Anyone vying for SXSW panels this year?

[Pat Coyle]

A bunch of Smaller Indiana members attended the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin last year. I didn't get to go, but I'm told that Indiana made a serious impression thanks to the army of Hoosiers in the house.

The fest is coming up in March, and right now the event organizers are considering which discussion panels will be selected for this year's event. I'm in the running, and would appreciate anyone's support (see below). If you are vying to become a panelist, or if you have a particular panel you'd like see supported, please post details in reply to this blog post. I'll do my best to help spread the word. And if you're not vying for a panel, but you plan to attend, please reply here as well so we can get connected.

Now, here's my (selfish) plea for support:

If you've never been to the South by Southwest Interactive Festival then you're missing a truly great event. Every time I go I learn things and meet people that change the course of my thinking and my career. The last time I went I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion on Sports 2.0. This year I'd like to host another panel, but in order to earn that privilege, I'll need YOUR Support.

SXSW panels are selected in part by popular vote. Votes are cast via an online system called the Panel Picker. If you are so inclined, I would greatly appreciate it if you'd take the following steps:

Step One: create a panel picker account

Step two: Vote for my panel here

Obviously I wouldn't expect you to vote for my idea without reviewing it. So I've included an overview below. Meanwhile, I would encourage you to peruse other panel ideas while you're at it. SXSW needs your votes to help determine which panels will make the cut.

I've been fascinated lately with the subject of cause-related marketing and how it is gaining momentum in sports, particularly where social media is concerned. These trends inspired my idea for a panel discussion...

Here's a description of my panel idea:Sports Fans Clicking Crazy for Their Causes

Campbell's Soup introduced its "Click for Cans" campaign years ago, and every year it causes a viral sensation among millions NFL fans who want to help their team "win," and earn food donations for local food pantries in their communities. Fast forward today, with Katrina and the Oil Spill and hybrid cars in our active consciousness... more and more brands mixing cause marketing, digital media and sports. Brands like Nike, Hyundai, and the NBA are combining sports with cause in order to relate with consumers, keep brands fresh and do "good" in society. Most of these "hybrid" programs have terrestrial elements, but what's most amazing is the scale (and momentum) these programs can achieve in the digital realm. They are fueled by sports, and catalyzed by digital.

This panel will bring together major practitioners of this cause / sports / digital alchemy and explore how to use Web, social and mobile as pivotal components of engagement and activism; but one question remains: will these efforts change consumer preferences? Will cause marketing in sports move the sales needle for brands? Our are consumers just clicking cuz we can?

Vote early, vote often...and cast one vote for me if you please

One last thing: SXSW isn't JUST about Interactive. There is a music fest and a film fest down there as well. A little something for every member of the "creative class." Check it out!

[Taylor Martin]

If they aren't having any magic acts, I don't have a way to make money there. Why don't we have something like this here for ALL of the arts? Oh, we do, it's called Indy Fringe.