Ben Risinger

Happy Anniversary, Baby…

Thank you to the love of my life for another amazing blog. She knows how to touch a techy dudes heart. Love you Slick. #Wedbk

SlickLaRoo

…got you on my..miiiiiiiind.

(Thank you Little River Band.)

Anniversary. A silly word the more you say it over and over. I’ve never celebrated an anniversary before (unless you want to count birthdays as ANNIVERSARIES of our birth days and be all technical). My longest relationship is one year, and consequently, that’s the relationship I am in now…with the love of my life, best friend, man I am going to MARRY (53 days!).

It’s not that I want to celebrate this anniversary every year for the rest of our lives. Just this once though, before we remember 9.29.13 forever, I want to celebrate 8.6.12. I met Benjamen Wesley Risinger on Twitter through a mutual Twitter buddy. We became fast friends after meeting for an east side pub crawl (meeting the man you will marry in a poodle skirt? Priceless.), and have been nearly inseparable since.

He’s my best friend…

View original post 124 more words

IndyFringe Theatre and Fest – An Indy love of mine

Introducing the 2012 IndyFringe - DoItIndy party. — Introducing the 2012 IndyFringe – DoItIndy party. More in 2013!

When we started DoItIndy in 2010 a theatre and its shows hit my radar very quickly – IndyFringe. I love to look back at the first IndyFringe Winter Magic Festival which is where I met Pauline Moffat, executive director. I didn’t know it at the time but that would be the start of an amazing relationship. Check out one of our first videos – we have gotten A LOT better now. 🙂

Months later I was looking at the BIG IndyFringe Festival program and thought to myself, “we need to get involved.” That is exactly what happened. In 2012 I came on board to help work with the social media efforts of IndyFringe and to do some communications volunteering. Amazing. I never truly knew how much good the organization does for SO MANY people. Can I say amazing again.

In 2012 we started the first ever “official” hahstag for the IndyFringe Theatre Festival – #Fringe12. I had no idea what would happen – we trended for multiple days in Indy, the festival grew over 20 percent and we were engaged with more people than ever before. I can’t say it all happened because of social media, but a LOT did. Plus DoItIndy came on as a sponsor and had a COOL party at the #Fringe beer tent.

After that I returned to my graduate classes in the fall and had the opportunity to create a public relations plan for a nonprofit company in Indy. Of course I wanted to use IndyFringe – our group of four created a campaign that was amazing, strategic and used both traditional and new media. Let’s say that it has worked.

The first big part was indyfringetalk.org – a blog that talks about theatre, volunteerism, Indy, tech and more. The blog has been live now for about a month and we have seen some amazing writing and comments! Exactly what we envisioned it being – a tool to connect with more of our audience. Phase two – the actual indyfringe.org website and it needed some help. Patrick McCarney (tech director) took the lead and together we helped create what you see today. More info, easier navigation, Progressive site (changes for mobile devices) and a streamlined look.

If you would like to read a few of my IndyFringe blogs here you go:
Why I volunteer and love IndyFringe
IndyFringe and social media – it can work

43rd Annual Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration

An annual event in Indianapolis that happens every year. A DoItIndy TOP 5 event as well. The Summer Celebration offers something for everyone. Plus, downtown Indianapolis is an amazing place to see and visit. Have fun, be safe and DoItIndy

Around Indy

By Jennifer Hanson
Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
http://indydt.com/

Celebrate the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration in its 43rd year. The celebration takes place July 11 – 21 at the Indiana Convention Center plus various other Downtown venues. Summer Celebration is the largest African-American event in the nation with an anticipated attendance of more than 300,000 people. Enjoy everything from live music at the Music Heritage Festival to exciting youth activities such as Youth Entrepreneur Seminar (YES), Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) and the Family Fun Zone. Take advantage of employment opportunities, health fairs, cultural pavilions, various exhibits and more!

Summer Celebration general admission tickets: $8 in advance; $7 in advance for senior citizens; $19.99 in advance for three-day general admission; $10 after July 19.

Select Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration event highlights are listed below. For the full calendar of events, visit http://www.ibeonline.com/CalendarDesignStep2.aspx?FilterType=EventCategory&EventTypeID=12&EventType=All%20Events or call 317-925-2702.

July 13…

View original post 821 more words

Across the Arts 2013 Speaker – A Gleeful Literary Celebration

I have a local Indy friend who recently called me and said that I had to be a part of this new conference. Amy P can be quite persuasive so I said OK without really understanding what was going on. 🙂

Amy introduced me to a fantastic person named Andy Murphy and I was set. This is gonna be BIG people. Across the Arts is a new writing conference to be held on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at the Carmel Palladium.

The website states, “A Gleeful literary celebration — Indiana’s finest filmmakers, best-selling NY Times authors, award-winning newspaper journalists, columnists, magazine writers and editors, publishers and noted musicians will join together in the “Writer’s Studio” in the magnificent Palladium Theater in Carmel, Indiana on July 20th. This accomplished cast of talent all LIVE in Indiana and are NATIONALLY recognized.”

The list of authors, media people, local celebrities and more is AMAZING. The hosts for the day will be Debby Knox, award-winning news anchor at WISH-TV, an affiliate of CBS; Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, President and CEO of the Center for the Performing Arts and Liz Brainard, First Lady of the City of Carmel.

