Something remarkable happened this past Friday that as left me pondering the value of co-working. Most of the time when I see people tweet about setting up co-working sessions, the first thing that jumps to mind is ‘huh, someone’s bored and wants to hang out’. I’m confident that there are actual co-working sessions where the people involved accomplish more than just tweeting about the place they are co-working at and whom they are with. Occasionally and idea is shared and a blog post is written, a set of pictures made but I think most people walk away without accomplishing the work they set out to do. Their co-working session turns into a Twitter session.
This on my part, is completely speculation as I have never actually attended a co-working, one would need a normal laptop first to be able to accomplish this. That being said I was hesitant to join Brooks, Joe and A.V Flox on Friday afternoon for their post tea party co-working session. One, I had no laptop and two, I had real work that I wanted to accomplish and didn’t know if I would be able to get it done. We decided it would be best to have the session at, as A.V called it, Chez @LaLawag. I had no idea at the time that the day would take on such a bohemian feel that carried into the evening and infused us with enough creative juice to make two videos, a painting, photo shoot and fireside chat regarding social media and the ever evolving future of it. The afternoon started off with the enigmatic a.v.flox blogging and tweeting with moi:
A.V Flox: At Chez @Lalawag co-working with @lauriepercival in our underwear. It’s a rule, you know: naked journalism.1:29 PM Feb 27th
A.V. Flox: @seanpercival, after much discussion, it’s been decided that @Lalawag needs a budget for lingerie. And possibly some more whips.2:08 PM Feb 27th
A.V. Flox: Chez @Lalawag is in full co-work mode: @jackiepeters, @seanpercival, @lauriepercival, @brooksbayne, @joesaid and @avflox, wired.3:06 PM Feb 27th
Simultaneously Andrew Warner was heating up the interwebz with a “twitter fight”. Sean decided a video spoof would be the perfect way to join in the fun and quickly brainstormed with the room to execute the video that was released on our site a few hours later. Definitely something that would have never manifested had we not already been co-working and sharing.
Sean Percival: @AndrewWarner hey buddy! we have the most epic video coming your way. its on @lalawag4:40 PM Feb 27th
A.V. Flox: We just shot a video wherein I wear a red plaid miniskirt and beat @seanpercival with an Agent Provocateur rhinestone-encrusted crop.6:00 PM Feb 27th
After a quick infusion of food, we moved the session over to a new location and added a few members to the group. We were focused on creating a video for SXSW. The room was filled with debate and discussion on how to approach the video and the tone it would have. Sitting fireside in that room listening to this inspiring group of people discuss something so passionately and intelligently was enlightening. Unfortunately we cannot share the video until a much later time but here are a few tweets that might give you a hint of what it entails and some of the silly-ness that accompanied it:
Nicole Jordan: About to film a video for #sxsw @jackiepeter’s. In attendance…10 people you all know. See you at sx!11:01 PM Feb 27th
Nicole Jordan: Am loving the filming of this video. I’m so lucky to know such smart, visionary people.11:10 PM Feb 27th
A.V. Flox: Observations. Three words: nitimur In vetitum.2:15 AM Feb 28th
Robyn Cohen: …we shot a video for #sxsw, drank wine, talked about twitter tweets & hairy snuggies w/ @tonyadam…fun times :)10:43 AM Feb 28th
Tony Adam: OH: Twitter tweets, its like the new scooby snacks for tweeple12:23 AM Feb 28th
We wrapped up the video and a photo shoot with the unparalleled a.v.flox began. There were short skirts, corsets, and garter belts with thigh high stockings, probably a usual thing for the muse that was posing.
Then the painting began. As the supplies were brought out a whole series of I can haz cheeseburger shots were born from Jackie’s two kitties. A.V. seized her canvas back and created this stunning piece:
If all co-working sessions were as productive, inspiring, creative, and ingenious as this one I would suggest having them much more often.
