Calling all Scottish Twitterers (again)

Posted on: 2 February 2010 (1 week ago) at 18:26 - Comment

Welcome, welcome.

Its going to be a hard act to follow but we’re very pleased to announce that, after the enormous success of Edinburgh Twestival Global 2009, the amazing “Internet” will yet again be bursting forth into our fair city in the form of….

…Edinburgh Twestival 2010!

The date to put in your diary is 25 March 2010 and this time we’ll be joining cities around the globe to raise money for the international humanitarian charity Concern Worldwide

We’ll be revealing more details soon - not least where it’s going to happen…

Meanwhile, you can keep tabs on us by following @EdTwestival and via the Facebook page (where you can also declare your intention to attend, giving us a rough idea of numbers).

GET INVOLVED

“How can I be a part of this marvellous event?”, we hear you ask?

Well, it simply couldn’t be simpler.

We’ve already had lots of great ideas and offers from local Tweeters, but we’re hungry for more. If you want to help, donate a raffle prize/your technical wizardry, sing, dance, do origami, conduct a robot orchestra or something else we haven’t yet imagined please contact one of the EdTwestival team:

@vraimes @katetrussler @hilaryjanegray

(Hopefully a few more names will join that list shortly!)

SPONSORSHIP

In the next couple of days we’ll be posting more information on how companies can help raise stacks of cash for Concern Worldwide, and their online profile, by becoming a supporter of Edinburgh Twestival.

Until then, you can email us: edtwestival(at)gmail.com

Hope to see you there - and keep those suggestions coming!

Thanks,

The EdTwestival team

Prizeswinners and Thanks!

Posted on: 13 September 2009 at 19:46 - Comment

Dear all,

Sorry for the delay in announcing the prizes.

Firstly - wasn’t Thursday 10 September - an absolutely fantastic night?

There are so many people to thank for helping the evening come together.

Our Sponsors

It wouldn’t have been possible without our sponsors @bigmouthmedia, @convergenceuk, @channel6, @uservision - thank you so much!

Electric Circus

We also want to thank the amazing venue @circusedinburgh for hosting us and helping the evening to run so smoothly. Especially the lovely Jason who put up with our lots of visits during the organisational process!

Our *entertainers*

@ewanspence, @calamateur, @chutesmusic, @epic26, @bananasessions, @omegamale

Raffle Prizewinners

Finally the amazing prizegivers - and without further delay we want to announce the prizewinners!

@colingilchrist at Redress - One user licence for Tweetabits - value £495

And the winner is @peter433! Congratulations!

@300miles via Nicol Manson, owner) -2 nights at the Waterside Hotel

This was won on the night by @marielslater

@300miles (via Grant Manson, owner ) - meal at Orocco Pier.

Won by Karen Read (via @atocher)

@300miles - Voucher for two persons to partake in a “Firefighter for a day”

This was won on the night by @katetrussler

@circusedinburgh - 1 x 2 hour session of Karaoke for up to 10 people (Sunday-Thursday)

- Winner @nadinepierce

@thefinewineman - Wine Tasting for 2 with The Wine Experience worth £70

This was won by: @fraserH77

@civicuk - £50 voucher for John Lewis

- Winner @qubika

@cityferret (via Angel Loving Care) - transformational No hands Massage with Deborah King which includes a mini nlp diagnosis with her

Winner @Hannahmelville

@AnnieBee - three month membership to The Beluga Club

Winner guest of @300miles

@PeoplemapsJulie - Signed copy of Sunil Sharma’s “From Here to Happiness”

Winner @frannybop

@PeoplemapsJulie - Signed copy of Sunil Sharma’s “From Here to Happiness”

Winner guest of @300miles

@PeoplemapsJulie - Signed copy of Sunil Sharma’s “From Here to Happiness”

