the booth.

We Upgraded.  Or Did We?  We made a quick decision last year that we were not going to be doing the Artist Alley this year.  It made sense.  We had stuff to sell.  We weren’t doing art.  Sure.  But when I did swing back and realized how much more room they got next to last year, and prime draw location by Stan Lee’s area, it made me wonder if we made the right move.  Either way, I’m sure an earlier placement that wasn’t in a corner would have helped, but you never know.  It’s that economics of the tables and making it back we stil have to learn.

One of the guys that made the weekend awesome!

It’s nice to sell something.  We did the promotional thing for Pittsburgh and Baltimore last year, and don’t really know how much we ended up getting form it.  No way to gauge it.  It’s just great to get out and talk to the people about wrestling, or web comic.  But it’s nice to have something that is a physical something to sell.  We did a lot of great work reaching out for our shows and services, as well as preach the pro wrestling groups in their back yard.  And we were able to see some immediate results as RWA had a show that Saturday night we filmed and one of the guys that came by talked to me.  One fan at a time!

Altogether, I can’t see not going back next year.  Even if the whole experience makes me shake my head from the lack of social media efforts to perhaps a lack of caring.  (I know people who couldn’t find anyone at the front door to pay for a ticket to come in. )  But it’s THE Comic Con of the area, and it’s our home base.

What’s next?  We are targeting the Steel City Con, which will be great with the wrestling guests it already has to attract our kind of audience right off the bat.  We are also looking at the logistics of doing Sci-Fi in the Valley in Edensburgh (by Johnstown).  They are having some local wrestling out that way, and lets face it, there’s wrestling on SyFy these days, right?

More or less, I’ve lived in and around Pittsburgh for a good 10 years, getting our first apartment in Mt. Lebanon in late 2003. I came to this town because I always loved what I saw visiting my Grandparents in Moon, and what they showed me of the city. It stuck.

But with everything going on with attempting at having a career, maybe I spent one too many nights coming home and watching cartoons instead of getting out doors.

Only recently during my recent stint with shooting Unsung, and other various projects, have I been thrust into my town. We’ve had to get creative on where we shoot around town, and where we need to go to cover what’s going on. There’s so much I haven’t seen around here in my own backyard.  On the release of Unsung episode 10 this week, I thought it was time to look back.

So what have I learned?

1. Bike! I’ve heard so much from my compatriot on the AwesomeCast Rob that biking is the **** and this is a good place to do it. I’ve seen so many show up to the Cafe and to events on bikes, or walk in with their bike seat. I’ve always been weary since I always thought I’d have to coinhabit roads with cars, and people that don’t seem to follow the bike rules. But there are so many trails that maybe that’s not an issue. The old bikes are acquired and I’m ready to get them restored to get out there!

2. Use the Rivers. They’re not just cool to look at, or a reason for bridges, or for jumping into once a year when the year turns. I don’t need to buy a boat (but who wouldn’t want to buy a boat. Or a monkey. But I digress). Kayak Pittsburgh seems to be the thing to do. Missy’s already been on an outing with her work, and I’m thinking about doing the same.

3. Stay away, Duckie’s. I don’t like them. They offensively quack at you and ruin shoots downtown for me. I bet they’re ruining scenes from Dark Knight Rises right now! But if I wasn’t so personally offended by them, the concept of a land and aquatic tour of the city sounds fantastic. I’ve been on a “duck” a long time ago in a region I can’t recall, but remember it being a lot of fun. And not ruining any videographer’s day….

4. Climb. Not physically. But I’m sure that’s fun too. Get up there and look at the city at a different level. Get some perspective. I’ve been fortunate enough to “climb” several of the buildings downtown for interview meetings and clients, and find myself peaking over the shoulder of who I’m speaking with to scope out the view. I’m sure I’ve been caught, but I can’t help it! I often go to Mt. Washington, often have, when I think I need a minute in my life to take it all in.

