Damien Basile is a social media force to be reckoned with, a man about town, a community builder, an early adopter, a wonderful human being and a friend and mentor. He recently sat down with me for an interview. You can and probably are already following him on Twitter @db. He also blogs at Cause Is the Habit and about branding on Posterous.

ZAC: Damien, thanks for taking the time to sit down for an interview, considering you might be one of the busiest cats in New York City. And in fact, that leads me to my 1st question, Why are you so busy?

Damien:  Being not busy is boring. Solving problems and connecting people makes me happy so having downtime doesn’t really work for either.

ZAC: Where are you from? And Where do you live now?

Damien: I grew up in Staten Island, lived in San Diego, Brooklyn and now live in the West Village in NYC but that’s a boring-ass question. How about where am I going or where have I been? I’ve been to London, Paris and Barcelona and definitely want to live in Europe at some point.

ZAC: How long have you been engaging social media? When did you start blogging? Twittering?

Damien: Social media as a moniker is bullshit. Media has been social since the internet started – AOL chatrooms, bulletin boards, ICQ etc etc. If you take that into account then 1994. I started twittering August 2008 and started blogging November 2008. Just remember, it’s not about quantity it’s about quality.

ZAC: What exactly do you do?

Damien: See question 1, but mainly communications strategy. I used to do design, got into branding then here I am. It’s all a natural evolution of my interests-at-large. On a different note, there’s an app in the works.

Digital Something

ZAC: Is social media a truly revolutionary force in our society, or is it just a bunch of BS and a passing fad?

Damien: See question 3, but ‘Social Media as God’ is BS and will go away. It’s the mass adoption curve. Once a majority of society gets used to interacting on social networks then and only then will social media fade away to become a part of the fabric of services we use online and offline. All media will eventually be inherently social.

ZAC: What is the greatest aspect of the rise of social media? And any negatives that you can think of?

Damien:  An amazing thing that the latest iteration of social media has done is to give people direct access to companies in a way that hasn’t been seen before. Companies realize that people are talking about them online. Social media is traditional word of mouth on steroids. The negatives come into play when companies go way too far and become all about social media to the detriment of their business and traditional customer service. If you’re a company and all you’re doing is sharing on social networks then clearly you’re doing it wrong. Social media is a part of a larger game plan. While it might be the shiny new toy right now just remember that it’s like the sun – focus on it too much without the proper tools and you’ll go blind. A huge issue comes into play when companies just socialwash – think greenwashing but for social media. You’ll be seeing a larger backlash against social media for social media’s sake as companies rush to legitimatize themselves in the space.

ZAC: How was not sleeping during social media week?

Damien:  There’s only two non-stop weeks in NYC for me: Social Media Week and Internet Week. I make sure I’m available. This year it was a little busier as it was the first time I planned and threw a VIP event (Digital Somethings) and partnered with Obliterati for a much larger public event. The real business is done at the events when you get to get social with the people you want to do business with. Panels are great but mixers are better for that.

ZAC: Do you love me?

Damien: Like a red-headed stepchild. Of course. ;D

ZAC: You and I both talk and write a lot about community, what is happening to the social media community these days? Do you find there to be more coalescence? More friendships made, business conducted? Or are we all just looking for free booze and swag?

Damien: Yes. But more specifically social media is at it’s most social when you take it offline to solidify relationships you’ve made online and vice versa. Friendships and business deals can only go so far online. You really need to interact offline in order to get the full breadth and depth of someone’s personality. Everyone is a part of a community. The question is how big a part of it are you? Myself? I like to be a super-connector introducing people I know to each other often in a timely and relevant way. Nothing is more boring than just taking all the time. I don’t ever want anything out of anyone specifically when connecting people. It makes me happy just to make my community that much more connected. If something great comes out it then great. If something great comes out of it for me then even better – an added bonus.

10. I know you are a big proponent of Foursquare, can you talk a little bit about them as well as any other subjects that really interest you?

Damien: Foursquare is brilliant because it’s literally changed the way I make plans and go out. My friendships have been changed according to who is nearby or at an interesting place or with someone else I know. It’s been so invaluable to me that I’ve moved my iPhone phone app off of the bottom dock in place of the Foursquare app.

