I rate Helga and Pete on those subjects and think there’s a real need for some people to get their heads around this stuff and see that it’s not as scary or difficult as they might think. That, and I’m still shaking my head at the berk who told me “Oh, I don’t do business cards” when I asked if he had any contact details.

More info (including booking) on the Fierce Earth website.

If want to read about the purpose of/thinking behind the course then Pete’s written about that here.

Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of “chit chat”, it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It’s a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.

For the office dwellers reading this that last bit probably sounds like a blessed relief. People tend to use the opportunity to delve into a particular obsession that’s Any road, it’s a global thing and there’s a Birmingham one that’s coming up to it’s fifth edition.

I’ve just been flicking through the archive of previous presentations (filmed by Mindriot Productions) and particularly enjoyed:

• John Kirriemuir: ‘Goodbye Birmingham’ or ‘What is home’?
• Helga Henry: Fear of public speaking
• Sam Underwood

They’re only short so give em a spin.

Jo Hardy is the organiser, so if you fancy having a go then get in touch with her. Birmingham’s Pecha Kucha has a Twitter account here and a website here.

The next one will be on 20 July. I’m thinking about putting myself forward as a presenter but don’t quite know what I might talk about. I have a feeling it’d probably be about free kicks. Hmm.

Link: Brum deal: A second city with a third-rate reputation

They point out that there are some great things about this city:

• The Cotswolds aren’t far away
• High speed rail may soon allow us to get to London in 49mins

Um… thanks. To be fair there were shout outs to the BRB and CBSO massives too.

Features quotes from Siôn Simon, Adrian Goldberg, Clare Short, Helga Henry, Khalid Mahmood and Trevor Beattie.

Building it up

I like this from Si Jobling (one of Multipack‘s founders). He’s miffed that the Midlands are often overlooked when people talk about the Web industry in the UK, so:

Throughout the Summer months, I’ll be visiting a variety of design/Web/creative agencies around the West Midlands as part of a Design Tour of The Midlands to promote agencies in the region and find out how they work.

Knocking it down

Literally.

how arts sector professionals and individual artists can learn from examples of successful partnerships in austere cultural landscapes

I’m sure there are still some tickets available if you’re still thinking about coming.

The website’s been a hive of activity over the past couple of weeks, with links to similarly themed events happening around the country. Sandra Hall from Friction Arts has written about what she’s hoping to get out of it and Helga Henry’s written about why the event is important.

There’s also been some strong words from Pete in advance of the event.

The event is free to attend and takes place on 12 October, from 1 – 5pm at mac, hosted by The Producers Forum.

“Social capital” now has a very real value and multiplatform storytelling is increasingly the way to ensure that our projects are contemporary, compelling and wide reaching.

CiB’s Chris Unitt will be on one of the panels of guest speakers, along with Natasha Carlish, Nick Booth, Dave Harte, Julia Higinbottom, Pip & Lisa/Jenny and Helga Henry. They’ll be discussing how their experience in using social capital and multiplatform storytelling has lead to some exciting and innovative projects and new ways of working. The event will also feature a live and recorded web cast from the annual Power to the Pixel conference.

Book your place via their eventbrite page.

• Councillor Martin Mullaney
• Kerry Thomas
• James Yarker
• Simon Wales
• Helga Henry
• Clare Edwards
• Justice Williams MBE

Speakers include Andy Hartwell (Substrakt), Helga Henry (Fierce Earth), Eryka Isaak, Julia Higginbottom (Aquila TV) and Alexa Torlo (BCU).

There’s a little more besides so head for the website and the Facebook event for details.