SHINE: Tell us your story

This is huge. What a gift you guys are giving us. I am glad to help volunteer too. I am thinking about an event to support anyone shy in front of a camera, to find genuine ways of accessing their story.
Why we really do what we do. Christa Gardner has a talent for this, too.

What a great idea! Thank you !

What a fabulous gift to the Biznik community. Thanks Dan and Lara and crew!

I am creating the pre-SHINE event - date to be set soon - to support, activate and inspire you to tell your touchstone story, your biz thing with zing and heart. We will prep with writing, partner support and record each other with flip cameras and/or digital audio recorder for practice(I hope to give you your audio recording) and SEE and what our stories feel like on camera. It will be an intimate group to tease out your resonant voice. So we will need to make at least two of these events.

Really Nice and its very inspiring and helpful for all to start a new business.

very cool

I cant wait Dan! the energy is already building... ;+)

I'm SO in!

Dan & Lara, you Rock! What a huge gift to all of us attending.

Kathleen, I am one of those shy in front of the camera people and I am looking forward to attend your pre-SHINE event.

~Nancy

Not to forget all the volunteers helping Dan and Lara... a big thanks to you. Cheers

~Nancy

What a great opportunity for Biznikers to Flaunt their fabulousness.

I'll have Flaunt launched so it will be flaunterific.

• Denise - Head Flauntress

Yes! Great idea, and what a beautiful way to give to community, thank you for being leaders with a positive vision!

Only three to five minutes, but wow, this is even better than Andy Warhol's 15 minutes.

What a fantastic idea! I'm there - you guys are awesome! And I LOVE the I'm a Biznik videos... great job.

If you still need volunteers, I'm happy to help.

Are you doing this again? My flight gets in at 10:30 pm this particular evening. BIG BUMMER!! Kelly Lynch Ring

I'm so excited and touched that my eyes are welling up.

I've been feeling lately especially some seriously powerful energy building in this community. Connections, opportunities, wheels turning...it's always been amazing to be a Biznik, and especially as of late!

Off to put in with Renee for volunteering! I LOVE helping!

Blessings,
Amy ,
interior decorator/LoveNest Specialist,
EcoKind Design

Sorry to miss it, but as it turns out, I'll be in Boston then. Have fun, everyone!

Very excited to participate!

WOW this is incredible! I will be there!

Wow...this is what Biznik is all about! Can it get any better?

Dan, Lara, and team, you guys are AMAZING!

This is truly an incredible opportunity and I am honored to have the chance to participate. This just shows how much you guys care about our community and how much value there is for small business in today's society.

I cannot wait for this huge event and the pre-Shine events where we can practice our wonderful, dream-come-true story about owning our own business.

This is going to be a magical night and I am absolutely thrilled to attend!!

All the best,

John Trivedi

Do you need any more volunteers?

looking forward to this one!

Fabulous idea, thank you! ~Cathy

Would love to be there, but I coach youth soccer on Wed. evenings.

Giddy up! Or should I say, "Viddy up!"

I'm a Biznik! I believe...

...we should all have an opportunity to get in front of the camera and tell one of our stories.

Thanks for doing this. This is exactly the creativity we need to inspire each other.

This is an amazing idea ! Thanks ! In addition to attending the event,I would love to help out and volunteer as well. Let me know how.

Thank you for putting this event together. Video marketing is such a large part of how we are connecting to others in our community and worldwide. Please contact me to volunteer for this event if needed. I'll give some thought to promoting an event that could dovetail with this event. Jill Walser and I are talking about an event so we can tag on before or after this event offering our expertise in resume writing, interviewing (in Jill's case) and in playing with video production and improvisational forms to get your message out. play=peace, Mary Alice

Fabulous idea! Thank you for bringing this wonderful opportunity to the Biznik Community! See you May 6!

What a great timing...and a great way to bring us together! Thank you for this opportunity Dan and Lara.

Awesome! I love telling stories....and am grateful for a chance to tell the Espresso Buono story! It's more than just good coffee.......! I can come early to volunteer if you still need anyone...
Penny

Wow, Biznik is really helping people Show UP! I'll send you good vibes from Minnesota. Sorry to miss it. If anyone needs a little inspiration before the camera rolls, read my article '5 tips for Talking About Yourself'

~Pamela

Hey Dan,

So much excitement, so much to look forward to!

Will this be the largest Biznik event in history?

Thanks, John

How can I help?

What a wonderful opportunity!

Being born and raised in Russia, lived 25 years in Israel and Canada,I think I can represent multi-culturism of american society and "entrepreneurship with no boundaries..." Thanks for this opportunity

I would like to help. How can I?

This is one of those can't miss opportunities. Thank you so much, I am so excited to be able to be a part of entreprenuers coming together and sharing their stories. That is what it is all about, support and community!

Paid member here reiterating interest to volunteer. Availble after 2:30pm day of event.....or let me know other days/times you need help.

Have a cannot-miss appointment that day, so regret much that I need to cancel my RSVP. However, this is a masterful idea and a wonderful service! If there are any ways I can help pre-event, do let me know. Thanks!

Hey Dan, this is the event of the year -- Judy and I wouldn't miss it! Heck of a lot of Bizniks shining that evening -- should I bring my shades!

This is marketing at its best! Wouldn't miss it.

What a blast! I can't wait! Volunteered with Renee and waiting for my assignment. Cheers!

I was telling someone yesterday of the opportunity to be part of a film project AND get a video done for a measly $5, and they exclaimed, "Pay them MORE!" Really, it does make me shake my head and wonder how that is even possible.

If bizniks expect enormous value for little to nothing, I hold you personally responsible! You guys are too good to us. Nobody else can compete with what Biznik offers. (Not that we believe in "competition"...)

Looking forward to a great event!

