Update: I changed the name of this post from "The SMX Advanced Music Video" to the current title to clear up any confusion.
After every search conference it has become a tradition for a mozzer to write up some kind of creative recap. In the past, these have included Comics, “Overheard at...” and Personal Responses. This time I decided to do it a little bit differently. I spent a few hours compiling videos and images of the event and put together a music video. It is a little rough in places, but I think it serves its purpose. Enjoy!
Hint: That was not actually footage of our party, it was clips from the original music video. I got lazy. ;-)
Credits
Music: Da Da Da by Trio - View the official music video here or support the band here
Matt Cutts Footage: Web Pro News via YouTube Video
Scott Willoughby, David Mihm, Will and Tom Critchlow, Jane Copland, Rob Kerry and Brian Brown Footage : Marketing Pilgrim via YouTube Video
Eric Enge Footage: Web Pro News via YouTube Video
Scott Willoughby Interview Footage: YouTube Video
Rand Fishkin Interview Footage: Web Pro News and SEOmoz via YouTube Video and YouTube Video
Danny Sullivan & Vanessa Fox Footage: SES Chat via YouTube Video
Who was that guy in the middle who had no rhythm? That dude was just sad. ;)
I liked the mphoto where Jane was next to a really good looking guy.
Oh, and I can drink more than you Mr Dover.
Who watches videos anyway?
Nope, we've never done a music video, especially not after SMX Advanced,
... and pictures from Jane's Facebook account!
Great movie, Danny... I giggled at the Matt Cutts bit!
Careful there. I'm seeing photos of BC employees who were definitely NOT at SMX Advanced this year. Think you may have gotten some of your photos crossed. ;)
Awesome! Uber thumbs up.
I LOVE the bit with matt cutts - really nice work :-)
Wow.... in my first SEO video and parady video in less than a week! I'm going to crawl under a rock now.
Great job Danny!
It was a lot of fun of course hanging with the mozzers and really bummed I didn't make it to the party, especially since it was one of the highlights I was looking forward to, but after a long week and a late dinner, the night quickly drew to a close.
until the next video opp,
da, da, da
Wow, it is a lot like my video I did this morning...
https://tinyurl.com/6rt8uw
Similar format...
Nice! Yours is a little more sensible than ours ;)
I enjoyed your vid, thanks for sharing. Way to be prepared and get all of that great footage.
I loved dadadad by Matt! Awesome video and great job.
Well done!
The Matt Cutts part reminds me of the stupid birds that nod their heads trying to seduce their own reflection outside my office window...lol. :)
Note: I had to sphinn it at the watercooler. :) https://sphinn.com/story/51353
Danny, I wasn't going to say anything bad about this video, because you seem to be in that "new guy" phase, where everyone shields you from criticism and negative energy, in order to jumpstart your confidence. But then I remembered that your SEO cheat sheet was one of the most successful link baits on SEOmoz, and I figure... meh, that phase ended... time to flame Danny! I'll keep it within reason though... I swear. Basically, I don't see the point of this video. I was expecting a video of SMX Advanced 2008, but instead I got an assortment of completely random events, thrown together with background music. This was my first SMX ever, and I was excited to see some good pictures or footage of the conference. As Lisa mentioned... the video shows people and places that have nothing to do with SMX Advanced 2008. It was confusing, if nothing else. It almost seems like you were overly-anxious to contribute something about this week's conference, but you didn't have the resources to do it right. This video was a disappointment for me. On a positive note... your cheat sheet rocks.
Oh, come on. Surely you of all people could just go, "heh" and move on.
Heh, Jane FTW on that one!
Jesus, I got thumb'd down for that? Seriously? Okay.
[goes back to corner]
Jane, It depends. Some of the stuff I read from other people is just so stupid that I know there's no hope for whoever wrote it. That's when I "meh" and move on. But like I said... I've already seen what Danny is capable of, from looking at his cheat sheet, so I expected more. In this particular case... my criticism was much more genuine, and like Danny suggests in his reply... it was out of respect. The video itself was actually entertaining (e.g. Matt Cutts agreeing with himself), but it just didn't deliver as advertised, so to speak.
I appreciate your honest feedback. Everyone should feel free to call me out when I deserve it. In fact, I would rather people be honest with me as I feel more respected that way. Be sure to check out David Dugdale's video. I think it is more what you are looking for.
Jesus, what is the SEO world coming too? With all this talk of SMX advanced being too blackhat and we cant even have a joke now?
I'd say the point was enjoyment and a little humor.
It had music and it was a video. Perhaps it errored a little on the SMX Advanced part and included some shots or images that weren't correct...though I'm sure there were simply errors and there was no ill intent.
I can't speak for everyone, but for me, with travel, the show, juggling everything still happening at the office b/c the rest of the world isn't kind enough to stop everything while I'm out for the week, this was just the light-hearted fix I needed.
My days generally begin around 4:30am, end between 10:30-midnight, and are 90% filled with SEO, search & everything else web in between. Even if I hadn't gone to the show, I think it is great having something like this to remind me once in awhile to take just a few minutes out of my day to relax a bit, to have fun, and that this industry is just as much about the people as it is optimization, search engines, and alogorithms.
And besides, it even came with a disclaimer:
It had music and it was a video. Perhaps it errored a little on the SMX Advanced part and included some shots or images that weren't correct...though I'm sure there were simply errors and there was no ill intent. If you extract your head from SEOmoz's ass for two seconds, you might be able to see the long list of Credits Danny included in his blog post. The video didn't contain any errors... it contained gaps in the available SMX Advanced footage that Danny filled with footage from past events. He even noted in his comment above: I enjoyed your vid, thanks for sharing. Way to be prepared and get all of that great footage. I'm not saying the video sucked, I'm just saying that it wasn't a good recap of SMX Advanced. Danny did a very nice job of lining the music up with people's mouths... and I got a kick out of that... but that doesn't mean the video should be named "The SMX Advanced Music Video" and be posted between Jane's "SMX Advanced - A View On Tone & Content" and Rebecca's "SMX Advanced Recap (The R. Kelley Version)." I mean honestly... this year's SMX Advanced Music Video actually contained footage from an SES and a PubCon? WTF? Furthermore... this year's video was focused on SEOmoz employees and associates, and barely showed anyone else. I worked my ass off to be in Seattle, yet I was nowhere to be seen in the video... and meanwhile, people who weren't even there this year ARE in the video. How can you justify that? I couldn't. That's why I commented the way I did. It was honest feedback, and Danny said he appreciated my honesty. To everyone who thumbed it down (and who will inevitably thumb this one down too)... BLOW ME.
I think this got a little bit blown out of proportion. ;-) I updated the title of the post to avoid any additional confusion.
Frankly, I think your original point was valid and I think I incorrectly labeled this video. Simple as that. Thank for yours and everyone elses contributions.
Frankly, I think your original point was valid and I think I incorrectly labeled this video. Simple as that. Thank for yours and everyone elses contributions. You're a reasonable man, Danny. I have nothing but respect for you, especially since you handled my criticism so well. I just don't like the fact that I can't criticize SEOmoz employees' posts without a bunch of emo YOUmoz sheep thumbing me down and mindlessly defending the post.