Notes For Blogher12
1. Friends are worth more than swag. I should spend more time with friends and less time with people trying to give me free stuff. People send free stuff to my door every week. Nobody ever puts any of these ladies in my mailbox. My heart hurts over how little time I spent with each of them (and others not pictured).
2. I’m not sure the full conference pass is worth the money for me anymore. I went to 2 sessions, one Friday and one Saturday. They were both lovely, but I’m not sure I learned anything I couldn’t have taken away from the live blogs posted after the conference. (Oh yeah, did you know those exist? ) I might do the Party/Expo pass next year, but still go to Pathfinder Day. THAT day was extremely valuable to me.
3. No more new shoes. Those glitter heels I HAD to have? Wore them all of 45 minutes before Miranda found me and gave me some AfterFlats. Die, glitter shoes, die. Related: Pack Bandaids.
4. Do not even bother with bringing the DSLR next year. I didn’t even have time to take pictures with my point & shoot, and barely with my iPhone. My Canon was just a burden the whole time.
5. The iPad, bluetooth Zagg keyboard combo was a total win. I’m so glad I didn’t lug my laptop there with me.
6. Pack protein bars… and a steak… or 2 (because BethAnne will love me forever if I share with her).
7. Bring a water bottle because, apparently, it’s not a sure thing that you’ll receive 3 of them upon checkin, unless next year is the year of the water bottle again…. since it’s in NYC, again.
8. Bring major zit fighting cream. Not because I broke out this year (San Diego was nice to me like that), but because I had a zit that was trying to see the Statue of Liberty from my chin all last year (in NYC, it was mean to me like that).
9. Smile, breathe, smile, be nice, breathe, smile.
10. Print blog logo alongside Twitter avatar to stick on my name badge so people aren’t all, “Baby Raaaaaabies??? That sounds…. familiar.” (I think people would recognize others and be recognized much more if everyone walked around with pictures of their Twitter avatars over their faces.)
That’s it. I’m done. Now I’ll shut up about Blogher.
Until next year.
Wait, one more thing. Don’t forget to enter the $500 prize pack giveaway from BornFree, my Blogher conference sponsor. It’s open to US and Canada residents, doesn’t matter if you went to Blogher or not, they’re drawing a winner August 22nd.
- 6Shares
29 comments
Don’t shut up! I love reading BlogHer posts. Especially from people I love 😉
My friends were talking about for-going the Full pass next year too… I didn’t make any sessions this year but I totally regret it. I’m going through a session I was dying to do right now online, and I just feel like there were some things I could have gotten out of it in real life… But then it would have taken away from my friends, like you said. It’s really hard! LOL. And aren’t the meals not included in the expo/party pass? Because I lovedddd some “free” food. Although every party had food.
SOrry I am like purging all over your comments!!!!! Anyways, I loved meeting you! It was a highlight of my weekend! I was so scared to say something but I finally just grew my balls and came over and said hi, I mean yelled “BABY RABIES!!!!!!” hehe
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
For me, all the sessions I really wanted to attend happened at the same time! It’s so hard to tell. My fav. food all week was the snack break by Dove with all the dried fruit dipped in chocolate. NOM. I don’t know if that’s included in the party/expo pass. I’m betting not.
I’m so glad you introduced yourself! You didn’t look much like your avatar (see suggestion 10), I think it’s the hair 🙂 I wish we could have hung out more. It looks like you were with my roomie Suzanne quite a bit. Hopefully next year.
Yeah the night before I thought “I need to print out my avatar to put in my badge” but was way too tired once I finished packing and last minute shopping at Target. Also next year instead of my name I’m just going to put @KatiesPickles. My twitter name and blog name were way tooooo tiny for ANYONE to see!
I made myself go to a lot of sessions, but like you, most of them didn’t teach me anything. The time I spent talking to people did. My goodness did I have fun though! I wish we had met. We didn’t, did we?
Hmmm…. not that I recall 🙁 I felt the same way this year. I made great connections there. It was a very valuable experience for me, just not much of the value came from the actual sessions *for me.* Like I said, though, Pathfinder Day was awesome and I’ll definitely attend again next year. It’s much more intimate.
I fell twice in those glitter heels. Still glad I bought them though. I just like to look at them. From afar while nursing my poor aching feet.
I’m glad I have them now. They’ll be my once-a-year-for-Blogher shoes.
I’m digging your BlogHer posts, but then, I’m a nerd like that and totally excited to go next year 🙂
I was wondering about the DSLR thing … and I think from everything that I’ve read/heard I will leave at home too, or maybe just take it for the 5 min. I’m going to take to do some sight-seeing? And yes, will totally be stealing someone’s iPad to bring with me.