Winner @convergenceuk

@PhotographyJC - Free photography portrait session and 12×12 print

Winner @tjmwatson

@plumtunes - Signed *pre-release* copy of the new CD from the lovely Plum

Winner @jaffne

@300miles - £100 voucher for Farmer Autocare

Winner @owenp

@centotre £50 gift voucher

Winner @

@queens_hall £30 gift voucher

Winner @tanepiper

@zanzero £30 gift voucher

Winner guest of @300miles

@canongatebooks Signed copy of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave

Winner Crystal Atkins (Ambergreen)

@canongatebooks Signed copy of Emergency by Neil Strauss

Winner @convergenceuk1

@canongatebooks Spoken word CD (complete and unabridged) The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave (read by the author)

- Winner @rhinoglamour

@regalclothing “I’m Tweeting this” T Shirt (medium)

Winner @aigwilson

@regalclothing “I’m Tweeting this” T Shirt (large)

Winner @mattmcarthur

@andrewghayes Signed copy of A History Walking Guide to Edinburgh by Andrew Hayes

Winner @amypalko

@Flexiscale 1 years free hosting on the Web-1500 package (terms and conditions apply)

Winner @itsonitsgone

Karen Read via @atocher 1 half bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon

Winner @fionapriestley

@scottmliddell 1 x The Beatle Man signed by the author.

Winner @the_emecks

@scottmliddell 1 x The Beatle Man signed by the author.

Winner @tomgriffiths

@scottmliddell 1 x The Beatle Man signed by the author.

Winner @hannahmelville

@calamateur 4 different CD’s and a 7″ single

Winner @photographyJC

@filmhouse Two tickets to a film

Winner @nic_78

@300miles Signed Proclaimers CD: “Hope your 300 miles are as successful as our 500 miles”

- Winner @louandboo

@ourdynamicearth Family day pass

- Winner @sjames74

@300miles Signed Ian Rankin book: ‘Doors Open’: “Please follow @300miles on Twitter. It would be a crime not to”.

Winner @timread

@edinburghfringe Fringe Pack - assembly of items from the Fringe Shop including posters, magnets etc

Winner @architectedin

@funky_junk A snazzy necklace

Winner @kingofpastry

@Blitzmiz Bottle of Remy Martin Cognac

Winner @doctorvee

@jehollin Bottle of Laphroaig 10 year old malt whisky

- Winner @mykescotland

@pinknikdesigns 1 x Special Edition Twestival Mug and Cloth Bag

- Winner @colingilchrist

@pinknikdesigns 1 x Special Edition Twestival Mug and Cloth Bag

- Winner @alisonwalsh

@centotre £50 gift voucher for Centotre

- Winner - Sandra Marr who collected on the night (sorry if we spelt your name wrong - it was pretty loud!)

We will contacting all the prizewinners by twitter during the next week to arrange delivery / collection. Congratulations!

Love you and love your work!

The EdTwestival Team

Prize Update for tonight

Posted on: 10 September 2009 at 11:39 - Comment

Dear all,

As promised - here is the update on the top five prizes (announced on the night) and extra prizes confirmed since the last blog.

Top Prizes

@colingilchrist at Redress - One user licence for Tweetabits - value £495

Tweetabits is:

1. designed for businesses who want leads come to them – a new way of reaching potential or existing customers
2. based on locality so you can search for customers in your area for direct targeting
3. a way you can tag and flag tweets as a way of sorting and streamlining leads and interesting tweets
4. brings the leads to you rather than you having to do endless searches to find them
5. a way for the first time you can choose to not include search terms in the same way as you can include them
6. a way to have as many search terms as you want (normal twitter applications only allow you to use up to 140 characters which is restricting if you want a refined search)

Colin will create a voucher which can be given to the winner on the night.

@300miles (via Nicol Manson, owner) - 2 nights at the Waterside Hotel

Two nights bed and breakfast for two people (and A la Carte Dinner one night) at the Waterside hotel, Inverness. This voucher
has an approximate value of £250.

