• by Kelly Samardak , August 27, 2010

Micromarketing Book Launch Party, Roger Smith Hotel, New York
August 26, 2010

Last night, I covered an adult party.

"Fooooooooled youuuuuu"-- Dark Helmet.

No, but really, I did.  Not that kind of adult party, you pervs -- the kind of adult party where no one is sloppy-stumbling wasted.  The kind where the sleazy schmooze is kept to a minimum.  The kind where everyone is either proud of the dude of honor or respects the dude of honor.  So obviously, the kind where everyone is on their best behavior.  And this is the kind of party crew that Greg Verdino, who celebrated the launch of "Micromarketing" last night, draws.

I walked into the warm, dark Roger Smith hotel's Starlight (or was it "Screening") room to find an already super-smiley Verdino near the "danger bar" with his agent, Ethan Friedman from LevelFive Media Why "danger bar"?  Because there were two types of Patron and all kinds of top-shelf liquors for the taking.  Me? I stuck with water, I was "safety Kelly."

I don't know what it is about book launch parties.  Even if I have never met the author (in this case, I met Verdino LONG ago, so it's a genuine delight to see where he's been heading since then) I still feel a jolt of excitement when I see that table of fresh new books, their bindings mooning guests at they enter.  I feel the vicarious thrill when I see your name on the not-yet-torn book jacket. 

While shooting the books and the liquor, I met Steve Kleinberg of Powered, who was snapping away with his own camera.  I also ran into Izzet Agoren of Ad Pepper, whom I'd first met at the Shorty Awards and now I'm seeing him every where.  He made the comment of not being able to recognize me without my moustache, which always draws perplexed eavesdropping looks if one has no idea that my Twitter avatar is sporting a healthy, bushy 'stache. 

Plates of eggrolls, tuna tartare on thick discs of cucumber, lamb lollipops (which were a HUGE hit), and puffy balls of somethings sifted through the guests, which seemed an honest representation of the RSVP list.  You know the whole "marketing RSVP number" vs "real life RSVP number" equation.  The increasing heat of the room confirmed an honest tally.

Bill "I'll do anything for money (not really!)" Green (also @mtLb on Twitter) of Humongo, an MDC partners company and a place that creates "digital wonderness"; Powered's Amadeo Plaza and his ladyfriend Terry Nesmith; Social Media Analytics Consultant Marshall Sponder (and conversation hijacker with a 20% success rate); Served Fresh Media's Charlie Oliver (who shared her delicious popcorn with me); Archie Pugh-O'Connor, VP, Strategic Development at Powered; Lea Marino, Community Manager for beta biz community Bizzy; Alex, who rather than hit me with his info, asked me to snap his QR code, AKA @1ex on Twitter; Jane Quigley of Powered, new Nikon DSLR owner; Patty Hartwell of origins unknown, but pal of Jane's; Shirley Toussaint; and Yelitze Echenique, who does social media marketing for Swedish cigar shop Botl, were all there to either wish Greg well or trip him in the hallway.

Powered's Aaron Strout and Donya Dickerson from McGraw-Hill introduced Greg, who kept his speech short, sweet, and snarky. Joseph Jaffe (@JaffeJuice on Twitter), "Chief Interrupter" was there, bopping around with a variety of beverages, taller than I thought he would be.  I don't know how a Twitter avatar can make you seem more diminutive than you are, but, well, his did.  So let me lay those rumors to rest, Jaffe is tall (to me).  SavvyAuntie's Melanie Notkin appeared as well, alwasy perfectly put together and full of encouragement.

People say music (or is it love?) is the great unifier, but I strongly disagree with that surveymonkey poll result.  I think it's abhorrence of mouth noises.  Powered's Ethan Farber and Archie Pugh-O'Connor and I had a good "no no, this is even grosser," mouthnoise vomtest, and it sounds like we're better off working from a sound proof cave.  We also invented a new social gaming prototype that is going to blow your minds, so stay tuned for that.  And then I'm going to write a book called "Mouthnoises To Millions"...

I certainly can't forget Amanda Gravel, sassypants in marketing and Greg Verdino's fiancé.  She was so incredibly proud of him, gushing that "he says things that make people wish they had said them first... he's such a genius," also pointing out to me the sweetness of the book's dedication, which I read immediately when I returned home.  And it is sweet by definition.

What a great way to end the week of party coverage.  If you're interested, the book is about the little things that get the big results, and you can probably buy that thing on Amazon and anywhere!

Have a wonderful, safe, sunny weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday with some delicious goodies.

Photos from the party are up on Flickr!