OR - “What is Gather.com?”
I accepted an invitation to lunch at the 21 Club in Manhattan last Monday. The occasion could have been to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the purchase of my bookshop, BookTrader, the 17th anniversary of the purchase of my publishing company, Hope Farm Press, or the 59th anniversary of my birth. Instead, it was a press luncheon to promote the successes of the Rio de Janeiro promotional team in 2007 (Pan American Games, Para-Pan Games and the Christ statue being named One of the Seven Wonders of the World!) and the promotions planned for 2008 (vying for the World Cup Championships and the 20012 Olympics!) It was a BIG DEAL luncheon.
I was in Rio in August, so I knew one of the presenters. I’d had dinner with him at Marius (documented at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977108671 RICHARD FRISBIE - Eating & Drinking Like the Cariocas of Rio) on Copacabana Beach. He sat across from me for the churrasco, or typical Brazilian barbecue, and we made small talk over way-too-many courses of meat. Nice guy! I also knew one of the journalists. That left 78 people in the room I’d never met! Some of the name tags included the publication the wearer represented. With the exception of Frommer’s, most were publications I hadn’t heard of. I really felt out-of-it.
You can see my name tag in the photo. To a person, everyone I introduced myself to asked “What is Gather.com?” I’m new at this journalist thing, but I’m observant enough to know that wasn’t an overheard question. No one else was being asked what was the publication they represented - just me. I explained too many times that Gather is the web site for people who listen to NPR. Thank goodness everyone had heard of NPR! I was, and still am, concerned about my anonymity behind my Gather.com name tag. I think you should be also.
Our impact here at Gather can be seen in some industries, most noticeably publishing, but we’re missing the boat in others, most notably the public relations field. All those people who promote business, tourism, commercial development - whatever - either don’t know of Gather.com, or - after I tell them about it - find it difficult to gauge the impact (read that value) of it. That concerns me because I want them to hire me to promote their products (think Rio de Janeiro) which they won’t do if they don’t think Gather.com will give them the returns on their investment. I know, we banter around the terms journalist and public relations, but I’m really talking about business here. Is Gather worth it? I think so, that’s why I promote it. I’d really like to see more people here doing the same. So far, all of my trips were because I wrote for our local Hudson Valley periodicals, or web sites such as Edge or TravelLady. None were because of my connection with Gather. That has to change.
I’m not asking you to promote Gather for my sake. Do it for yourselves. As more and more powerful businesses and industries recognize the value of Gather.com, its value goes up. The higher the perceived value, the more advertisers will pay to be featured here, and the more rewards Gather can offer us for contributing. Also, more opportunities, such as the book deals in the publishing field, will present themselves in other areas. So, for whatever reason you are members of this wonderful community - monetary reward, gift cards, prizes - and especially for the rare joy of finding like-minded people to converse with, all will increase and be better as Gather grows.
Oh - about the food & wine. I tasted three wines - they were good to very good. For cocktails we had a Washington Reisling, (no NY wines!) with the entrees came a white Bordeaux or an Argentinian red. The salad was as described, and delicious. My neighbors ordered the salmon, something I never do out, and reported it "only slightly overdone”, and “perfect”. My chicken was pretty and very tasty; a boneless breast with skin and a bone-in wing, moist, with diamond grill marks. The vegetables were as promised in the menu, and though I’m not a dessert guy, the cheese cake was heavenly.
But, that’s not why I was there. I was working the room, not the meal. It was nice to be fed, though. And the “21” Club is dark, woody and filled with tradition. I’ll go back. Maybe when I do they'll know what Gather.com is.
Richard Frisbie
JOIN ME ON GATHER
http://www.gather.com/inviteLanding.jsp?parentMemberId=17461
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 25
On gather, I feel Gather needs to pay their correspondents a real wage, and focus on getting Gather accepted as a "magazine", or even a bzz type agent. Sounds like you did a great job working the room!
Hello June, gather better have a lot to offer all kinds of business or it won't survive. Certainly the booksellers and publishing houses see a value. Having a literate, well rounded membership (we mostly do) means ads purchased here should sell products. We need to promote Gather more, so people don't ask "What is Gather" rather they ask "How can I advertise on Gather?"
Hello Katrina - yes - I would like the online content to be thought of as a magazine or journal rather than a collection of people looking for points. (ouch - I finally said that) and I feel as if we are moving in that direction. But literate, grammatical, articles are still not the norm (double ouch) and I am as guilty of that as the next person! I'm encouraged, though. But there were a number of people trying to figure out why I was invited to the prestigious luncheon. Gather needs to be better known.
I'm interested to see where this thread goes and what other contributions it garners. Thanks for writing a well thought out article.
Gather now has about 430,000 members, a huge increase from around January, 2007, when it had 100,000. (Or, when I joined, it had only 20,000 - and even fewer when you joined).
I think this noticeability thing is very much on the minds of Gather staff and Tom, in particular. The ads do reflect a variety of industries, such as tourism, but I am guessing, this all takes time.
People are now beginning to find me from my real life. That is a good thing - college friends and my long lost cousins.
Any web site has to appeal to the masses to bring in the numbers of members. At the same time, a web site such as Gather has to promote its serious interests - and I see Gather doing exactly that.
I recognized the publishing industry in my article, and that is a GREAT start. One day last week I read every featured article. Each had glaring typos. Some had misspellings and syntax errors. These were featured. So, while we have the publishing industry's attention, let's clean up our (mine too) articles a bit.
When I joined Gather it was being billed as "the website for people who listen to NPR" so all of you confused about my reference, please don't be. (Institutional memories are scary things.)
Allegorically speaking - The 21 Club doesn't have a sign out front. Walking up and down the street, I knew it was nearby but I couldn't find it. Finally I had an inspiration. I went into the Cartier Diamond store and asked the manager where the 21 Club was. Of course they knew and gave me directions.
I want, and will work for, that to happen with Gather. I'm asking for your help.
Ahh - Sandy -- you made me laugh and feel guilty at the same time - thanks for your patience with me.
Thanks everyone for commenting.
Lunch was a fun event, but I rarely go to them. It means closing my bookshop, (lose several hundred dollars) driving an hour to the train (gas & tolls $20) and spending $25.50 for off-peak round trip tickets. BUT - the 21 Club was worth it, and the folks who invited me sent me to Macau and Rio this year. I want them to think of me kindly (and often!) Besides it was my birthday. How come no one wished me a Happy Birthday?