The photo below is from my first Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs Event that I held at the Speed of Thought Playhouse. I had a fantastic time and have been back to the playhouse each Friday since to watch the Speed of Thought Players and to LIVE blog the shows. The Speed of Thought Players are an improv comedy group based in North Attleboro, MA. They have a playhouse/bar/lounge/cafe that is right down the street from my house. So while thinking of my next blogger event I had the perfect venue in mind. That would be the Speed of Thought Playhouse again, of course! I talked with Christian at the playhouse about doing Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs II and he was game for it.
However, I felt that this time the event shouldn’t just be about entertainment or bloggers or even brews. I felt a responsibility to do something more. I wanted to help out someone with a cause. There are just so many great causes out there. I thought, what would be a good fit for this venue?
I immediately remembered my friend Sue, she had wanted to go to the first Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs event but couldn’t make it. Sue is team leader for Walking 4 2nd Base, a team in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston. Last year I blogged about her walking in her first Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and last year all I could do was give her a small donation and blog about her cause. I want to take something that was already a good time, Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs, and turn it into something for others beyond the joy they get from the comedy. So the idea for a fund raiser for Walking 4 2nd Base came about.
What I will be doing is working with the Speed of Thought Playhouse to put on Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs II: Laughing it up while raising money for Walking 4 2nd Base! I created an event in Facebook called Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs II and also a Facebook Group. I encourage all of my readers to join up with the event and the Facebook group. There are ways of helping even if you cannot attend.
So what is the event all about?
On April 17, 2009 BenSpark.com in collaboration with Speed of Thought Playhouse present Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs II: Laughing it up while raising money for Walking for 2nd Base!
The first Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs was such fun we decided to do it again. However, this time the laughter is for a cause. During the night there will be raffles for some exciting prizes like Flip video cameras, XShot camera extenders and many other prizes.
As more donations for prizes come in I will update the list.
The night will begin with a meet and greet in the Speed of Thought Playhouse around 6:30pm. The cost of the event/show is $10pp. There is free wi-fi so feel free to bring a laptop or other wi-fi enabled device. There is also food available for purchase in the Comedy Cafe. During the meet and greet you will have a chance to enter BenSpark’s PhotoBooth for a chance at cool swag, and get a very special photo taken with BenSpark himself, the oh so unfamous blogger. We will also be taking donations on raffle tickets for some very cool prizes too.
Money raised from raffle tickets will go to the 2009: Avon Walk for Breast Cancer: Boston Team – Walking 4 2nd Base.
At 8:30 the Speed of Thought Players will perform their hilarious comedy improv show. Everyone is encouraged to stay for the show. Why, because the SOTPlayers Rock and raffle prizes will be given away throughout the show. Plus we want people tweeting all through the event. We encourage you to Tweet about the event during the event using the hashtags #bbbl2 and #icause. You can also bring cameras and video cameras with you to record the fun times so that you can blog about the event or add your photos to Facebook.
If you cannot make it in person please sign in to Stickam to watch the show live http://www.stickam.com/sotplive
You can also make online donations to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Team – Walking 4 2nd Base at http://tinyurl.com/walking-4-2nd-base
So come on down to the Speed of Thought Playhouse for a great time, some laughs, some brews and conversations with other people who would like to help a great cause.
Please help get the word out about the event. Tweet about the event using the hashtags #bbbl2 and #icause. I’d love to see us pack the house (and the chat room on stickam)
What if this charity or event isn’t your thing?
Maybe the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer isn’t your charity of choice, that is okay, you can still do something. Look around your neighborhoods and towns and I’m sure you can think of at least ten charities that need your help.
What do you think of bloggers helping to give back to causes? Do you think that if someone has a voice that others listen to or in this case read, then they have a responsibility to give back in some way?
16GB iPod Contest is over. The Winner was @anoo.
An Online Contest has been updated on this Event. 04/20/09
Dina Riccobono of Market Leverage has donated a 16GB iPod Touch to one lucky online winner. She wanted to help me out with the event after I helped her out with the Market Leverage Bowl-A-Thon. This will be a twitter contest. The intent is to drum up as much excitement as possible to get people to attend the online LIVE event via stickam. The official stickam site for the event will be www.stickam.com/sotplive.
So how can you get your hands on a 16GB iPod Touch?
Rules have changed a bit since the event has come and gone.
Here are the updated official rules. Must do #’s 1-3 to qualify. The rest are for bonus entries.
1. Follow, @benspark, @marketleverage, and @sotp2009 on twitter.
2. Tweet “RT: Read and comment on @benspark’s #BBBL2 recap at http://urlbrief.com/a3446f. You Could win an iPod Touch from @MarketLeverage #icause” Then Leave a comment with a link to your tweet on this post.
(To see how you link to a single tweet go to Linking to a Tweet.)
3. Leave a comment with:
- Who is your favorite comedian?
- What cause would you have chosen had you been given this money?
- What can you do to help that charity without using money?
@*** New Entry Options
- – For an additional 2 entries (per link) into the contest. Post these links http://www.benspark.com/being-responsible.html and http://www.benspark.com/blogs-brews-2-recap.html to your Facebook Page and join the BBBL2 Facebook Group.
- Entries per comment – I’ll even give you an entry per comment on this post. Two entries if a friend comments and tells me that you asked them to come here and comment about the event on your behalf.
- Submit this link to Social Bookmarking sites like Stumble, ETC… 1 Entry Per link, must leave comment letting me know about link.
25 BONUS Entries!
Donate at least $10.00 to my friend Sue’s team Walking 4 2nd Base for 25 extra chances to win. Just make the donation and in the “How would you like your name to appear” spot put your @twitter name or blog address so I can confirm the donation. Thank you.
