“What’s a tweetup??”

This is a question I get all the time when I mention the word. It’s where Twitter users meet up IRL (“In Real Life”). The next question usually runs along the lines of “Why would you do that?” Well, the obvious reason is the better you know the people you’re tweeting with, the better you can help and leverage each other in business (or any other venture). That’s just Networking 101, whether you’re doing it online or otherwise. Besides, it’s an opportunity to meet some truly awesome people.

Another reason is if you assemble a group of Twitter users in a venue you’re trying to promote and tell them to tweet the heck out of it, you bring the combined reach of all their social graphs to bear on your campaign. Think about it. People basically doing your marketing for you, globally, by word of mouth (or thumbs), instantly, live, while you’re at the event, posting photos and videos, retweeting each other, answering questions. That kind of buzz is hard to beat.

'Ulalena at Maui Theatre

Last night, I was part of something very special. The folks at ‘Ulalena hosted what ended up being the largest tweetup in Maui history in honor of Eat Local Hawaii week, co-hosted by Edible Hawaiian Islands and Aloha Mixed Plate. In exchange for bringing a locally sourced pupu (appetizer), we were treated to a free performance of a this amazing show.

‘Ulalena is a gorgeous and unique blending of people, nature, culture and mythology, set to music and dance in a multi-million dollar venue custom built for its presentation, featuring some of Hawaii’s most distinguished musicians and performers, combining live Hawaiian music with 8-channel surround sound. The state of the art, computerized stage was built in Montreal and then transported and assembled in Lahaina piece by piece. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to Maui, this is a must-see experience.

After feasting on everyone’s locally sourced dishes, we took our seats and they dimmed the house lights. Our hashtag for the evening was #ulalenamaui. It was fun watching the tweets using that hashtag go by during the show…

And here, our host, one of the singers in the show, @SocialLia is tweeting from backstage to invite us to the after show.

Which was awesome…

Here are all the #UlalenaMaui tweets from that evening, collected via TweetDoc.

Regardless of what you might be doing to market your business, who wouldn’t want this kind of live buzz for your show… or fundraiser, or garage sale, or open house?

Next time you have something you want to promote, have a party and invite friends with mobile devices, then turn them loose. And next time you’re on Maui, or if you live here, keep a watch on our #MauiTweetup hashtag on Twitter, and come say aloha!

And go see ‘Ulalena! Often. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.

More photos at Flickr ->