I just joined Biznik earlier this year, and am completely astounded by the diversity, passion and motivation behind each member. Each event I attend or host I am inspired all the more.

I would absolutely love to help out - and thanks for this opportunity!

So if a participant is not a volunteer and/or a paid member then the only people interviewed besides those folks are people who sign up at the event on a first come first serve basis..is that correct? Do you know how many spots there will be for that group?

I can't say it any better -what a great opportunity!. I am jazzed about seeing 999 other bizniks! And I am happy to volunteer. Just let me know pre or during the event and I'll do my best.

\^/007!

that's all I'm saying.

So excited to be part of this wonderful event! Thanks for all you support. I look forward to meeting many of you at the event.

Anyone who's talked to me in the last three weeks knows how much I love Biznik, and now I'll have to tell them all again! Can't wait for this event, what fun!

How can I help?

Yay! I am excited!

I am collecting volunteer names and as soon as I have tasks and details about what we need clarified I will coordinate with everyone who email me .

I just sent a write-up about this event to NBC Nightly News (you know they are looking for stories of good news....) what could be cooler? I am hopeful they take it seriously and check it out.

This is a "news worthy" event. Someone get on the horn.... KING, KOMO, KIRO, etc.....

This sounds great! I will volunteer.

Did you get your interviewer(s) yet?

Banu's amazing! Will wait to hear... And if I don't hear...that's OK, too! This will all be great fun and great learning. etc. etc. etc.... Night, night! Penny

I emailed Penny Dan. I'm on it! :)

You are so right...Small is IN and Big is OUT. Small business is more about honoring people and the planet, and in doing so generating a profit. Big business has been more about profit at the expense of people and the planet... Thank you for organizing this. Sounds fantastic.

Hey Dan, This interviewer spot you mention. Is this what we talked about at the commercial shoot? If so I will be your rockstar interviewer. I'm great with people and on camera. Let me know if that position is open. -Kammie

OH G., I just looked in the mirror and remembered that I am not young and video beautiful like so many bizniks so hope my volunteer duties will be behind the scenes....I'm a very good money taker...HA!

Have a good weekend everyone! Penny

Penny, we have a variety of opportunities and want people to take on what they feel good about contributing to. No help is too small! :)

Wow, Bizniks rock! What an amazing community you guys created!

Yay! super excited!

I am happy to volunteer and participate. Let me know what I can do on event day.

I can also blog about this at www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com.

Nancy

I'm willing to volunteer and help. Keep me posted on how I can be of help.

Sounds like a great idea!

I'm very excited to be a part of this historic event! Thank you!

I'm also delighted to know that the arrangements are in Renee Metty's competent hands. We know each other from my wedding coordination days!

Also a special thanks to Lori Richardson! Had she not informed me, I wouldn't have known about this amazing event!

Thank you, Lori!

Awesome, this is like the Studs Terkel of Social Networking! Very much looking forward to participating in the event. Oh, and if you need a camera operator, by all means please call me at 425-491-7348.

Susan Melchert, SBA Consulting

It will be my first Biznik event as a new member. I think I am lucky to have come across this amazing project. I am happy to volunteer any way I can.

No worries, Dan. I'm honored to have so many Biznik "Angels" (including you!) keeping me in the loop.

Can't wait!

It's good to see so many wanting to volunteer!

How very exciting! Creative solutions and bringing people together are the very things we in this economy. Thanks for thinking outside the box!

Who doesn't love a story? I'll be there! Cheri

Very cool. Thank you.

Dan, This is an amazing thing happening here. I wish Austin weren't so far away. Have you gotten any interest from network news? CNN, CBS, etc? I think they'd gobble this up. It will be so visual. This is worth a PR Newswire release.

Consider this: Your voice is like your fingerprint. No one has a voice like yours. It is uniquely yours.

Ah! Near and dear to my heart - we share the same ideals. Similar in thought and theory as Godin in Tribes...Small business IS our sustainability and stimulus program and we need to redirect our efforts to that end - fearlessly and collaboratively. We can create the shift that's necessary and it begins now, one person at a time...this is my endeavor too; to share the concept, reinforce its capabilities, and empower others to think along these lines.

How exciting to see such a great turn out. I agree with others who've mentioned getting the press involved, any luck so far Dan? -Leif

This is going to be great! I'm excited to be an interviewer coordinator. What a fun way to get together with over 400 of your closest bizniks! Cheers! http://biznik.com/members/suzanne-griscom Suzanne

Pretty sweet, guys, just as you were anticipating. Great work on this!

I'm in Dan! I feel so fortunate to have found this group; and even more, to be in the vicinity of all this great energy. I am usally happier on the interviewer side, so if I can be of service, I am ready.
I like Kathleen's pre-SHINE event idea. I'll take it to my marketing group this morning and the Meet and Greet Russ has going this Friday. Maybe we can carpool a group from Olympia. Sounds like the more the merrrier.

So many wonderful people I can flirt with hug and kisses to all of you

The preShine event is posted! Monday April 27th 6pm- 8:30pm. 11 spots left for those who want to come and craft, practice and hone their message, and play in front of a Flip camera (if you like.) Christa Gardner is a fantastic co-host, and this looks to be a lot of fun. April 27th pre-SHINE event

It's great to have a PR go-to person, AND I would just like to add that when multiple people email a well thought out few sentences to any local media it makes an even bigger impression. All of a sudden, everyone is talking about an event - and amazingly, the media are there to catch it.

If you think this event is, as Dan puts it - truly epic - don't hesitate to share info about it with your favorite business writer or local news contact.

I am pitching this as a story to my friend at Yahoo.

We'll see. She's a powerhouse.

I am catering for the Bothell HIgh school drama team earlier in the evening. Is it okay to come later or does everyone need to be there at 5 PM?