Nonprofits have a tremendous opportunity with social media because it connects them to a large amount of people in a real targeted way. Whereas nonprofits used to beg for money more or less, they can now connect with passionate evangelists who will help them amplify their message without seeming pushy.

The hospitality and food industry are slow to pick up social media efforts in general but people like you are helping them get there. The one thing they need to remember is that their industries are INHERENTLY social. Forget broadcasting on social networks. Remember what your job is all about; it’s about the customer. Create an in depth relationship with them offline and continue it online in a relevant way, then get them to become an evangelist of you by ingratiating them to your services. As a company you want to be their expert best friend. There will be things that you two can share in a friendly way but you want to set yourself up as THE go-to place for whatever your area is.

The tools of social media have made me so much smarter over these past few months. I’ve been exposed to such a wide variety of thought, opinion, advice that it often makes me wonder how dumb I must have been without it. To that end, I thought I would start a regular feature whereby I talk about the people who are influencing me. Consider this list a quick scan backwards over the past few months as I’ve started my business. These are the guys who have taught me.  The truth is I am influenced by a lot of people, and who is influencing often changes over the course of a few weeks or months, so expect a regular update on my influences. (The ranking of the names below is arbitrary). So as I recently pass the 20k Tweet mark, I thought I would share my top 5 influences.

My Top 5 Influences

Umair Haque

1. Umair Haque: Impetuous Prodigy

Umair Haque is a genius. Yes, a genius. I first found Umair when I stumbled across a blog post he wrote entitled “The Generation M Manifesto.” This is how that piece opens:

Dear Old People Who Run the World,

My generation would like to break up with you.

Everyday, I see a widening gap in how you and we understand the world — and what we want from it. I think we have irreconcilable differences.

You wanted big, fat, lazy “business.” We want small, responsive, micro-scale commerce.

You turned politics into a dirty word. We want authentic, deep democracy — everywhere.

Not only do I enjoy Umair’s writing style, I love the tone with which he pens his posts, as much as I like the general posture. Imagine an arrogant teenager, constantly at odds with his parents, who thinks he knows more than they do. Except, in Umair’s case, he does. A lot more. I haven’t missed a single piece he’s written since the July day that he published the Generation M Manifesto. And I find Umair’s philosophy and general contrarian line of thinking bleeding more and more into my own. It is easy to be influenced by Umair Haque and I am happy to be influenced by him.

With titles like “The Builders Manifesto” (where Umair attacks our misconceptions on leadership) to “Google, China, and the New High Ground of Advantage” (a treatise on the triumph of corporate ethics over blind profit potential) Umair is quickly building an impressive oeuvre of work. There is no single author whose work I look forward to reading more.

To find Umair’s blog posts, go here. His Twitter account is here

Scobleizer

2. Robert Scoble: Blogger, Techie, Real-Time Connoisseur

The unofficial Godfather of the 2010 Web, Robert is an ex-Microsoft employee who gained notoriety blogging, often critically, about Microsoft, well before I had ever even heard of Twitter. For me, Robert is a sort of model. The manner in which Robert uses, analyzes, criticizes and evangelizes on behalf of social media is something that has had a profound effect on me. Robert is first to post a highly subjective opinion on all manner of features, technologies and tweaks. He’s wrong a lot, but right even more. And beyond that, he’s not afraid to be wrong and is happy to let the community let him know. He is nothing if not available, authentic and transparent. He seemingly tries every new service that comes down the pike so that he can evaluate it, and see if it holds any value for the larger community.

Some find him corny, but I think the guy is a total sweetheart and one of the more earnest people you’ll find. Robert is a brilliant thinker, and his experience in the technology community is extremely valuable to insiders, as well as those not directly involved in the Silicon Valley/ Alley nexus.  He knows this, but would never tell you, instead deciding to share nearly every thing that goes into his brain, his camera, his iPhone, his Droid, Nexus One.

To find Robert’s blog posts, go here. His Twitter account is here

Jay Rosen

3. Jay Rosen: Press Critic and New Journalism Pioneer

Jay Rosen is a professor of journalism at NYU. He’s doing great things there, but Jay’s value to me is as a vociferous, unabashed critic of the profession of journalism. The media companies, the journalists, editors, management. It’s kind of amazing to witness how many people still don’t “get it,” and have dug in their heels holding onto business models and beliefs that are clearly outmoded. Everyone and anyone who exemplifies tired, 20th century thinking or behavior will eventually be found out by Jay. And he’ll share his thoughts honestly and authentically on Twitter. The guy can be caustic, but that is only because he cares deeply about journalism, about the power and importance of reportage to a democracy. If he’s being caustic its because he is offended by something someone is doing. He’s not a curmudgeon, yet.