Publishers, Filmmakers, book authors, personalities and a social media panel. I get the honor of chatting up how to best use social media with local online faves Amy Stark of Stark Reality Check and Elizabeth Musgrave of Gotta Go.

Get your event tickets HERE. More info on the Write Stuff Writers and Across the Arts 13 HERE. Make sure to connect to Write Stuff Writer Conferences on Facebook and use the hashtag #AcrossArts13 on Twitter.

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination

I geeked out. I really do love Star Wars, back to seeing my first film (Return of the Jedi) in the movie theatre with my parents when I was a kid. Star Wars Rules. The Indiana State Museum has a new exhibit, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. The whole purpose of the exhibit is to show you some COOL Star Wars relics and show you how our own technology and science came into play when creating new science fiction!

Yes there are lots of different ships, costumes and vehicles. PLUS – you can ride a land speeder replicator (hover ship), play games and visit some of the worlds (Tattoine, Hoth, Corruscant and more) of Star Wars. The exhibit is not only fun, but educational for children too!

Check out the video with Aja May – social media guru for the museum.

Video interview with Aja

I have camped out for the opening of Episode 1 and loved the re releases of Star Wars in the late 90’s (I actually got a job working at a movie theatre just to watch the movies). As a 35 year old man, I still love to get a good Star Wars toy and read the books.

CLICK HERE to see more pics of the Star Wars Exhibit

The exhibit which shows you movie memorabilia and real science and technology runs now through September 2013. In the end, amazing time and when you pay the $10 admission price you get to see the rest of the museum as well! Now that is a good deal.

I was taken prisoner by the Empire. I escaped... — I was taken prisoner by the Empire. I escaped…

Engagement photos with Kelly

Many thanks to Michael Anthony Photography for the amazing pictures. We went to downtown Indianapolis and took pics at the Artsgarden, Monument Circle and Mass Ave. Kelly and I love our city and can’t wait to get married in the Indiana Statehouse on September 28, 2013. Please visit our wedding website at wedbk.com our you can use the Twitter hashtag #WedBK to chat with us.

Bands 4 Boobies 2013

Give Back - come and party with us to live, local music. — Proud sponsor & emcee of the 2013 Bands 4 Boobies charity rock show.

My good friend, Shawn June (writer of the DoItIndy theme song) called me up a few weeks ago and told me about a new charity show. Bands 4 Boobies. He asked if I might be interested in being involved and helping spread the word and have the crew help emcee. I was completely sold on the idea when he asked. My mother (Barb) is a breast cancer survivor and then a decade later had another cancer battle. Thank goodness she beat the odds both times and is still with us. I will do this for her.

Hanging out with my parents at an Indianapolis Colts game in 2012.

DoItIndy Music Editor MPCavalier’s blog

I chatted with Jason Oldham of Audio Hitmen (creator of show) and told him we were in. There will be TWO locations on Saturday, April 20, 2013 for Bands 4 Boobies. Kelly’s Pub on the west side of Indianapolis and Drifty’s Sports Pub on the south side of Indy. Jason will be emcee of Kelly’s Pub and the DoItIndy crew will be emcees of Drifty’s Pub! Fun starts at 7:30 p.m.

More info and band lineups online. Please like the Facebook page of Bands 4 Boobies and be informed. Thanks for all your help.

Audio Hitmen in the DoItIndy studio to film a promo for Bands 4 Boobies.

Revenue North Conference Speaker

Learn about many different techniques for business from the Revenue North conference. — Learn about many different tricks and techniques for business from the Indianapolis Revenue North Business Growth Conference.

I was recently asked to speak at the new Revenue North Business Growth Conference happening Thursday, March 21st. My topic will be using social media for small and medium sized business. Just because we can all post to Facebook and Twitter, that doesn’t mean you are doing it right. Social media is a tactic that if utilized correctly, can build your audience better than you ever thought. Read more on my breakout session HERE.

Topics covered will include finance, video, public relations, writing, SEO, branding, work and life balance and more! Don’t miss out on this fantastic one day conference to help take your business to a new level.
CLICK HERE for Conference Details

Don’t miss out. Lots of amazing Indianapolis area professionals to network with and learn from. Yes, we can all post to our social media pages…but do it right, engage and analyze!

Brackets for Good in Indy

Proud media sponsor of the 2013 Brackets for Good.

When I was a child my father used to volunteer for the Madison County (Anderson, Indiana) American Red Cross chapter. I remember being 10 or 11 years old and helping him with a ducky derby race along the White River. My dad looked at me and said, “You always have to help out Son. No matter where you are or what you do, you have to help people out.” I never thought much of that until I was older. Now, I am proud to help give back to Indianapolis and the people who need help.

I remember seeing Brackets for Good last year, but it got by me. This year, I knew DoItIndy had to help out in the best way we could, promotions. Someday we will have funds to donate, but not yet. Our reach is far and wide and reaches many mediums so I contacted the #BFG13 guys. I was very glad to hear their enthusiasm as I told them we could help out and try to get the word ALL OVER INDY! 🙂

Brackets for Good website

So…if you can: $1 equals 1 point. Support your favorite out of the Indianapolis group. A grand prize awaits the nonprofit that raises the most points!

CLICK HERE to view the DoItIndy blog that talks the bracket more

Thanks for all your help. DoItIndy is always committed to helping Indianapolis in any way we can, and this is just the right fit.

#BFG13

Test blog post for class

WooHoo.

WordPress is cool. WordPress is easy. WordPress is mobile.