I'm canceling a workshop I'd planned for the same night so I can attend. This is a tremendous offering to the Biznik community. Thank you, Dan, Lara, and all the generous volunteers working hard to make it happen.

I'm so looking forward to this. One of my foci is getting people's stories down as the important part of their legacy, so this would be great. Would love to be one of the volunteer interviewers!

Thanks Dan and Lara for making this happen!

I'll be there...I'll be there.... thrilled to be able to help out!

I may have to put a sign on my shop door to say: "Sorry, we're closed. I'm off to the best business film event of the year. Come ask me about it tomorrow! Free coffee if you do!"

Yup...I'll be there! Penny

Thanks for the shout out Tshombe! Looking forward to seeing you.

Happy to be added to the interview team. Looking forward to helping you guys get your story out there!

Hey, and if you are not in Seattle, consider flying/driving/biking up for this one.

This event is the perfect way to immerse yourself in this amazing community and bring some of that biznik culture back to your homeland. If you do this, I have a hunch you will get an outpouring of support from Seattle bizniks. Think about it! We'd love to see you SHINE in Seattle with us!

Hello Dan& Lara,

Thank you for showcasing small buisnesses in the Pacific Northwest . It 's so refreshing to know that someone still cares! . Biznik is one of the main reasons I deciced to start my own buisness. Our company will focus on working with Green/Eco-Friendly companies that do buisness in the USA. This is Our own way to stimulate the economy & minimize our impact on the earth. Kudos for Biznik & the entrepenuer spirit.

Warmest Regards,

Scott Perry

I'm looking forward to being one of the camera operators for this! It's going to be a fabulous event.

Like the sneak peek... Thanks!

Dan,

I have a tactical question: With such a large RSVP response, how will your team manage to tape such a large number of interviews in one night? Or, will it be necessary to 'schedule' different groups of members over time?

The Q arises due to my own availability over time.

thanks!

This is wonderful! I am so excited to be able to be a part of this event. How do you sign up to volunteer for this or are you already all full for help? Thank you for putting all this work into an event like this Biznik & volunteers!

I'd like to volunteer too, if you still need any more.

You know this event is going to rock! The volunteer training was awesome tonight. Thanks for the guidance and inspiration!! See you next week.

Hey Dan, can you add a link to the trailer on the main SHINE page? I just sent a pitch to yahoo to do a story on this...please post trailer in main event posting. Thanks.

Though Facebook is cropping the embedded video player a bit, you can now access the trailer from the main events page (right sidebar). Please use full screen mode for best effect!

Update: We moved the video over to Viddler to avoid the cropping and enable a full screen playback mode.

Andrew

Time to unplug for a while. http://www.kunja.dhamma.org/index.html

Have to bail on this one...

We're one week out and I have four reminders:

1. Bring Your Own Beverage. This is a recession-friendly BYOB event. Cups & corkscrews will be provided at a self-serve bar.

2. A $5 cover fee will be collected at the door to cover venue and production costs. All remaining proceeds will benefit Northwest Harvest.

3. A Recording Release (aka "Model's Release") is required from all persons in the building between 5 and 10pm. Even if you do not plan to sit for a video interview, you may appear in the background or on one of the roving video cameras, and therefore need to grant permission to use your likeness. Print and sign the release before you come and you'll move through Registration much faster. (A PDF can be found in the right column of this page under the Trailer.)

4. Bring a friend and spread the word on Twitter, Facebook and your blog! While a free membership on Biznik is required in order to get the raw video footage of your interview, others are welcome to join us at the SHINE event. It's going to be a great party, and and a super introduction to Biznik.

By popular request (and as a result of a great preparation workshop Kathleen and Christa put on earlier this week!), there are now 3 workshops to help people practice for their camera time ... all next Monday, May 4th! (Two days before SHINE.) Click on Monday, May 4 on the calendar and look at the events there. Tell your friends!

The idea behind the workshops (you only need to attend one!) is to get you comfortable telling your passion, "beyond the elevator pitch". When we held a similar workshop for the SHINE volunteer interviewers earlier this week, one of the biggest lessons learned was that the nuggets that make up great video are not "what do you do", but more "why do you do what you do" and "tell us about a time when what you do filled you with joy and passion... and why did that happen."

Those stories come out with practice -- so these pre-workshops hopefully will help you draw those out.
Dave Kuhns
www.cyranowriter.com

For easy access, here are the links to these Get-Ready-to-SHINE! events on Monday, May 4 (Please choose 1):

9:00 AM with David Kuhns

10:30 AM with David Kuhns

6:30 PM with Laila Atallah, Stefani Quane & David Kuhns

Love the sneek peek video. I posted it to my blog, and I am looking into coming over from Spokane for the event. I'll RSVP if it works out, if not, I'll organize a little event for the bizniks over here and we will post the results.

Sorry we will not be able to attend after all, due to circumstance beyond our control.

Please alert us when you have other events in the future.

Thanks,

Hinda Bartoli

Wish I could be there! But I'll post something on YouTube from Austin. I spotted this relevant article today with some good perspectives on telling your story with video. 10 ways to drive consumer action with video

This is going to ROCK!

For those that are still nervous the nite of the event, I am one of your video hostesses and will be available prior to my 9pm shift to talk with you and help you loosen up, get your message clearer, practice, etc.

We'll be ramping you up while you're in line so you're ON FIRE when you get to the camera! Remember,

YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

I'd like you to meet your new best friend, Camera!

Blessings,
Amy Woidtke
eco-interior decorator/space therapist
EcoKind Design

This is such an amazing event that - even if I don't get a video created, I am so looking forward to volunteering and hanging out with 545 other Bizniks.... (however, I will be ready if I get my moment to SHINE.....)

