Well hello!
Here we are a week since my last post, and I still feel like I didn't engage as much as I planned to. I worked through the weekend for month-end (even for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday), drove to and from Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday, then worked Thursday-Saturday...how fun! However, there were some more interactions that occurred IRL this week that were not only important to my own life, but were also compatible with this course and its objectives.
On Tuesday, I surprised one of my best friends by driving down to Jacksonville to attend a secret pop-up dinner he was hosting at his house. I have known Josh for 15 years (we met at freshman orientation at FSU): he is also an alum of the ISLT program, and he's one of the reasons I'm in this program today! During the day he uses his instructional design background as a product owner for a medical tech company, but his true passion is as a home chef and baker. This pop-up dinner -- his very first such endeavor -- was a partnership with a Jacksonville-based food blogger, and a huge opportunity to advertise his services (private chef, meal prep, cooking classes). I, along with seven other total strangers, were treated to what was honestly a unique, entertaining, and delicious experience. I was a paying customer, but more importantly I was there to support my friend and hype up this opportunity. I took pictures of EVERYTHING (especially since I knew Josh wouldn't have an opportunity to document the night himself), and at the end of the evening I posted highlights of the dinner on my IG story (being sure to tag both Josh and the blogger he partnered with so they could share to their stories as well).
I know I've said it before in past posts, but I feel that social media really shines when it can be used to raise people up in their community -- in this case, by allowing someone to highlight their passion and generate exposure. On the other side, I also love that the food blogger hosts events like this. He has become so influential in his community that he can convince random people to attend a dinner at a total stranger's home, and his followers trust that they will have a safe and enjoyable dining experience.
Yum yum yum!!! Yummy yummy yummy!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd this is such a timely example of the role of social media as well as the way it’s being used in that specific context. Thanks for sharing this, Ello! Truly enjoyed reading ...
Thank you, Omer!
DeleteI love everything about this post! It sounds like such a fun idea and a great use of instagram. Sometimes I forget that it can be used for so much more than just sharing pictures of yourself, or in my case, my dog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, EKD! I don't have any pets, so when I first joined IG back in 2013 (?) I was one of those people who was always taking pics of their lunch lol! To me , Instagram will always tie to food!
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