Celebrity is someone strongly recognized in society and culture in general. When Eric Meyer gets to that point of recognition, I’ll gladly retract my statement. Until then, he’s a high-profile, book writing, traveling….

web designer.

Thanks for the interview and link to the Boston Dynamics work — those are the most impressive robots I’ve ever seen.

His books and articles have always helped keep me standards focused.

Kudos to Envato for setting this up!

@James: Thanks.

@Todd – OMG Respect++

I attended AEA Boston and was impressed. All the speakers had my full attention and were excellent. I got to meet all of them and they were approachable, warm and friendly, and I wouldn’t say “celebrity” status, but they certainly are the creme of the crop in our industry.

@B: So how someone could consider AEA “didn’t think it was that great at all” should probably stay home next time and let someone who would love the chance to go have that seat, correct? I’d like to see you get up there and present something in front of a room packed with 500+ people. Please, I’d invite you to and I’ll even do it myself, even with a public speaking phobia.

“Eric’s speech was very dry and boring. He might have some good stuff to say, but the problem is he doesn’t communicate that well.”

I beg to differ. Like I said, let’s see you up there next year with a keynote presentation.

“I would say out of the 10 or so people that spoke only Andy Budd, Christopher Fahey and Jared Spool were good enough to stick around for. Back to Eric…if you’re reading this, please construct a more exciting presentation to keep us awake. You might have something good to say and I wouldn’t know it because I fell asleep.”

Then you wasted a seat.

“You’re an analytical guy talking to room full of graphic designers and maybe some full time coders.”

There were more than just designers and coders there, remember one of the speakers asking the room who did what? (Don’t remember exactly who, think it was J. Zeldman – correct me if I am wrong).”

“Improve your performance and tell the rest of the An Event Apart to shape up and I might be back next year.”

Do everyone a favor and stay home. Let someone who wants the seat have the seat and you can stay home and let your skills speak for themselves. Only if you had something to show the rest of us.

@ Terry Kent: “I disagree, a celebrity is a famous or well-known person with a high degree of public and media attention. In the industry, he’s a giant, sure. However I’m sure we could all contact him without scheduling an interview through a manager or publicist.”

Uh, so what do you call the author of a couple books and one who travels a lot doing public speaking engagements along with a high level of consulting gigs? Plus, not every “Hollywood celebrity” that you have your mind set on comparing this to has a publicist or manager. You’ve just contradicted yourself because Eric does indeed have a level of public and media attention.

“I enjoyed the interview, as he’s done brilliant work. I just don’t think we need to place him on a pedestal above everyone else.”

You, personally, do not have to. Others might. that’s the beauty of individualism, not everyone has to think like Terry Kent does, nor hold the same values and ideals on things such as Terry Kent.

Do I place him on a pedestal. Indeed I do. Why? Because his books and reading his website have helped me immensely with what I do and in my career. I was able to meet with and have the extreme privilege to talk to Eric at AEA in Boston and once the “hey, I’m talking to one of the people I admire in this industry” effect wore off, he, and every other speaker I mingled with (Jeffrey Zeldman, Andy Budd, Jeffrey Veen, Ethan Marcotte, Jason Santa Maria, etc.) was just like talking to a friend or an ordinary person like you or I. I still hold them above myself because of what they have taught me.

I like the interview, although short, but AEA SF is coming up, so I doubt he had time for anything more in-depth. Nice job, Jeffrey. Though I’d like to see a little less whining from those who have something to bitch about like semantics of who calls who what and how a person speaks while they’re sleeping through a presentation. If you’re going to whine, just don’t read it and skip commenting about it without showing the rest of us what you got to back up what you’re whining about (e.g.: a link to a site you have).

I’ll get off my soapbox now.