Dan and Laura,

I am terribly disappointed I won't be able to attend this landmark event. Just being in the presence of so many Biznikers would be enough of a thrill, let alone ending up in a film. So maybe I unpack my camera and start training Manju, the cat on the finer points of pressing the start button. Hmmm, now what were those questions...?

Great list of questions! Very helpful, thanks!

Manju has demonstrated great paw dexterity in the past. She knocks on doors when she is too lazy to go around to her personal entrance. So methinks she has potential when it comes to operating things... its her perspective that worries me.

Luckily, my partner Bob is both dexterous and has a good eye. Have fun you guys. Tip back a glass for me.

Last minute note: For those of you wishing to practice, there are THREE workshops tomorrow (Monday, May 4th) in the Fremont/Wallingford area. This is a chance to get together with your fellow Bizniks BEFORE the SHINE event, to just practice. Think of it as a workshop to help you CHILLAX!... just check on the "events" tab for Monday, May 4th... 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. Dave Kuhns http://www.cyranowriter.com

Thanks for letting me participate by treating the volunteers to my Baked In Seattle mini-cheesecakes and crumblepies.

as a new member i am very curious to gain a better understanding on how the organization really works..like most self employed business folks, i am always so busy that anything new is a challenge. my wish is to test new waters. even after 32 years in my industry my mind remains open to new ideas..our event should still be very helpful.

Ah- I'm so sorry I can no longer make this event. I know it will be fabulous- the preview made me so emotional! Can't wait to see the final product. Shine on!

Alright, I'm in!

Business calls! I'm sorry I have to unRSVP tonight. This is going to be a memorable event and I'm not going to be able to attend.

Wow. My best healing wishes go to Rachel and Tim for a fast and easy recovery.

I'll be coming to the event, but it may be later than expected. I have a project to finish up that will take longer than expected. But I'll put up a reminder post on Hire Ground blog tonight and will be sure to cover as much as I can to follow up.

I work well under pressure, but now that the event is near I'm nervous. I'm wishing I went to some of the pre-shine events to prepare. Along with the nerves are excitement and thankfulness for this opportunity!

Thanks Dan and Laura! You're Amazing!! : )

Julie Collinge

Julie, it may sound like such cliche but really just be your usual self and imagine your favorite client (or friend) in front of you. And enjoy being the focus of attention for those 3-5 minutes! :)

Julie, and anyone else who is experiencing nerves about tomorrow:

There's a cool technique you can use on yourself to calm any nervous or anxious energy. It takes about five minutes to try and it's pain-free.

It's called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is like an emotional version of acupuncture.

Some Bizniks saw me introduce it a couple years ago at BizJam (you can see that online and walk through the demo with me).

Also, I'm happy to donate 15 minutes of time to anyone tonight or tomorrow who'd like me to go through a quick round with them via the phone.

Good luck everybody!!

In Bellingham tonight we had a great Biznik happy hour, and over some glasses of wine, decided we'd like to create a pseudo "Northern SHINE" - very small scale - but with a couple of videographers, and get eight or ten of us on video specifically for video on our sites - There will be a couple of us there tomorrow watching and thinking how we can transform this huge idea and help spread it outside of Seattle. We already have a good -sized photography studio offered up for this project.

something came up with a family member so I won't be able to attend today but I'll be tuning in tor updates on all the fun you'll have- "Shine" on Everyone!

The day is HERE and we have 578! HOLY SMOKES!

My outfit is ready and my day is already flying off the hook! Praise God I am getting massage from Sierra Kennedy today - I'll be sooo ready for tonite after that!

If you get nervous, pull one of the volunteers or one of your peers aside and get the nerves out! We will be relaxing and then amping you up in line so you'll be ready for rockstardom when you hit the camera!

Get out of your head and speak from your heart - that is where the true messages come from!

See you TONITE!

Blessings,
Amy Woidtke
eco-interior decorator/space therapist
EcoKind Design

Shine on you crazy diamonds! It's here! WAHOO! Just a quick note: at EVERY ONE of the pre-SHINE workshops I held, several people came away with tears in their eyes and huge grins on their faces. Whether they were nutritionists, florists, trainers, editors, real estate agents, chiropractors -- no matter what their calling was, they found that spark, that reminder, that passion.
How? They told a story!
A story, not only of themselves, but "There was a time when one of my clients and I ..." and then they say what they did, and then "and the result for the customer was {insert result here}, and I felt (insert incredible feeling and passion here}!!!"
Tell a story. When you get to SHINE, tell it several times. Show your passion. And if you don't know how... look for me or another volunteer.
Your story -- your passion -- is in there./I have no doubt./We can help you/drag it out!

Oh, yes, remember Will Farrell in "Elf": "Smiling's My Favorite!"
David Kuhns
http://www.cyranowriter.com

Totally have to commend the Biznik team to putting this together!

WOW! Can't wait to meet some great peeps tonight.

Vik Duggal (@vikdug)

Thanks especially to David Kuhns...I have my story! I've tried to figure it out and tell many times but I think I just nailed it! A smile and a compliment go a long way... thanks to everyone who has smiled and encouraged me -- I'd like to do the same for you.. Enjoy! Smile! Tell your story and be proud! I'll be volunteering...starting 3:30pm today so I hope to see lots of you there! Penny

Dan - Good luck with the Welcome speech! I'm sure it'll go great!

I'd love to be there tonight, but I've been nursing a sick baby back to health the past 2 days. I don't think it's swine flu, but I'm sure the CDC would prefer it if I avoided being in large, enclosed rooms of 500+ people. You all are going to be great! Shine on y'all!

Key word here being...SHINE!

Don't forget to let yourself SHINE when you are in front of that camera! We see it when you speak from your heart.

If you want key things to be asked from the interviewer, hand them a card with those on it and if you want to make sure YOU address certain points, write it on your hand or on cards for yourself.