@300miles (via Grant Manson, owner ) - meal at Orocco Pier

Voucher for Dinner for two at Orocco Pier, South Queensferry, approx value of £100.

@300miles - Voucher for two persons to partake in a “Firefighter for a day”

Experience at the Scottish International Fire Training Centre in Edinburgh. This is genuinely a “money can’t buy” experience and will allow two individuals to be trained and supported by Operational Firefighters and experience the thrill of the job. This is courtesy of Centre Manger Kevin McCusker, Lothian and Borders Fire & Rescue Service.

@thefinewineman - Wine Tasting for 2 with The Wine Experience worth £70

ALL PRIZES

After the #EdTwestival on Thursday we will draw the rest of the prizes and then tweet/blog the results. We will be taking the twitterhandle and or contact details of the people entering the competition so please make sure if you are on twitter you are following us.

Remember - we are raising money for the amazing CLIC Sargent so dig deep to buy those tickets!

The prizes are as follows (we will announce which five will be drawn on the night tomorrow)

*NEW*

  • @civicuk - £50 voucher for John Lewis
  • @cityferret (via Angel Loving Care) - transformational No hands Massage with Deborah King which includes a mini nlp diagnosis with her
  • @AnnieBee - five three month memberships to The Beluga Club
  • @PeoplemapsJulie - 3 x signed copies of Sunil Sharma’s “From Here to Happiness”
  • @PhotographyJC - Free photography portrait session and 12×12 print
  • @plumtunes - Signed *pre-release* copy of the new CD from the lovely Plum (hey, this one may not make it to the raffle 3;-> @btocher)


It’ll be alright on the night

Posted on: 9 September 2009 at 22:26 - Comment

Hi all,

We really do hope that you are as excited as we are about the #edtwestival on Thursday 10 September!  There are still a couple of tickets free at the moment, but we’re guessing that they won’t be there for long.

We are on our last couple of blogs about the night itself, this one in particular about all the fab things happening (as well as the great bands and music).

Get Them In

Every participant will receive a voucher for a free beer generously donated by GetThemIn With the “Get Them In” application on Facebook, you can buy and send your friends real drinks which can be picked up at their nearest participating off-licence.

Women’s Twinstitute

Organised by @littledishy - there will be a homebaking part of the evening!  Based to the left of the main stage in the “VIP” room, there will be scrumptious delights organised by the lovely @ed_twinstitute - strengthened by Truly Scrumptious who have donated a massive 100 cupcakes!

Top Massages

In the GRV room of the Electric Circus - the amazing Angel Loving Care will be in action.  They are bringing two massage chairs and will be performing massages all night for attendees - will all the money going to CLIC Sargent

Raffle

We blogged yesterday about the raffle and all the brilliant prizes.  We will be adding more prizes on the blog tomorrow.

Human Auction
The twestival is delighted to announce that some of our favourite tweeters have donated their time, expertise and talent to our Human Auction.

  • @memestorm aka ‘The Professor’ aka Jon Mountjoy is donating a Mac workshop, where he will show one lucky winner how to do all the best tricks and shortcuts on your Mac. He does fancy things with i-phones too…
  • @Mikecoulter Mr Edinburgh Coffee Morning himself, will donate a Social Media consultation. If you want to take your Social Media skills to the next level, be it for business or pleasure, Mike’s the chap you want to bid for!
  • @joannayoung is a prolific tweeter and renowned writing coach. If you need to find new inspiration for your blogging, business or creative writing, Joanna’s your gal! http://confidentwriting.com/
  • @ElspethMurray Twitter’s ‘versatile versemonger’ is where you should be putting your cash if you would like to have a poem written about yourself, a loved one or a special occasion. http://www.elspethmurray.com

Please bring your cash on the night to bid for one of these excellent prizes! You have three months after the event to use your consultation.

Event Sponsors - User Vision

Posted on: at 17:24 - Comment

Hello all,

Just some final information about our event sponsor User Vision.