I forget if you’ve been to NYC or not. If not, and you are planning actual time (like a day) beyond the conference to go sight seeing, then it would be cool to have it with you. Beyond that, I’m not sure you’ll have much time to see the sights.
Even though I BARELY used my DSLR, I’m going to bring it again ti NYC for sight-seeing pics and maybe a few photos with my friends. But I will NOT be dragging it to parties and sessions again, no way no how.
Interestingly enough, I look JUST like my Twitter avatar. So people recognized me all weekend.
Okay, maybe carrying around that large ass bag with my blog logo on it helped.
I saw you in passing a few times, but never actually stopped and said hi. So, a week later…hi. 🙂
Hi! 🙂
The conference in 2012 is so close to me, I could drive.
Am uber tempted.
Thank you for the amazing posts about it. 🙂
You should! I really don’t think you’ll regret it.
I have been debating between getting a full pass and just an expo/party pass next year. From what people said of the 1st NYC BlogHer, it was crazy busy because parties were literally all over the city and no one had time for sessions. That and the parties were super hard to get into.
Either way, I am so pumped for BlogHer next year. I can’t let the opportunity pass me by again!
From what I read on other blogs, the party pass does not include any meals and food in NYC is expensive. I think the difference in cost is only $100 between the two and in 3 days, 3 meals will cost you more than $100 so I think the full pass MIGHT be the way to go. Not sure though…
That is a VERY good point!
If I’m lucky enough to get an ipad I will definitely be investing in that keyboard you had. That was a sweet set up. I am so tired of being tied to my desktop in one spot. I need to move around!
Good point about the full-pass. I didn’t go to many sessions at all. Obviously there were extenuating circumstances in my case. But if I ever end up going back it is something to think about.
Way overpacked. Didn’t take a single photo with my DSLR. So yeah, agree with those things.
I like this version a LOT. It’s soft and actually makes my ipad incognito, which I appreciate when I’m just carrying it around.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/e65a/
I’d been wondering if the cost of the pass was worth it, since it seems like a lot of post-blogHer posts are about all the other things that go on, and some didn’t go to any sessions at all. I’m glad they have the option to just do the fun things. You can even by a one-day badge from what I saw. Hooray options!
Thank you for this post. Next year will be my first time attending BlogHer and I’m very excited and this post was very helpful. I do look forward to meeting some awesome bloggers that I follow and tweet with on a daily basis and I now know to leave the pumps and heels at home and sick to flip flops and flats. I’m all about comfort! 🙂
Very helpful post and I entered your giveaway. My sister just let us know she is pregnant and that would be an awesome “Starter” gift for her!
Definitely number 10! I think I would’ve gotten fewer blank stares from people I follow on Twitter and have interacted with regularly if I’d had my avatar somewhere on my badge.
Just a hint on cameras….I hear the Canon Powershot S95 & the Four-thirds cameras are GREAT cameras to take to things like this. Picture quality is amazing for a point & shoot…and without all the bulk 🙂
It was so great to meet you! BH was a blast it is just OVER way too fast. I need a full week with my “computer” friends!
At first, I was upset that I didn’t have the kind of party invites that a lot of others had, but ya know what? I LOVED the down time! It was so nice to walk to World Market and buy more wine. Or chill in the hotel room around dinner time and drink/relax/laugh/listen to music/call the fam. A lot of newbie’s are saying that they want to go to more parties next year b/c they felt left out, but I seriously don’t think I will. I loved hanging with my new friends and I think I got way more out of that then I would have at any party!
And? I totally love your BlogHer posts chica! I plan to do one more post about the sessions/what I’ve learned then I’ll bag it up until next year. And I BETTER NOT be pregnant for it! 😉
Lovely meeting you, sweets!
I owe you wine next year! So yeah, don’t you go getting pregnant… or do it fast! And then have a wee one with you next year.
It was so nice to meet you Jill! Also loving your BlogHer recaps! I’m glad I brought my DSLR but it did definitely get heavy. If I’d had a good point & shoot, I think they would be the way to go. I also wish I’d brought a water bottle & will remember that for next conference!
You, too!
I only made it to two sessions and breakfast & lunch for one day. I still think I’m going to get the full pass for next year though. Then I don’t have to worry about finding some food. It’s just easier that way.
I thought the sessions that I went to this year were good, for me. I’ve only been blogging for 1 1/2 years so I still have lots to learn.