If you flub up on a sentence, just start the sentence over. You don't have to start the whole paragraph over. They can edit out the flub AND you'll retain your share to it's fullest!

12:34pm. I'm way too excited to nap! haha.

Blessings,
Amy Woidtke
eco-interior decorator/space therapist
EcoKind Design

I'm SO EXCITED too! And I love seeing how so many are helping out to make this an amazing event.

I got so inspired last Monday after the training for interviewers (cause it was so cool getting present to the power and passion in each of us, not to mention the cumulative power and passion of hundreds of entrepreneurs telling their story) that I couldn't sleep. I got up at 2:30 am and wrote a song called... "Shine"! I think it will end up in part or in whole in the film.

Can't wait to see you all, I have butterflies about being a good interviewer as well as telling my own story!

I am so bummed I can't make this event tonight! However, like a true self-employed person, I'm going to make my own video and post it on the utube SHINE page. I'll be sending happy, shiny vibes to everyone tonight (Dan - I 'saw' you on stage and you were amazing... great visualization). A big thanks to Amy and David for the pre-SHINE workshop. A big 'Go Get'em' to the film team and everyone who'll be shooting their video. You're going to be AMAZING!

Can't wait to check out all those videos and hear all those stories!

-Sylvia

I am so excited to attend SHINE tonight be one of the Shiny Happy People. Dave's Pre-Shine workshop great...the run through and advice and people made it all come together and be so real. Now here we are...it's THE day and as I write this I really am overcome by the generousity of Dan and Lara. It is simply speechless the gifts given to their members on Biznik.

Thanks both of you ever so much.

Denise Marinacci Flaunt Inc.

So sad I cannot make it now thanks to our wonderful weather. Do you foresee a similar event in the near future?

Thanks for everyones hard work on this. I attended one of the pre-shine events , it was really helpful and the hosts had me pumped! :)

Okay, I've studied all 575 profiles of people coming tonight, and I'm so excited to meet 123.5 of you ;)

Wow, that's a lot of peeps. I'm interviewing folks for the third shift, so I'll be around a lot.

Honestly, I'm having second thoughts about doing my own interview though, I'm in such transition, but we'll see.

T minus 10 minutes till the game begins!

-Leif

Great, great, great ,fabulous, amazing, swell, dynamic, compelling, stunning evening, folks. And that, from a technical writer who trends to succinct.

Thank you all, for the hours and heart that you put into making this happen. (The starfish love you.)

Loved the energy of this super event/opportunity. Thanks to all who helped make it happen!

Note to whoever needs to know: wrote wrong email address on my "slate" - (giving.gate@gmail.com instead of Biznik correct login address of diane.m.head@gmail.com.) Please amend for me. Thanks.

My interview team was very supportive and encouraging - made me feel like I really did have something important to share...thanks, guys!

Suggestion for if there is a next time: It was difficult having to just stand in line for 3.5 hours when I kept wanting to break out of the line and use the time to network. If there is a next time for an event this big, please give out ticket numbers upon registraton so you can call us up in groups of 25 and allow us to mix and mingle until our sequential group is called. The large room adjacent would have been a great place to mingle.

Another important comment for all Biznik event hosts: Please list in your event description whether or not the location is accessible. I wanted to attend a Shine pre-event at the Mosaic Den this week and only learned it would be inaccessible per ADA by calling the venue. If you are hosting an event, please write ADA accessible on your posting to let the disabled community know they can attend comfortably.

Thanks again to the Shine crew for your vision, energy and support. Great event!

Great event! It was only my second event and because of the size and scope of it I didn't know what to expect. I like the suggestion, above, of having tickets/ numbers and being called up in groups so it would be easier to move about during the waiting period. That being said, everyone was very friendly and I spoke to a lot of interesting people just being in the line. Thanks for giving so many of us the opportunity to be heard!

Hey Gang! It was great to meet most of you last night! Thanks for keeping my night fun and entertaining and allowing me to "SHINE" you up for your big interview! Hugs! Your favorite Make-up Artist, Tiffany Nash Uniquely You

What an impressive event! Thanks so much to everyone who put it together. Tiffany, thank you for being there and fixing me up ... that really made me feel like a movie star! It was wonderful meeting so many enthusiastic entrepreneurs. I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie!

What an Awesome event!!! It was an exciting experience. Thanks to all those who helped put this all together. The interviewers were great, at least mine was. She made me feel more comfortable talking in front of the camera. Lets not forget about the guy behind the camera, David was great also. And how about Tiffany...she was there to make us all look beautiful, great job Tiffany. There was so much energy in the room. Meeting some great entrepeneurs and sharing stories. I can hardly wait to see the movie!

I had a great time being on both sides of the camera... as interviewer and interviewee. The experience of being part of this great project was well worth the rainy drive from Olympia! Thank YOU!

Thank you to everyone who attended last night. Also a HUGE thanks to everyone that made it possible. I am so excited to be part of this great project.

What a well attended and fun event. Got to meet lots of great people.

This was a most fabulous event. As a volunteer, it was an honor to meet many of you as you came in the door - see old friends and meet new ones.

Kudos to everyone involved - it was a rockin night. Anyone know of any media present?

Thank you Dan and Lara for such an engaging and energizing event! I LOVED interviewing people and didn't want my shift to be over. I am a complete camera-phobe, but helping others relax and have confidence in front of the camera, helped me have some confidence in front of the camera. I loved working with my camera man David Barboza too.

Thank you too to Tiffany for all her work maaking me and everyone else camera ready! Judy Tallant, Tallant House Fine Sweets & Other Eats, www.tallanthouse.com

WOW!

Fantastic event. I loved every minute of it, both as a volunteer and as a participant. I got to meet some great people, had fun and left with a huge smile on my face.