As someone who is interested in the future of journalism, I am constantly on the lookout for experiments in media. Jay is a fantastic curator of developments and a supporter of many of the new projects now being attempted. As a content creator and writer myself, I am eager to find solutions to the problem of “how to get paid for content.” It’s an existential question for the media business. And Jay is my Sartre. Or Camus. Whatever, you get the point.

To find Jay’s Twitter account, go here

David Armano

4. David Armano: Agency Rockstar

@Armano is a SVP at Edelman Digital and is kind of a rock star of the agency world I suppose. I mean, he’ll deny it, but the guy is from Long Island and wears cowboy hats! I don’t know the agency world very well, but have been impressed by several firms’ efforts of late playing catch up in social media marketing. I have no doubt that agencies like Edelman, among others, will be involved in pace-setting creative projects. The simple fact is they can do more than independent consultants and smaller firms. There was one short blog post on 2010 predictions that Armano wrote, the counter intuitive style of which immediately grabbed me:

1. Social media begins to look less social
With groups, lists and niche networks becoming more popular, networks could begin to feel more “exclusive.” Not everyone can fit on someone’s newly created Twitter list and as networks begin to fill with noise, it’s likely that user behavior such as “hiding” the hyperactive updaters that appear in your Facebook news feed may become more common. Perhaps it’s not actually less social, but it might seem that way as we all come to terms with getting value out of our networks — while filtering out the clutter.

I am not even sure I agree with the above sentiment, but when I read it I knew I was reading someone who was willing to push back against mainstream thought. From this post on, I’ve been hungrily reading up on Armano’s presentations, videos and carefully tracking his Twitter stream. I do enjoy the way Armano blends the personal and the professional. I think it speaks more naturally to the way we work these days. Personally, my personal and professional lives are almost entirely blended, with almost no indication of where one ends and the other begins. I designed it this way. It is how I am able to stay creative.

I also put Armano here for one last reason. David made a highly public move from the Dachis group to Edelman Digital, a far larger player in that industry. It seems going to Dachis was an bit of an experiment for David, and must have been difficult for him to leave a project for which he had such high hopes.

But, his blog post on the subject was a tad opaque and, as someone who had come to trust and rely on David as an evangelist for authenticity and transparency, elements that I though were implied in his professional writings, I was let down by his statement. Balancing the line between authenticity, honesty and professionalism is a tough one for sure. That being said, I know Armano is going to be kicking some serious butt at Edelman, and because they have offices in New York, I may even have to stalk him on Foursquare so that I can meet him one of these days.

You can follow David Armano on Twitter, here

Dennis Crowley

5. Dennis Crowley: Bringing the Fun

What can I say about Dennis Crowley and the team he works with over at Foursquare. Man, those guys are rocking it. In fact, so much that I’ve written more than a few stories on Foursquare. So yeah, I’m basically sold on Foursquare changing the world of marketing for the better. But the reason Dennis (and his awesome team, guys like Naveen and Tristan Walker, among others) is on this list is because its clear these guys are just having so much fun doing what they are doing. When you combine that fact with the potential ubiquity of Foursquare services across all of our offline activities it makes for a potent mix.

That being said, I don’t know Dennis. Don’t know his blogging voice like the other people on this list and really the only connection I have to him is following his Twitter stream and little nuggets I pick up from friends of friends who know him. But through Twitter I do have a sense of his humor and more than that a sense of how excited he is, for himself, for his good friends and colleagues and, really, for the rest of us. At the end of the day, Dennis is going to make a lot of money with Foursquare and yet he’s doing something great for the world. Is he solving cancer? No, but he is bringing people together. He IS recreating the best elements of living in small town. We see people we know more often. We know what they like, where they go. The recommendation engine built directly into Foursquare is fantastic and will only get better. And he’s been a tremendous influence on me over these past few months.

You can follow Dennis on Twitter, here. If you don’t yet know what Foursquare is, then congrats on waking up from your coma. Image Source: Slavin FPO on Flickr