5. Have someone to experience it with.  I’ve been so fortunate to be able to discover all of this with my best friend.  We get to get out of our dark geek caves at home and the bright (oh so very bright to our computer screen experienced eyes) outdoors of this town.

6. People are not phased by cameras.  Not like they should.  Like when they’re shouting at someone from right beside out camera in PPG Plaza.  Nope.  No problem.  Maybe it’s a city thing.  The funny one was on a dock on the Allegheny when I heard the classic iPhone camera noise taking a picture of our shoot.

There’s a nice string of blogs that have gone up the last couple weeks on Podcamp Pittburgh’s official website.  You should drop by and read them.  You know.  After you register!  Here’s my contribution to the cause…

It’s been a long time since that very first Podcamp Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh Filmmakers.  I still remember that rainy day and collecting in the auditorium for the first time to see what this was all about.  At the time, I was starving for information on this new world of Podcasting and what people were doing with it.

For the next four years, we were moved to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, which was fantastic since it was a familiar building from my days there.  Centrally located downtown, and an environment full of creative things lining the hallways.  There was also a keen inability to NOT get stopped in a conversation.  But I suppose that’s a bit of the problem.  We saw growth every year since Podcamp’s inception in our fair ‘burgh.  Classes were packed with the likes of Burgh Baby’s (Michelle is her people name) and her Blogging 101 session, instigating spill over rooms using our own streaming setup via our friends at VivoLive.  Last year, we expanded to spread our classes through two floors to get some more breathing room.  But even then, things can probably only expand so far.

Earlier this week, I had the fortune to tour our new digs at Point Park University.  More specifically, the University Center.  Oddly, I wasn’t completely new to this place.  Years ago I might have wandered into this building for some project that required looking through newspaper cells back when it was a Carnegie Library branch.

To say I was taken back by walking in is an understatement.  For those that may have felt claustrophobic in our past locations, this will be a welcome change.  The mail hall that welcomes you is three stories high.  Our Hub is now going to be a proper auditorium holding much more than our AIP version, and bringing us full circle from that first Filmmakers auditorium.  It sounds that we will have access to most of the building, which is just full of nooks and crannies.  Well furnished nooks and crannies that are well suited for impromptu “sessions” to bring about the next “bacn” level of inspiration.  Many of the rooms we’ll be holding proper sessions (or improper if Wrestling Mayhem Show decides to have another session) are rather unique from each other.  Which should come across as apposed to our past session videos looking like that may have almost all been held in the same room.  The chairs look to be much comfier, so I more than expect to see a few nappers in the screening room after a night of 724s the night before.

This year, our venue really feels like Podcamp Pittsburgh is a”all grown up” in what should be a great presentation to first comers and veterans alike.  And don’t worry.  It’s only about  three blocks away from our last location!

What a great day of…meetings?  In my transitions to a part time freelancer, I’ve managed to carve out a whole day every week for exploring these expanding options before me and build up some clientele.  Today, I was fortune enough to align that day with Chachi’s Proclamation (more on that later) and managed to hit up every standing “we have to meet” message I’ve received recently into one nice, Chai Tea Latte wrapped, package.  And these were some of the things that struck me on the drive home from my last of these.

• Bringing an iPad to a meeting means you will talk about the iPad. To keep light on the travel since I was going to be bouncing around downtown, I’ve converted to bringing my iPad along instead of my bulkier 15″ laptop.  Of course, I do this on the day they announce new iPads.  But still, it’s a curiosity.  The commercials are everywhere.  The variety of tablets coming out claiming to edge into the iPad’s market.  It’s tablet fever out there man!  Thankfully, some of the conversation was around digital distribution, so it was a nice sample platform to show off.
• Repetition.  In all three of my meetups, I had some very similar conversations about social media and content development.  And I certainly was not bored reiterating those points.  It’s just interesting to see friends’ Twitter feeds fearing meetings and to have a packed day like this that can have not one meeting I fretted, even though all were about future or expanding projects.  And some of it was a great practice for my upcoming Twitter teaching session coming up this week.
• Starbucks.  It is everywhere.  And a quick go to.  That’s why they win.  I wanted to go to a Crazy Mocha so bad.  But it wasn’t open to 11 in Greentree, or around the corner from my potential client’s office in Market Square.  It’s like Facebook.  You don’t really enjoy the process, but you go make a presence there because everyone is already hanging around it.  When you put one every three blocks, or every outlying borough in the ‘burbs, you get a day like this that earned me a Barista badge on Foursquare.
• I love downtown. And I miss it.  I love these days that give me an excuse to venture down there.  Maybe not daily, but it’s great to get down there and be a “townie”