What are you waiting for, spread the word. This contest is open until April 30th. Remember everything done on this post can also be done on the BBBL2 recap post.
You might recall that I had a post up about the event and then had to take it down. That was because of the former sponsor. Well, that sponsor totally pulled out and IZEA has stepped up to make sure that this event still happens. Way to go IZEA!!
So IZEA is now the official sponsor of Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs II: Laughter for a Cause. I couldn’t be happier.
Like my Blog? Help support it by supporting my sponsors.
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314 Responses to “Being Responsible: Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs II”
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Good Luck Sue!!! Good Luck with the walk!
Good luck to Sue along with her teammates the 2nd Base Supporters!!
Good Luck Sue!
You are great for doing this Sue! An awesome cause!
Have a great walk! Hopefully you’ll have perfect weather!!!
Sue, I really enjoyed myself at your open house! And for such a great cause!!!
Seriously??? You guys are the MOST determined fund-raisers EVER!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK SUE!!!!
Great Job Sue!
Responsible is not a four letter word.
Good luck Sue and team on your walk. May you have lovely weather and good company along the way. All the best!
Denise B.
Good Luck Sue!
Thanks for dedicating yourself to raising awareness, Sue! Fight the good fight!
–Allie
Good luck Sue!
Its a very noble cause your walking for!
Hope you don’t get too sore!
We are very happy to have been a part of the fundraiser and thankful for all of Drew’s efforts!
You rock!
The Speed Of Thought Playhouse Cafe is happy to be associated with Drew and these fine enterprises… Thanks for everything!
More support coming from Dublin ALLLLL the way over to those of you working so hard to Walk for a Cure! Good luck!!!
Liz McG
Yeah Yeah.. Go Sue!
Norm,
You didn’t include your blog address. We’re looking forward to being able to watch your adventures.
Great cause – good luck!
Good luck!
i LOVE the name of sue’s team! good luck Sue!
Sorry I had to miss it, but I had other things going on, unfortunately. Best of luck to Sue and her team on the walk!
Christines last blog post..Now I am seriously pissed
I’m commenting again! I’d love to win this. Actually, my husband wants me to win. He thinks he gets it. I guess we’ll see…
Annas last blog post..New Glasses for Cory
I think everyone else should drop out so I can win this for a birthday gift! JK but I would really love to win, gl to everyone who has entered, and again Sue, fantastic job!
If you are one who can’t participate in the walk you can still be supportive by show up and cheering on the walkers and perhaps handing out drinks. Every little bit of support helps. And tell everyone about the cause. I loved the event at BBBLII. It was so much fun. I really enjoyed the female comedian. She was so funny.
Babas last blog post..I Must Be Doing Something Right
Sue W. I just wanted to wish you and your team good luck on your Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. 40 Miles in 2 days is a great accomplishment for an excellent cause!
Sue I wanted to wish you luck on your walk. It is really great what you are doing. Sure commedians are funny and we all want to have a good time but Cancer there is nothing funny about cancer. I wish you all the best.
I wonder if they will let dogs walk in these things. How does a dog go about starting a team for next year?
Can Stephen the Dog get 4 comments in a row?
Yes he can! To be serious I know Drew is trying to get more comments on this post to win additonal money for a great cause. I could sit her and comment all day I think I got 4 in 5 mins but that is kind of lame.
I am not going to do that instead I am going to make far better use of my time and go find Sue’s pledge page and pledge some of my money. It is great to win things but they should be based on merit and not how often you can get a dog to with comments on a blog post. So I am done I am off to actually help the cause.
Stephen
Great job Drew. SOTP looks like a great place. Someday – Jeff and I will have to get there.
Corrine,
SOTP is certainly Jeff’s sort of place, at least the humor certainly is. I think you guys would like the shows.
Drew,
This is such a great cause- so awesome that you are doing so much for it! Good luck to Sue’s team!
Marybeth
Wish I could have been there!
Sorry I missed this; Kenny and I were travelling. I did catch the webcast you were doing a few ago though.
Congrats on the fundraising. I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it – I had a sick dog at home that night.
You are doing such great things Drew!!! Keep up the amazing work, really wish I could be closer to experience everything!
Jennifers last blog post..SinuCleanse Review And Giveaway
Awesome Drew!
When is Blogs, Brews and Belly Laughs III? :)
how many comments are you looking for?
How do I get people to donate to my cause without being pushy? You did such a fantastic job!
I didn’t realize tonight was the end, so here is another comment. I hope it helps.
Gratz to Anoo! I really hope Sue was able to reach her goal. It is really a great cause. Thanks Drew for help us help her out and letting us in on it!
Babas last blog post..If You Are Worried About Swine Flu
stopping to leave another comment, I really do hope that you reach your goal. What time tonight does it end? I stay up late so I can leave comments all night long :)
ok, so I have until 11:59 to get both posts up as high as I can, I think I can do this :)
I just sent a bulletin out to my friends on myspace to donate to ACS and RFL for me, I hope it helps.
BBLII was a great time, hon! I’m so proud of you for putting on such a great event for such a great cause.
one of these days I am going to get to be there in person and I am going to have a blast. I still have a lot of fun online though and glad I get to at least do that.
I am already looking forward to making the trek to be there next year… for the first time. Plus, you have me publicly saying that I will be there and I will donate a “prize”… well you have me saying publicly now ;)
I need to figure out when I can make it and how I can make it out there, but one of these days it will happen.
Look you are really close to 300!
this is number 300!!! I am going to focus on the other post now, but may stop to say hi to this one again just so it doesn’t get lonely!
awesome job!