Big, big kudos to Dan, Lara, Christian, Andrew (thanks for moving that table for me!), Renee & Banu (volunteer & event coordinators), Ben (director), all of the video team, interviewers, hostesses, and other volunteers who made the evening flow smoothly and hugely successful.

WOW!

What good fun...I love all Bizniks! Thank you for your ever-expanding vision, Lara and Dan.

Way to rock the SHINE, Biznik! Such an incredible feat to accomplish - you all should be so proud. I was just stoked to be a part of the extravaganza! Your volunteer crew was absolutely unreal - very professional, very helpful, and all seemed to have a great grasp of how the event should flow. Congrats to you all - I hope you're still resting in bed after such a big night!

That was too damn cool! Great energy, WELL ORGANIZED, fun and inspiring. You guys did an amazing job. Thank you ALL!!!

One guy found out about the event at a coffee shop, showed up at 9PM and got interviewed. And he wasn't in biznik. That's the kind of energy this thing created. And it's just getting started!!!!

Three things would bring it to the next level: - Numbers/tickets (ala southwest boarding procedure) so we aren't stuck in line (like Diane H. said). - Water - A Coffee vendor/cart - we pay

This is why I love biznik!

Yow! I am still high from the INCREDIBLE energy of the night.

Dan, Lara, Christian, David, Andrew, Ben, Renee, Banu, Carrie, Tiffany, Shaw, all the videographers, the boatload of fellow volunteers -- I want to lay jewels at your feet and kiss them at the same time! You are rock stars!!! Your vision, moxy, power leave me in awe.

If this was the big kick-off for the ultimate Shine movie, I can't wait to see what comes from here.

Thanks in advance to all the people who will spend the next 3 weeks editing and organizing 45 hours of video, and then creating a film. All I can say is, may you have many red bulls and much inspiration to fuel your efforts. Laila

WOW, was that fun. Valerie and I got to hear some great stories, and meet some fantastic people. The film is sure to be a hit, if the rest of the stories were as good as the one's I heard. And everything was so well organized and relaxed, all at the same time. I'm in for anything you guys put together! It was fabulous. Thanks for letting me be part of the interview team!

Major Mega Thanks to all the folks who volunteered their time and energy to put this incredible event together!

I'm very grateful for the opportunity to have my story taped, and if it's included in the final film, that's just icing on the cake. Being able to have use of the finished clip for my website and own marketing efforts is an incredible gift.

One downside comment: I was quite surprised the tapings were not scheduled to begin until 6 pm. By all appearances the taping stations were all set up and ready to roll when I walked in at 5 pm. Having to stand in line for that hour before things started, and ultimately for over two and a half hours, felt like a real waste of time, especially considering I had a gig on the Eastside at 8:15 that I was 10 minutes late for.

But if that's the worst of it, I'm a happy guy!

Thanks again Dan, Lara and everyone else!

Last night was a blast. Thanks to everyone who helps make SHINE possible.

Honestly, I didn't mind waiting at all. There was wonderful conversation to be had & a great opportunity to connect. It was clear with so many rsvps, I may not make it through. However, everyone was honored and had their turn.
Thank you for creating such a fun and dynamic opportunity for all of us! Cheers!

What a creative, inspiring event! As a new-ish Biznik member, I loved meeting some new, great people.

On the video side, mine fell pretty flat. If anyone else had the same experience, just remember, there's always another wave. ;-)

Cheers, Betsy

I am honored to have had the opportunity to volunteer last night. For 2 hours, I was privileged to help fellow entrepreneurs tell their stories. Time and again, I saw passion and inspiration demonstrated. I feel re-energized myself after hearing their stories. You all really are amazing.

Passionate, Powerful, Fun, Professional, Well designed and implemented, great conscientious volunteers, these are a few words that come to mind about the SHINE event. Thank you for the opportunity to connect with others and learn a new skill: how to be present with a camera, videographer, and interviewer.

THAT was SOOOO much FUN! I even made it through the entire evening in my fabulous John Fluevog boots, which I thought I'd have to switch out half way through the nite. :)

I had such a great time taking care of everyone all evening, keeping you properly libated in line and contributing to the order of things for the interview process. That, actually, was the highlight of the evening for me. You all are SO fabulous and I am just in business love with all of you! YAY!

Diane- Mosaic actually IS ADA accommodated...there are ramps both inside and out. The only thing I can think that might NOT be up to ADA is the bathroom stall(?) and perhaps the doorway to the den is not wide enough for your vroom vroom chair :), so maybe that was the issue at hand?

You do bring up a good point though, and I thank you for sharing that. I THINK the bathrooms at SPACE are large enough, and now I"m going to check and see if they are :)

THANK YOU EVERYONE! YOU are AMAZING!!

Bright blessings,
Amy Woidtke
eco-interior decorator/space therapist
EcoKind Design

I love Biznik and the community you guys have created. Quality people with passion and desire to improve the lives of others. The event was amazing and I can't believe all the work you put into it. Thanks for every minute of it!!

Michael Maddox Internet Entreprenuer

I thought that interviewing the last people of the night would be challenging ... they stood for hours to get to that point and would be worn out. Not so ... once we got them talking about the reasons behind what they do - why it was important, what effect they had on others - they lit up! They literally "SHINE"ed!

Kudos to Dan, Lara, Banu and many others for a great idea that was well executed! I'm glad I could lend my energy to a worthwhile effort like this.

All the best, Charlie Czech, CMPS Getting you into and out of debt! The Czech Mortgage Team

WOW, what a night! I am speechless (that's rare!)! I am so honored to be a part of this amazing event. I feel blessed! :)

Banu, what a great job you did coordinating volunteers! And Dan and Lara, thanks for your vision and leadership, and to SO many for contributing their part and volunteering.

