2K11 24/7

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The 2K11 24/7 LXXXIV: Twestival Toronto 2011

Last night was INSANE. If you're not a Twitter user in Toronto, you might not know that last night was Twestival Toronto 2011. To sum it up, that's equal parts:
  • Prize giveaways;
  • Karaoke contest;
  • Intense dance party;
  • Networking session; and
  • Drunken hook-up-a-thon
Last I heard before I left is that the event had managed to raise more than $16,000 for The Remix Project, which is pretty awesome! I managed to keep up the winning streak for the year with a GelaSkins gift card and getting a Twestival Toronto t-shirt for being one of the first 100 in the house (which I subsequently lost on the dance floor), but eventually I had to cut my losses and leave. Twestival Toronto 2011 taught me some important lessons:
  • I'm not 19 anymore - gallivanting about and dancing like a mad man are going to have effects on my body, no matter how awesome I think I'm doing
  • On that note, I need to stretch before these big tweetup parties. I'm not even kidding.
  • I need to make sure I follow up with the cool people I meet - it was cool to finally meet Judy and get to know a whole set of other people - despite the loud music, I was able to form connections, which is always important to me - I don't like just knowing people in a superficial fashion
  • PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ MY BLOG! Which is AWESOME. Which means I won't stop writing anytime soon :) Thanks for the encouragement, guys!
  • I owe Justin a shout-out for being the genuinely nice guy that he is
  • Business cards are an awesome way to network when no one can hear each other speak - either due to loud music, or having lost your voice FROM the loud music...
  • It's a small world, so I'd better make sure to behave myself (my wedding photographers were doing the red carpet photos for the event, unexpectedly!)
  • People are a lot better at wanting to get to know you once they find out you're engaged and not trying to get into their pants
  • Though I didn't win at the TwestivalTO Twidol Karaoke Competition, I know I gave the best rendition of Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It" that I could have while recovering from a cold
  • Preparation is key. Mine involved:
    • Eating a solid carbohydrate dinner, since I KNEW I'd be burning it off
    • Drinking 2L of water, anticipating how many drinks there might be
    • Changing to the most comfortable dress shoes I own; I would NOT be walking right now if it wasn't for this
  • Those who want to, do. Those who don't take photos, videos and tweet about it. Case in point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5vhlQPaciA Thus, I no longer take photos at tweetups since ENOUGH people have it COVERED. One less thing to carry!
  • West Indians can party. Period.
All in all, AWESOME evening, but I'm defintely feeling the effects today! Fun is a good thing, but even then - at this level - it needs to be done in moderation. I think it's back to writing and sorting life out for a week or two!

If you were at Twestival, I hope you had as good a time as I did! If you didn't make it, well - this is Twitter. This is Toronto. If there aren't a whole ton of parties going on throughout the year, something is VERY WRONG.

Until the next one,


--case p.

Views // Posted March 25, 2011
Mar 25, 2011
Judy said...
It was awesome meeting you in person, Casey! You helped make the night come alive with your kickbutt karaoke. Whoot whoot, if someone has a party, make sure to call/tweet this guy right here.

Will be sure to take mental note of your tips. The stretching one, yeah, that's a good winner.

Cheers! Keep those blog entries coming!

Judy
@judyelee

Mar 25, 2011
Nadine said...
From all the pics and facbook-linked tweets I saw, it looked like a genuine blast! Hopefully I can make it down to the next one, save I won't be tied up in something ridiculous... wait a second.... where are all of YOUR pics???
Mar 25, 2011
The Green Girl said...
Go, Case! Love the giant shades.
Mar 27, 2011
Casey E. Palmer said...
Thanks all for the comments and input!

@The Green Girl: That's totally thanks to @erinleydon, who was one of my two wedding photographers who I mentioned in the post :) She suggested that I take some props and just have fun — and this is me we're talking about. That's just how I roll :)

@Nadine: It was IMMENSELY fun. The number of people who had a crappy time were FAR outnumbered by those who really got into the spirit of things and just went crazy :) If you'll note my post, I didn't even take out my camera; there's no point — I end up using all my energy having a good time and making sure others have a good time, that I wouldn't take the time to stop and snap a pic. Just the reality of my situation :) Make it out to some tweetups, yo — they're INSANELY fun!

@Judy: As mentioned above, GREAT meeting you and thank you for the compliments :) I always want to make sure that people are having as good a time as possible — if that happens, you end up with a domino effect that leads to a better party! I'll be juggling the odd event here and there until the wedding, but in the second half of the year, LOOK OUT! Stretching. SO IMPORTANT.

Thanks, all!