Top conferences coming right up

I have such an insane couple of weeks coming up that I need to blog it just to remember where I’ll be. (Here is the full calendar of 2009 tech and social media conferences.)

But these are among the best of the year, right at our doorstep: NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology conference, NewComm Forum, Inbound Marketing Summit, SOBCon, Digital Hollywood and EconSM. (They’re pricey, but I also know how much it costs to put on a decent conference.) If you’re planning to attend and want to meet up, direct-message me on Twitter.

NTC

What: Nonprofit Technology conference
When: April 26-27-28
Where: Hilton, 333 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
Cost: $549 for members, $749 for non-members (disclosure: I have a press pass)
Details: http://nten.org/ntc and Agenda
Am I speaking? No
Live coverage is here.

Comment: I’m looking forward to attending NTC this year after spending the last few months working on an initiative to help nonprofits and social change organizations. (An announcement is coming soon.) A highlight includes Clay Shirky at 8:30 am Monday.

NewComm Forum

What: Social marketing, journalism, tech innovation and much more.
When: April 27-28-29
Where: Marriott, 55 Fourth St., San Francisco
Cost: $395 one-day rate. NewComm Forum + Inbound Marketing Summit – $1,095 (save $200 off regular price with discount code NCFCOMBO2)
Details: Program overview and Agenda

Comment: I’m a founding senior fellow with the Society for New Communications Research, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) global think tank dedicated to the advanced study of new communications tools, technologies and emerging modes of communication, and their effect on traditional media, professional communications, business, culture and society. SNCR puts on NewComm twice a year, one on each coast.

This year’s program is probably the best ever, with leading experts guiding discussions on topics such as social media and innovation, new communications strategies, social media metrics and the growing impact of social media and connective technologies on business and the economy. Some of those on hand include Chris Brogan, Jeremiah Owyang, Laura Fitton, Brian Solis, Katie Paine, Adrian Chan, Tom Abate, Shel Holtz, Shel Israel, Charlene Li and lots of other smart folks.

I’ll be on two panels:

• World Without Media: What Will Fill The Void?
Tuesday, 4-5:15 pm
Paul Gillin and JD Lasica

• Things That Go Bump In the Night
Wednesday, 8:30-10 am
Joseph Thornley, J.D. Lasica, Jeremiah Owyang, Forrester and Amy Muller, co-founder of GetSatisfaction

Inbound Marketing Summit

What: Social marketing conference from Chris Brogan, Paul Gillin and team.
When: April 28-29
Where: Marriott, 55 Fourth St., San Francisco
Cost: $695
Details: Website and Agenda

Comment: The Inbound Marketing Summit is taking it on the road this year to SF, Dallas and Boston. Among the speakers on tap are Tim Ferriss, Jason Falls, Brian Solis, Tim O’Reilly, Loic LeMeur and more.

SOBCon

What: Also one of the year’s best social media marketing conferences. “Biz School For Bloggers.”
When: May 1-2-3
Where: Chicago
Cost: $795 for conference, $50 for Sunday Sponsors Challenge & Breakfast
Details: Website info

Comment: I’ve heard very good things about the inaugural event last May, from Chris Brogan, among others, so decided to fly out for this gathering of top social marketing strategists. The conference promises “25 Expert Speakers, 5 Mastermind Workshops, and a Show the Sponsors Challenge.”

Digital Hollywood

What: the premier entertainment and technology conference in the country
When: May 4-7
Where: Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
Cost: $785 for all-event registration with discounts for startups and the underemployed
Details: Website info and Agenda

Comment: The venerable Digital Hollywood has become the place where tech meets entertainment. I’ll be speaking on this panel:

Personalized Media Platforms – News, Widgets, Feeds, Music & Blogs
May 4 (Monday), 3:45-5 pm
Panelists: Caroline Marks, General Manager, The Daily Beast; Chris Tolles, CEO, Topix; Richard Jalichandra, CEO, Technorati; Benjamin Chen, Chairman and CEO, Mochila;
JD Lasica, founder, Socialmedia.biz and Socialbrite.org; Dan Hart, General Manager, MTV Digital; Bernard Gershon, President, Gershon Media Strategies, Moderator.

EconSM

What: Social Meets Mobile, presented by Content Next
When: May 14
Where: The beautiful Mission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco
Cost: $450
Details: Website info and Agenda

Comment: EconSM has been quietly establishing itself in the space over the past couple of years, and this year’s event brings in speakers like Jonathon Linner, CEO of Brightkite, Seth Sternberg, CEO of Meebo, and Marc Davis | Chief Scientist and VP of Early Stage Products, Yahoo Mobile. (I’ll be in New York so can’t attend.)

JD Lasica, founder of Inside Social Media, is also a fiction author and the co-founder of the cruise discovery engine Cruiseable. See his About page, contact JD or follow him on Twitter.