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Is Louis CK changing the scope of content distribution for good? In what appears to be Earth shattering news (if my twitter stream is to be believed), Louis CK – the often acerbic, always hilarious stand-up comedian slash sitcom star/writer/director/editor released his latest Stand-up show as a $5 download directly from his own website.

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I’m feeling exhausted and achy, have very little voice left and can’t wait to sleep in my own bed! But the weirdest thing is that I still want to turn around and get back to Austin! In fact, if I were able to, I’d have already booked my flights and hotel for next year… unless we decide to pack up Big Teeth and actually MOVE down to Austin before 2011.

What an experience! And one without a BADGE.  I read several blogs prior to heading to Austin about people’s experiences without badges, most seemed positive – and my experience was no different.  Being in Austin only 3.5 days, there were only a handful of panels I really wanted to attend and I didn’t think I could hit more than 2-3 films a day plus wasn’t that particular about which ones -so costs didn’t add up.   Waiting in line even with a film badge wasn’t appealing – but going 15 minutes before a show to see if there are extra tickets, seemed to be the way to go – especially if the film was at the Paramount. 

I had no badge but I WAS armed with business cards, bookmarks, recipe cards, stickers and pins for both Big Teeth and Fooditude.  It was especially funny to meet people, then figure out if they’d rather me put on my Big Teeth or Fooditude hat.  One thing was certain, I met way more people than I’d ever imagined meeting and people that may have NEVER known about either of my companies had we not ended up in the same elevator, shuttle, line for a film or in the same row at a panel. 

I made it to 4 Film Screenings (all of which were great) and 3 Interactive panels, and a handful of parties (only one that I tried to go to and couldn’t, being badgeless).  I can only imagine how much I’ll be able to do next year if I have a little more time to plan and don’t have to spend a day just trying to get the lay of the land. 

 A few things I learned:

• I really like Austin!
• If badgeless and you can handle the anxiety and you only have a few panels you really want to go to, hide behind a tall friend and carry a very large bag in front of you.
• If you have a friend that stays out later than you and you KNOW won’t be up first thing in the AM for a panel you want to go to, convince them to lend you their badge!
• Make friends with people that are only there for a couple days, seems everyone wants to share the love and offers up their badges or shuttle bracelets to others before they head out of town.  WHY NOT?!?!
• The shuttles from hotels outside of the city were wonderful, but I’d still prefer to stay in the city!
• Never be afraid to chase a car down that's leaving an event you're to ask for a ride, especially if its raining
• If you like food, Austin is a great town, but don’t just eat on 6^th street, that’s not where the good stuff is.
• Austin is a really great city for vegetarians and breakfast lovers!  (2 things I am) Even if I didn’t have a chance to hit up any of Citizen Taco (Austin Food blogger) I’d read before my trip but had the privilege of meeting in person while there)’s top spots for breakfast tacos, I found that even the bad ones were great.

 I see my experience as a taste of what is to come in the future.  Until next year SXSW!

In 2008 HBO lined up some dough for a couple of dudes to build a website filled with funny videos. Wow, where can I get that deal, you ask? Well, if you're names are Ferrell and McKay and you are responsible for the film "Anchorman" its a lot easier to grab that slice of the pie. Now, two years later, according to Web TV News Warehouse Tubefilter, HBO is using "Funny or Die" to launch new content for their TV network.

Well, what good is that for me? I didn't play George W. Bush on SNL, who's gonna buy my show? Wrong-o buster, take this as a good sign for you, the small but plucky Web TV wannabee.

The more stories that emerge of those with the cash (a la HBO) spending any of their precious pennies on video for the web, and better yet having success with it, the likelier these honchos will be more inclined to find new talent.

So what should you do if you're an aspiring Web TV Creator?

1. Keep Creating

Hone your skills, discover your voice, sweep the leg (only applies to Kobra Kai's). Do whatever you're doing to build up a following but also just to get to know what works and doesn't work for your own Web TV goals.

2. Support Others

Find people creating Web TV shows that you like and show them support. Watch their show and share it with your friends who might like it as well. The whole viral/social media thing is real and it's a great way to get your product out to people.

