Speaking/Presenting/Etc

Dave Olson is an experienced public presenter who informs and entertains with a unique style including numerous visual aids, analog artifacts and interactive activities. Along with practical tactics, Dave’s prezos inspire fresh thinking by evoking the spirit of historical luminaries remixed with anecdotes from 17+ years in web tech and travel to 30 countries.

Additionally, DaveO is a published expository and literary writer, survivor of several web-centric start-ups, and documentary film producer plus held dozens of rather odd jobs. He holds a B.A. degree in Inter-disciplinary Studies from Evergreen College.

Dave Olson speaking and presenting at SXSWi 2009 by KK

Recent

Appearances include: SXSWi 09; Northern Voice 07, 08, 09; Vancouver Film School (Entertainment Business Management program), Net Tuesday, WordCamp Whistler, Fresh Media, Island Tech, Purple Thistle …

Topics

Areas of expertise include: story-telling, podcasting, social marketing, new media, movie promotion, Olympics & media, outreach campaign strategy, creative process, inter-discplinary projects, public policy, literary history, transit/transportation, arts expression & cultural literacy

Rates

$300 for 2hrs + travel expenses for groups up to 50 for spiels listed below – includes handouts and online notes. For custom prezos and larger groups, just double the money. Limited availability.

Reviews

Prezo roundups posts with Twitters, blogs, remarks, materials, etc.:

Dave Olson’s Resume

Dave Olson’s Resume (.pdf) Updated Sept. 2009
Dave Olson’s CV Appendices (.pdf) Updated Sept. 2009

Resources

Bio:
Poet, podcaster, pundit and chronic documentarian from his earliest days, world-rambling Dave spends his time writing, painting and listening to old vinyl albums on the back porch whilst gazing at North Vancouver’s mountains and trees. Published in magazines and journals on topics from Hemp Culture in Japan to Telco de-regulation, Dave is most proud of his handmade literary chapbooks, static montage art, and audio hi-jinks. An enthusiast of personal translucency, Dave shares his spiels and writings at Uncleweed.net and via Twitter @uncleweed.

Dave Olson is a mixed media storymaker and chronic documentarian from his earliest days. Published on topics from Hemp culture in Japan to Telco de-regulation, Dave also makes handmade literary chapbooks, static montage art and renegade documentary podcasts. After covering Olympic games in-person from SLC, and afar for Turin and Beijing, Dave co-founded a ground-breaking project for social media coverage during the Vancouver Olympics called the True North Media House.

“DaveO” graduated in Inter-disciplinary Studies from Evergreen College and works as an community director for a noted social web tool. He frequently presents at events including SXSW and Northern Voice, and appears in the media discussing technology, hockey and culture. Now spends his time telling stories and listening to vinyl on the back porch whille gazing at mountains and trees.

Headshot:

Dave Olson by Kris Krug (kk on Flickr) – click for all sizes

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/sets/72157612575695168/

More photos: Photos of Dave Olson on Flickr

Topics

* Social Marketing Toolbox – P1

Emerging communications technology tools are changing the more than just the media landscape. Social networking and web publishing tools provide an unprecedented channel for attracting and engaging clients and customers. However, this landscape is so cluttered with buzzwords, companies, and concepts that successfully getting started with social marketing can be a daunting project.

In this workshop, web veteran Dave Olson will explore noteworthy opportunities for businesses to outreach to new audiences and participate in conversations about your industry and brand. Through examples and anecdotes, you’ll learn about the essential tools for tracking and publishing content to the web. Plus you’ll hear fresh thinking about corporate communication strategies which will strengthen your relationships by sharing your expertise.

* Social Campaign Management – P2

Social networking on the web is more just “hanging out and chatting” – everything created online about your brand and industry is a potential touch point for future customers/clients. Web veteran Dave Olson returns with practical tactics for planning, executing and measuring campaigns. You’ll also add more tools for publishing content, sharing with networks, encouraging participating and measuring the success of
your efforts.

Now that you understand the basics of the social web, next up is exploring the benefits of launching social marketing campaigns by digging deeper about how social web platforms work. You’ll also learn advanced techniques for tracking how participants interact with your brand, and ways to enhance your brand’s reputation, increase loyalty/affinity, and improve search engine results.

* Sparking Creativity in a Digital World

With a constant flow of information, increased productivity expectations, and a barrage of new technologies – finding inspiration for both artistic expression and entrepreneurial endeavors is a challenge. Despite advanced tools and access to audience, finding the time and motivations to elevate “craft” to “art” remains elusive in an ephemeral world.

With anecdotes and examples from personal experience, historical classics and contemporary culture, renegade story maker Dave Olson will share tactics for generating ideas and giving context to your content. Through a timeline of personal publishing and start-up biz experience, Dave will share practical tips for fostering authentic self-expression, creating artifacts and finding an audience – in both the present and future.

* Storytelling with Podcasting

With years of experience making grassroots audio documentaries, Dave O (AKA Uncle Weed) will explore reasons for making a podcast and help you craft a plan for a sustainable series. Starting with big questions like “Why bother?” and “What this podcast about anyhow?”, we’ll move onto practical tips about storytelling, choosing recording gear, audio editing, refining workflow, publishing your work and building an audience. Finally, we’ll head out for a stroll to capture sounds and practice assembling a podcast.

Dave Olson will lead us through the art of story telling through podcasts. He’ll encourage participants to spark their creativity by exploring significant lives and remixing the classics.

* F@ck Stats, Make Art

Dave’s groundbreaking talk teaches us how to to return to the fundamentals of creative self expression, and once again create true art in the digital age. Via a pictorial journey through his own career of creating grassroots art and publications, this renegade media producer and writer will extol, encourage and explain the importance of taming the intimidation, upgrading heroes, honing skills, solving conundrums and digging deep to muster authentic creative self expression in the digital era.

Dave Olson is a world-traveling renaissance guy who publishes essays, poetry and fiction, and produced a documentary film.

* Olympics, Media & Liberty

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are arriving in Vancouver shortly and question abound. Canadians and internationals alike are are asking about alternative media coverage, personal expression, sharing content and telling the stories beyond the sporting events. Further, at the recent Olympic congress in Copenhagen, the IOC (finally) started to discuss social media and how to engage with a wider audience. In this inter-disciplinary presentation, we’ll explore conundrums at the junction of free expression, civil liberties and citizen reporting through practical scenario building as well as discuss plans from the True North Media House project.

* Vancouver Urban Exploration

A magazine program taking listeners/viewers to the less known Vancouver points of interest beyond Stanley Park and Granville Island Market – as relevant to locals as well as visitors, emphasis on urban archeology, thrifty fun, and chronicling the evolution of neighbourhoods and city beyond recreation.

To provide documentation for travelers and inspired locals to get out and about and find ways to enjoy life while learning more about the environs. Provide a tourism resource and an onramp to help visitors find authentic Vancouver (*not* the “steam” clock”).

* Promoting Movies Online

With the rise of social networks come new ways to raise interest and build audience for movies. This guide offers practical tips for film productions to interact with fans and engage them into the production story to ultimately promote the project.

Before rushing into any campaign, it’s best to have a long term plan and a basic understanding of best practices so you achieve maximum benefit for your efforts. This guide will answer the questions needed to get started and avoid pitfalls.

* Building the story
* Inviting to participate
* Measuring engagement