What sort of meetings are you having?

Recently posted on Sorgatron Media

Mulango Akpo-Esambe of Mangtoons.com takes us on a tour of the Toonseum in Downtown Pittsburgh, PA! We checkout the comics, people, and upcoming events during the Blogger Blast in early February and have a chance to talk with Executive Director of Toonseum, Joe Wos, and the special guest for the evening, Doug Bradley. Better known to some as “Pinhead” of the classic Hellraiser series!

Stay tuned in the coming week for an extended release of our conversation with Doug Bradley about the Toonseum, what he’s been working on, Soccor, and the “new” Hellraiser flick right here on SorgatronMedia.com!

This was the first in what I hope to be a series of videos covering what’s going on in the area that doesn’t quite fit in with the shows we’ve been doing thus far. Sort of like when we visited the Freak Show guys for Stuff a Bus.

I had the fortune to be able to get Mulango last minute, who fit in as someone who produces his own web comic, and is a student of animation (he’s officially a 3D Animator by trade). This Blogger Blast event (that took place all the way back on February 2) was a pretty novel event. Walking in, the patrons were handed a small package that was a little different. A tiney, bulky envelope that made me scratch my head. Turns out, the little envelope had, as Joe Wos explained during the presentation, a Toonseum flash drive, business card, and several free passes for the Toonseum for givaways on our respective blogs.

It was a great event to check the place out.  I’m a big proponent of the idea that you have to show people what they’re getting into.  I might have reservations about just heading down to check out someplace like the Toonseum.  Now, after going down and talking with people involved in it, and seeing the space, I’m a bit more excited, and willing to keep tabs on, the stuff going on down there.  Hopefully, with the bloggers and videos like the one I’m posting, people will have a chance to explore it digitally and be more likely to come in.  This is something I like to promote with all of those session videos from Podcamp Pittsburgh.

All together, I’m pretty happy with the results. Here’s looking to cover bigger events in the near future.

What events should we be covering in this fashion?

Just over a month or so ago, my best friend laid out an idea for a 24 hour gamathon for charity.  I am pleased to say that it came to fruition, and with a good bit of success.  It was amazing to see everyone in our little social media community come out to support the event.  The Wrestling Mayhem Crew was live in the chat room the whole weekend.  Everyone came out to see the spectacle that was Chachi camped out in Ninja Entertainment on Smithfield St.  Chachi managed to get press and raise over $3,000 for a great, local cause!  There are plenty of pics and videos on the Facebook page, but here’s a little timelapse of the entire 24 hours for your enjoyment!

A quick writeup I did over at SorgatronMedia.com:

Over the last few months, I’ve had the fortune to work on a whole other kind of project than I’m used to.  I’ve found myself working on peices of non-fiction, whether it be safety videos, documentaries, or conversational Podcasts.  It was with great pleasure that I was allowed to be along for the ride in the creation of the just launched “The Baristas”, the brainchild of long time colleague Justin Kownacki.

And it features a helping hand from several members of our crew here at Sorgatron Media. Rob de la Cretaz of the AwesomeCast lent his photography skills to those amazing shots on TheBaristas.com and the intro sequence to the show. Chachi contributed as a consultant on some rather geeky episodes you will be seeing in the near future. I helped with videography and any other production needs I could help with.

Finally, since it’s humble beginnings as a Kickstarter project to resurrect the characters started in the long running Something to Be Desired, episode 1 is finally here!