3. Join the Community

Find those people who are doing it too and reach out to them. Offer to help them and they'll help you too. Most of us trying to create original content for the web don't have "Talladega Nights" money lying around so we need to help each other create.

In Chicago, I am working with other likeminded souls to create an actual community who meet, network, hang out and get to know each other's projects. If you're in Chicago, ask me about "Let's Create". If you're not, find those people in your area and do the same.

Stay vigilant friends, and keep doing your thing. We won't all get rich and famous with our Web TV shows, but then again, maybe we will.

"Any rebroadcast, retransmission, or account of this blog, without the express written consent of Major League Baseball, is prohibited."

Why are professional sports so slow to adapt to modern technology and social media? First the NFL employs a draconian Twitter policy  that the Don Quijote of unnecessary PR, Chad Ochocinco, vows to stab with his sword of justice. Next comes a story via SM superstore Mashable about a missed opportunity by Major League Baseball to launch a viral video from a genuine moment by a Philadelphia Phillies fan, that amazingly did not involve throwing batteries at the opposing team.

America's professional sports leagues are extremely blessed with the ability to have essentially 30 (give or take) brands under their umbrella with which to market. Think about all the Cubs, or Cowboys, or Redwings merch that gets sold every year, and imagine the Don Fannuci-like commissioner of each league wetting their beaks from every sale. Isn't that enough for them to be happy - and moreso, shouldn't they embrace the fact that the millions of fans are essentially marketing their product for FREE!

Its not bad enough that the average hard-working fan has to fork over a small fortune to take his family to a game and fill them up with nachos the price of an SUV; but they are treated to a bunch of athletic savants complaining about how underpaid they are (If I hear about one more "hometown discount" contract that involves $200 million I may lose it altogether).

What's so irritating about this is, what are they trying to protect? I get it when the military has to ban tweeting, or when a politician's wife needs to keep some details to herself, but come on, this is a GAME we're talking about. Unless @CC_Sabathia is tweeting signs to @davidortiz I think we can feel safe with Twitter on the sidelines and in the dugouts. For all the commissioners know they might make a few extra bucks - and we KNOW they like that.

Welcome friends to the newly remodeled Big Teeth Productions website. We are excited to launch the site new in form AND function. This redesign is an indication that while the ol' teeth personality remains, we're keen on showing how and why we've changed, and will continue to evolve.

Rather than blather on about all the features, here are a few highlights before you go on your way navigating through our pages like Magellan with a mouse.

THE "GUTS" OF THE SITE
The Big Teeth Productions site has been organized to illustrate the main services we provide [Online Marketing, Fundraising & Special Event Video, and Web & TV series] along with a constantly updated portfolio of our video work samples, a list of clients we've worked with, and of course this here blog y'all are reading. [ed. note: my country accent is much more believable in writing than speaking, hence the "y'all"].

SOCIAL MEDIA
Another section you'll see is "Social Media." This is one of the bigger changes at Big Teeth Productions. Our take on social media is that it isn't a passing fad, it is something that is useful both to promote Big Teeth Productions, but also as a tool to help our clients better market their own brands or products. Look to that section to see both how it relates to video, and how we can help you use Social Media beyond video.

We've made a strong effort not to be one of the army of thousands trying to dupe you into thinking there are social media secrets, rather we've embraced the tweeting and facebooking and linkedin-ing (oh my) as ways of building relationships and helping spread the right message to the right audience.

THERE YOU HAVE IT
That's us in a nutshell. I could go on and on about our philosophies and practices, but really thats why the site exists. We, as a team, have vowed to more frequently update this blog than in the past, including how and why we go about things the way we do.

So, thanks for being a friend, a fan, a jealous competitor, a blog groupie, what have you, and all of us at Big Teeth Productions hope that you'll find our site (and our company) interesting and useful for all of your video and marketing needs. I also welcome any feedback on how you feel about the site, both good and bad, so that we can continue to make this a happy little home on the web. Feel free to drop some comments on this post, or you can email me as well.

Lastly, this site would not have been possible without the incredible insight and ethic of our developer Tristan Blease. Tristan looks at the web not in just how to make things look pretty, but how to make things work for you. If you have any needs for a well thought out, and sexy looking website, please visit Tristan on the web.