Uservision

As with most charity events, getting the EdTwestival off the ground would be tough without the generous support of it sponsors. Edinburgh-based User Vision has stepped up to be our Event Sponsor, covering the cost of all the behind-the-scenes tech stuff that will help make the EdTwestival a night to remember.

So, here’s a big thanks to User Vision and a few words about who they are and what they do:

User Vision is Scotland’s leading user experience consultancy with offices in Edinburgh and London and a multinational client base.  Their services include usability testing, expert usability evaluations, eye tracking, web accessibility, information architecture analysis, wire framing, training and user needs assessment.

By improving the user experience of web sites, mobile interfaces and software, User Vision helps clients gain the competitive advantage of improved ease of use. Improved usability and accessibility provides increased online conversions, faster development processes and more satisfied customers. User Vision works with clients at all stages of the development cycle, from researching user requirements and creating wire frames, to usability testing and post launch evaluation. We bring a common-sense approach to improving user experience.

Clients include BBC, Emirates Airline, Epson, RBS, Scottish Widows, Honeywell, Orange, Nokia and other leading businesses.

THANKS AGAIN USER VISION!

Band 4/4 - Epic26

Posted on: at 09:51 - Comment

Hello folks,

It’s another busy day for the #EdTwestival team - yesterday we had a meeting at the fabulous Electric Circus and met the even more fabulous Jason!  It’s going to be a great event!

If you haven’t got your ticket yet - there’s still a chance to get them here.

We wanted to blog you some information on the last of the great bands today so here it is!

Epic26

Epic26 are an electro indie band from Edinburgh who kicked off 2009 playing a storming set at the Barrowlands followed up with a series of sell out shows in Edinburgh and round the country.

“Epic26 just get better and better. Not afraid of the synth, they mould great rock harmonies and rhythms with the kind of bleeps and bloops that will get larks singing along…Epic by name. Epic by nature. A band that deserves to be massive..” Rick Fulton, The Daily Record

First and foremost Epic26 are a live band, having played with The View, The Dykeenies and TWO Mercury Music Prize 2009 nominees The Invisible & Glasvegas; they create a party atmosphere wherever they play. Due to the combination of pop hooks, indie guitars and electro beats their music is immediately accessible to all while still being absolutely current; in the vein of Friendly Fires, The Killers and MGMT.

“The enthusiasm these lads inject into their stage show is utterly infectious and we’re certain you’re going to be seeing/hearing a lot more of Epic26 in the future.”- Promoter, Limbo @ The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh

You can follow Epic26 on twitter.

More to come later today!

The EdTwestival Team

Amazing Raffle Prizes for #EdTwestival on Thursday

Posted on: 8 September 2009 at 15:56 - Comment

It’s been a long time coming but we can now confirm some of the AMAZING prizes in the raffle this Thursday!

First and foremost - due to the fantastic support and in order to keep the evening flowing as best as possible we will be drawing the five top prizes on the night only.

After the #EdTwestival on Thursday we will draw the rest of the prizes and then tweet/blog the results. We will be taking the twitterhandle and or contact details of the people entering the competition so please make sure if you are on twitter you are following us.

Remember - we are raising money for the amazing CLIC Sargent so dig deep to buy those tickets!

The prizes are as follows (we will announce which five will be drawn on the night tomorrow)

We want to give a MASSIVE thank you to all those who have donated prizes - we can’t thank you enough - these wonderful companies and people are setting the scene for a fab night out and a fantastic raffle!

STILL TO COME - what fab things are on offer on Thursday night!  Bet you can’t wait!

The EdTwestival Team

bigmouthmedia - A Guest Post from Headline Sponsors

Posted on: at 09:40 - Comment

At bigmouthmedia we’re convinced of the power and relevance of social media and online PR, which is why we’re really pleased to support EdTwestival again. We know that the use of social media, and Twitter in particular, has long been a difficult one for brands to get their heads round, but we’re certainly seeing the tide turning. Social media is proving not to be not just a fad, but can really give brands a place to engage with the people that live in social media spaces now, and they can reap enormous benefits if it’s handled in the right way.

