by Cristina Clapp

We're finalizing all of our events for Digital Video Expo in Pasadena, Calif., next month, and you can read about them at www.dvexpo.com. I know you already know the benefits of training and professional development--and that's why I hope you'll join us Sept. 28-30. But there's another benefit to attending DV Expo. It's a little harder to quantify, but it's just as essential to your career: You can spend time with your colleagues and peers.

Production professionals can always connect and socialize through forums and discussion lists, but there is just no substitute for personal contact. I went to my first Los Angeles Final Cut Pro User Group meeting in, yikes, 2001. (I would like to say it was for college credit or on an internship or something, but really, who's kidding who?) At the time, I was working on www.2-pop.com, one of our sites that was and is for Final Cut Pro users. To meet the same people I saw daily on our boards was amazing.

There is social networking, but there are also actual, real-life social networks. And right now we're setting up the September 2010 LAFCPUG meeting to be held at DV Expo.

This is why we host so many association, society and user group meetings at DV Expo: It's good for humans--especially ones who have the same professional interests and goals--to meet other humans.

See you there, Cristina

Free File-Based Workflow Sessions at Digital Video Expo

Presented by Omneon and Rhozet, "File-Based Management for Video Pros" is a series of focused sessions for content creators wanting to manage, refine and improve their video workflows.

Held Sept. 30 from 1 - 3:45 p.m., it's open to all Digital Video Expo attendees, but you must pre-register at www.dvexpo.com