I had the "fun" job of interviewing - time just flew by! It was inspiring to hear everyone's stories, the amazing DIFFERENCE that is being made through each of us. You - we - are all amazing!

I can't wait for the film! May the Force be with Ben and the editor(s).

SHINE was an amazing event! Being surrounded by fellow entrepreneurs was truly inspiring and I had the most wonderful time!

Thank you again to Dan, Lara, and the entire Biznik team for putting together such an incredible event. It was fun mingling with fellow Biznik members, doing the video, and eating and drinking delicious food and beverages.

I can't wait to see the video and what this will lead to next for all of us small business owners! I truly hope to get to see more of you at future events as this is the start of something very special!

Thank you again!

All the best,

John Trivedi Travel Club Owner World Travelers United www.worldtravelersunited.com

Great event! As one of the videographers, it was fun to hear and record your stories.

I just have to add my two cents to say thank you to the incredible team who made this project possible. It was an honor to have a chance to help a bit during the evening. A memorable and inspiring evening all around. I think we're all SHINING still today!

What an amazine event! It was truly inspiring! Thank you to everyone who made the evening possible - you all did a fabulous job. ~Gina

What a great event. Thank you to all the volunteers and congratulations to Dan, Lara and all those who got to Shine!

I hope that you will use this type of event to help grow the BizNik event across the country.

Great event! Whether or not our stories make the final cut...we had to seriously consider what story we want to share with the world and practice how to present that story in a powerful way! Now that's real business HELPfulness! And we had fun while waiting for our turn in front of the camera! How often is waiting fun?!?!?! I enjoyed meeting folks and hearing stories as I brought around wine and water. Thanks Biznik VIPs and crew for creating this event and making it a great success! Penny

Absolutely fantastic event! Well-organized and loads of fun, to boot.

I'm delighted an interviewer spot opened up at the last moment. It gave me an added bonus of hearing inspirational stories up close and personal.

A huge THANK YOU to all who played a part in making this event happen. Biznik rocks!

~ Patricia

An Amazing, Fun-Filled and Inspiring event! Thanks so much to ALL the volunteers who put in a lot of time so that we could all have the chance to Shine!

I have been thinking a lot about some of the conversations and certainly the interview - oh my what I would have done different!!

Thank you for the opportunity to participate and to host this event at such a fabulous location.

Make it a great day Tammy

Still shining from last night! Thanks to Dan and Lara and the whole Biznik team for pulling it all together so quickly and at such a timely moment in our country's history.

I'm proud to be a part of this Indie Networking Group. I hope to continue to build on the ideas that many of us came up with last night.

Shine on,

Carol

This was truly a great event, and I'm sure it'll capture so many great stories. Kudos to Lara and Dan as well as all the volunteers, and all the awesome small biz folks! I'm still glowing from the whole experience, and I can't wait to share that energy with clients. Thanks again!

I can relate to Banu, I'm speechless. The event eclipsed my expectations, and I am honored to be part of a community full of such generous spirit and enthusiasm.

Judy Tallant (desserts), Shaw Dixon (cheesecakes), Tiffany Nash (makeup), Ken & Victoria Lapp (still photography), and Darrell Kirk (videography). You didn't make the program, because you simply stepped up and pitched in their talents last night. Thank you for your gifts!

@Amy, I was thrilled to hear you went through the line with wine bottles. We'll get you holsters next time!

@Lori, re: media attention. Aside from Erin Covey of KIRO Radio, the media was not interested in SHINE. In addition to our pre-event press releases, Andrew, our CTO, sent photos from his iPhone and called The Times, Q13 and King 5 during the event telling them that they were crazy not to be down there to see 400 small business people waiting in line to tell their story. Their response, "We'll think about it..." But no one came." O well.

For some reason SHINE and 10,000 Bizniks in Seattle isn't considered newsworthy? Anyone got any tips for us?

LASTLY, we've been viewing lots of photos from last night that members are uploading on FLICKR. If you've got some to add to the list, don't forget to apply tags like, "biznik," and "biznik shine."

Wow, I'm so glad I could be a part of that truly-inspiring event... even though I had to leave to go to another meeting before I could make it to the front of the line... (argh, bummed about that... maybe I'll make my own video! :)

Thanks and love to you Dan and Lara, and Blessings to you all!

Gwen

Hi folks. I wanted to thank everyone for a "job well done" last night. Everyone worked with good humor, efficient manner and professional grace. It was a long and busy night, but it all went very well. I particularly want to thank John Patzer for doing a masterful job at technical setup and troubleshooting, Basil Shadid for getting all the cameras in synch, Chris for keeping the P2 cards flowing, David Kuhns for getting our interviewers ready, willing and able, Banu Sekendur for supporting us with upbeat and efficient hostesses and Lorraine Montez for brilliantly managing the flow of interviewees. And to the teams of videographers, I can't say enough good things. You were great. Thank you one and all. Cheers for now. David.

I have to say I have never waited in line for three hours to do something I was scared to death to do and enjoy every minute of it. What a well organized event for something that was done for the first time. I have no idea why the media would not be interested in the gathering of so many small business owners telling their story. They missed a chance to air a positive news report.

Thanks to Dan & Lara for all the hard work you put into this event and Biznik. The volunteers did a fantastic job and everyone was so cheerful and friendly. Christy Aston

Ditto to 99% of the above.

And, my biggest THANKS to Darrel, Karrie & Grace for directly asking me the questions which helped me rediscover why I love what I do!

Thanks for an amazing evening ~ and it's so cool that there is more fun to come as the movie evolves!

Great event all around with so many kind, generous volunteers! I want to thank the camera person who taped me-- Al, I believe. I was too nervous to get his last name and I don't see him as one of the video team listed-- can anyone help me get a thank you to him? He gave me a thumbs up from behind the camera that completely put me at ease.

