I can’t believe it is the Wednesday after the conference already. I can’t believe I made it, survived and had fun…and now it’s back to reality. Diego is shrieking in the background and the house is the usual mess. Home sweet home.
I love reading post conference wrap ups and analysis, even when I haven’t attended the event. I find it so interesting to see what people did and did not get out of being there. It shows us that conferences can’t be all to everyone and how just being who we are totally shapes and influences our opinion of an event.
When I went to BlogHer ’08, I was probably not in the best shape to attend such a large conference and went with very little preparation and no idea on what to expect. I was immediately overwhelmed by the social aspect of it. The parties and mixing and chatter was too much for my little brain to take in. I loved the sessions. I loved the smaller sessions where we could all chat. The rest made me feel tiny and insignificant.
Blissdom Canada sounded my like my cup of tea. CANADIAN and smaller. I did not attend last year so I don’t have anything to compare it too, but this event was low key and much more relaxing….for me.
Of course walking into the CBC Atrium after staggering off the plane almost sent me crawling into my room with the overwhelm. Red Carpets, photographers and CBC ‘celebs’ mixing it up with a crowd of glamorous bloggers who all seemed to know and recognize each other. I would not have survived without my awesome wingman.
I went to bed that night filled with trepidation that I would NOT enjoy the rest of the conference. I was wrong. I woke up and after a good breakfast – thanks to the sponsors – was ready for the sessions. The tribe mixer was a great way to start out and say hi to familiar faces. It was a fun and too brief way to get chatting about issues that concerned us as bloggers and social media freaks.
I think what has upset people a bit about the conference was how it was split into blogging as business and blogging as art tracks. Bloggers tend to feel uneasy about the monetization of their ‘art.’ Be it through advertising or working with sponsors. Review bloggers tend to be frowned upon by some. Those of us who do a bit of both can be looked upon as sellouts and worse. The split didn’t bother me as I understand the enormity of trying to please all. This seemed to be a fair balance.
Me being verrrrry sewious
Credit CLBuchananPhotography.ca
I didn’t get to meet as many bloggers and tweeters I had thought I might…but was okay with it this time. I enjoyed the time I did spend chatting including a lovely dinner put on by UsedEverywhere. For someone who doesn’t get to talk to adults much in real live. It was luxurious to linger over a nice dinner with intelligent and lively company.
I enjoyed the sessions. I enjoyed the mini tradeshow/sponsor displays. The people manning them were polite and friendly and it was great to meet some of the PR people I already work with. You can’t have a conference without sponsors these days. Sponsors know that too. They also know that they don’t have to be overbearing or controlling to be a good fit for a conference.
I went wearing two hats to Blissdom. My Crunchy Blogger hat and my SAHMedia hat. I found that listening from both perspectives gave many ideas and thoughts on how to focus not only blogging and social media as business but creatively. I think that no matter – art or commerce – the message was the same: Be yourself. Be true to your gut. Don’t force it. Enjoy it.
I was too self conscious to go all out on the Halloween/Karaoke night. But I enjoyed it just the same. Though again, I would not have if it hadn’t been for Marilyn and the other west coast friends there. But I did enjoy singing along to the brave ladies who graced the stage..and of course, Jordan Knight.
Twas a great conference. It really was. I particularly enjoyed the split of business and writing myself. Now to plan out how I will manage to afford next year.
Loved your blog post. I hadn’t really realized that there were concerns about the two streams. This is my 4th Social Media/tech conference in one year so I would not have expected otherwise.
Next year, make sure to find me. I would love to get to know one more blogger better.
I loved Blissdom!
I truly say that was a great conference. It truly was and I particularly enjoyed the split of economic and writing myself. Thanks for sharing this stuffs.
Great post. Sounds like you a great time.
Sounded really great to me. Love that there was room to “explore ideas” but monetization/business is an important component of blogging for women.
The conference sounds amazing. I like the picture of you eating corn flakes. I am glad you had an amazing time and learned a lot from the experience. I wouldn’t dare sing on the stage as well.