Traditional PR is about communication at people. Online PR is about communication with people. The difference is slight, but fundamental. Having a platform via which to talk openly and informally to interested parties in real time has created an environment which has forced a sea change in the way people work, interact and take in news. If a brand can’t keep up with that movement, it’s likely to get left behind.

Always be conscious that what you are saying in social media could have a significant effect on your brand. Twitter spreads news in a previously unimaginable speed. Fail to keep on top of it and it could be online PR suicide, but if you find out what people think about your brand by listening, monitoring and engaging with them within a social media strategy framework, you can create [positive!] buzz around your brand with experience, time, patience and persistence.

We’re really excited about the social media landscape and its future; using Twitter for good like this is a great example of the power of online communities and we’re proud to support it.

Twitter

Webpage

Convergence UK - sponsors the #Edtwestival lanyards

Posted on: 7 September 2009 at 16:14 - Comment

This September - not satisfied with plain old badges, we’ve decided to up it a notch and provide all the attendees which a super-cool lanyard when they arrive!  That way we can recognise people by their twitter handles and make sure we say hello to each other (don’t worry those not signed up to twitter will also have a name badge).

We have to give a massive thanks to Convergence UK for sponsoring the lanyards.

So please excuse the little corny intro but here’s a few words from our sponsors:

Convergence delivers savings through innovative business procurement and support technologies.  The More you Converge, the more you Save.

Direct Purchasing or business Leasing

Procurement of:

  • Office Equipment
  • Furnishings
  • Vending Machines
  • Photocopiers
  • Fax Machines
  • Computers, Servers

Support:

  • Building Maintenance
  • Infrastructure repairs
  • Electrical systems
  • I.T. Infrastructures
  • Security Systems
  • Intruder Alarms
  • Fire Systems
  • Plumbing
  • Heating

Follow Convergenceuk or look at their Website

Massive thanks again!

The EdTwestival Team

Channel 6 Multimedia sponsors the #EdTwestival

Posted on: at 13:41 - Comment

We are delighted to announce that one of our sponsors for this Thursday night is Channel Six!

Channel 6 Multimedia is a digital agency, based in Edinburgh and with clients located throughout the UK. Originally established In February 1999 as a dedicated website design and Internet marketing company; the company has grown from a sole trader working in a bedroom to a partnership and was then incorporated in January 2004 as Channel 6 Multimedia Limited. In August 2008 Channel 6 was purchased by 2 existing employees along with Internet Marketing partners, Com.Motion. The company has five full time team members one creative director (Anne Marie Wood), one Technical Director (Ewen Cameron), one Developer (Colin), a Client Services Director (Kate Little) and an Internet Marketing Manager (John). The Client Services Director is responsible for project management.
Channel 6 Multimedia has a vast range of experience and provides a multidisciplinary digital design service concentrating on the following key areas:

  • Ecommerce
  • Content Management
  • Business Websites
  • Bespoke/Concept Systems
  • Interactive/Flash Design
  • Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimisation
  • Email Marketing
  • Website Hosting & Email Services

Over the past five years Channel 6 Multimedia has developed a number of proprietary off the shelf browser based software systems comprising of:

  • Ch-Ching.com Ecommerce System
  • Ch-Change.com Content Management System
  • Multimailer Email Marketing System

These systems allow Channel 6 Multimedia to design, manage and maintain websites efficiently and cost effectively for our clients. Channel 6 Multimedia has over 100 clients across the UK as well as a number of overseas clients, and looks after over 70 websites including tens of thousands of ecommerce transactions worth millions of pounds each year. Channel 6 Multimedia contributes its success to its premium quality design work, its feature rich, easy to use systems and its innovative approach to design and development.

We are delighted to have Channel Six on Board - please follow them on twitter here.