I also want to thank Carol Walter who shared some of her aromatherapy grounding lotion with me as I waited in line. It was just what I needed.

Videographer Al is Al Lovewins. He's not a Biznik member, but wanted to pitch in as a relief cameraman. His email is harmonichumanity@live.com. He runs benefit events for the homeless.

Laura, Dan Volunteers: YOU SHINE!

Thanks for letting the rest of us shimmer a bit.

Dan and Lara,

Thank you for putting together such a fabulous event! It was a lot of fun networking, hearing people's sroty, feeling a sense of connectedness of spirit! You SHINE!!!

Wow. These responses are simply amazing. It was clearly an incredible event. Karrie and I will be putting our heads together to do one here in Austin! Congratulations Dan and Lara and all the volunteers!!

I just realized I gave my my non-Biznik email address for my name placard. Oh well...I'm sure you'll find me for the video link.

Again, many kudos to everyone who helped pull off this magnificent event. Amazing!

Shining with zing, Patricia Klingler patricia@coachzing.com

I am really glad I came over for the event. I enjoyed meeting many of you and the chats we had. There is a lot of talent and passion in this group. I realize now that the most relevant thing I had to say was not capured on film, maybe there is nothing to be done for someone like me who magically turns from human to ham when the red light comes on. Thanks to all who made this event happen.

An incredible event. Incredible people. Incredible community. Amazing what people can do when they approach life from a spirit of generosity and an attitude of abundance. And no doubt many solid relationships of support and partnership will result. I'm happy to have attended, glad for the people I met (like Cherie!), what I learned, and will look to volunteer the next time!

LOST & FOUND

• black/charcoal beaded bracelet with a turtle & fish.
• grey sunglasses with faux diamonds

Drop me a line if you can claim one of these.

They'll be at the Biznik office in downtown Fremont. And it's rare when someone isn't here between 9am and 6pm on a weekday.

600 N. 36th Street
Unit 300
Seattle 98103

Holsters - I love it! I'd do it all over again and again. So much fun :)

Well worth the exhaustion I had all day on Thursday. haha! Oye vey!

Looking forward to whatever the next event is! I also have some big event ideas up my sleeve :)

THANK YOU AGAIN!

Hmm...what can we do to support our movie makers in these next 3 weeks? On call support system? Donations of food and beverages? Let's not forget them during these next 3 and all that they are doing for us as well!

Blessings, Amy

I doubt our editors would turn down food, beer or whiskey. If donations were brought to the Biznik office we'd be sure to pass them on! ;)

Wow! What an event! I can't believe that the News Media was not all over this. Perhaps all of us that were there should send them a cordial emial to tell them what a great opportunity they missed. If we are all respectful and professional but flood their inboxes, maybe they will start paying more attention to what the Real Movers and Shakers of the Puget Sound are doing.

INCREDIBLE amazing event. Biznik is setting the standard for social media and business networking (I almost spelled it Bizness) I'm upgrading my membership again. Thanks you guys are awesome! I love my new tatoo on my wrist from the event :-)

Dan and Lara,

I know this may sound strange but I am actually GLAD the mainstream media is not paying attention yet; it will make the impact of the final movie that much more stunning! And I really mean that!

This is a new era, and I think the way of thinking in the mainstream media about what is newsworthy and what isnt is not accurate anymore. If I am right, and if the positive energy and genuine authenticity so strongly present during the event comes out in the final movie like we all KNOW it will, they will all be left lurking in the shadows of the SHINE comet with their mouths agape, wondering what happened and how they missed it.

In other words, forget them and just keep on following the path you have already gotten all of us following; our own presence and our own way of getting the message out into the world that suddenly seems possible these days.

It is 3 days after it, and I am still marveling at what an epic event that was, and I was thrilled beyond words to be a part of it. It feels like the beginning of something REALLY huge, and I know I am not the only one waiting expectantly to see what that huge turns out to actually be.

Keep up the great work!

Thank you so much for putting this event together, hosts, volunteers (I volunteered but seems volunteer energy was huge so I wasn't called out, thank you all who gave of their time and talents). I was videotaped and had a grand time standing in line hearing small business owners stories as I waited for my turn to Shine. I was also offered the possibility of having a head shot taken of me. Thank you! Thank you! Such a great gathering of small business owners and creatives on the positive energy bus. Taking leaps! play=peace, Mary Alice

The mood was festive and tense. People were excited from the moment that they entered the studio. Working the line, I answered many questions about the experience of interviewing. Some great ones. Others, not so much. I would say, "mission accomplished" because there was so much energy in the room last Wednesday night. And it did not hurt to have Captain Morgan in the house (I think that's how it was - guy with great facial hair, and a hat with a feather sticking out of it?), encouraging folks to lose their inhibitions:)

Now that you've done SHINE, what's going to be the encore? Maybe a SHINE II, taking a look a year later to see what's new in the world of entrepreneurs as Obamaism changes our society for the better? Let's face it, this president could give a flying f$@! about Halliburton and other mega companies. He knows what drives this economy - THAT'S US!!!

I really enjoyed the event looking forward to seeing many of you at the next one, hopefully there will be more people.The more the mary nad you did a great job at putting it together Matt.

How're the editors doing with the 45 hours/or so of crazy video from SHINE? "twill be interesting to see what comes of this extra0rdinary event! Hope enthusiasm has not dwindled for small business/entrepreneurs who attended and renewed/discovered the excitement of meeting others with passion, creativity and expertise in what they do.
Penny

Amazing! Thanks Ben and Steve! It will be interesting to see just how SHINY we all were on May 6th! Penny

Can't wait to see the final product...if it makes Sundance, a few of us who met in line made a pact to go. Also can't wait to see me and Jill doin' our sizzlin' sister act!