BlogHer - BlogHer '07 "Know Before You Go" - It's Okay If You're Small, New, Young, Old, Single, Childless... - Comments

Hey Deb...

lauriewrites — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:24:05 -0500

We just need to commandeer ourselves a "Welcome Corner" somewhere! If you want to coordinate tshirts let me know. : )

That's a Great Idea!!

debra roby — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:45:06 -0500

I may have to make myself a t-shirt that says that!

I seem to have left my awkward-shy self somewhere back in my 40s. I swear each day I open up more and more. Don't recognize myself sometime but I like it!!

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Sounds like there will be a

toledolefty — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:15:26 -0500

Sounds like there will be a lot of us first-timers traveling alone. So we'll just have to start chatting.

----
Jen
http://yawwblog.blogspot.com
http://angryfatgirlz.blogspot.com
http://toledolefty.blogspot.com

I'm A Newbie

Judi Freedman — Wed, 30 May 2007 18:51:19 -0500

So excited to be going to my first Blogher conference...the agenda sounds terrific...I'm a newbie blogger...a baby boomer mommy with grown kids...but now I have a new passion...and look forward to meeting others who share it...
you should have a special session for first time attendees...see you in Chicago

Judi
ayearto50.blogspot.com

Maybe the outgoing should wear "Talk to me!" buttons...

lauriewrites — Tue, 29 May 2007 20:10:56 -0500

so the shy and nervous can identify a safe person to talk to.

Perhaps we need a Lego corner like at South by Southwest? I know for me a glass of wine and some appetizers are the great equalizers, so definitely come stand by me. : )

lauriewrites

kperfetto: Yup, you have some time to decide

Elisa Camahort — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:11:15 -0500

So, keep thinking...we'll try to suck you in yet!

Elisa Camahort
BlogHer and Worker Bees
elisa@blogher.org/elisa@workerbees.biz

Go Exploring!

Creatively Belle — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:00:57 -0500

I think one of the best things about this conference sounds like it initially takes people out of their comfort zones (always a healthy thing) and they quickly meet other interesting people and get to have a fun time.

So if it spooks you, go!

Keep in mind, although we may all be precious souls none of us are so unique we are so different to everyone else. A conference like this brings people together who have similarities and you'll find new friendships. I'm sure you can make yourself known to the organizers at the conference and they'll introduce you to others.

I can't make the conference myself this year but the idea of having additional conferences in different locations is great and I'm sure the organizers will explore that.

So take a step of faith and go exploring at a conference of women with a similar interest!

Smiles
Belinda

Creatively Belle - Earring Holders and Jewelry Designs

The sign up deadline is July

kperfetto — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:33:23 -0500

The sign up deadline is July 20th, right? I'm not going to completely count myself out just yet. One thing I've got going for me: Chicago is in reasonable driving distance; no need for a flight. (Although with the price of gas I might as well fly.)

Five Dollar Camera

Hypnotizing Chickens

thx, Elisa

Mata H — Sun, 27 May 2007 01:07:36 -0500

Me too.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool

maybe next year

mia3mom — Sat, 26 May 2007 22:35:03 -0500

between finances and my ongoing health problems, it's a no go this year. I was so upset last year, and I'm still sad about it this year.

I'm hoping I can save up for next year - any chance it will be on the east coast?

Rachel - a Gaggle of girls and sites
blog, recipes, and book reviews

I am very shy in real life but am sooooo

Crunchy Carpets — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:15:04 -0500

Looking forward to the conference....
I figure it is a chance for me to push my social awkwardness and just plunge in and try to meet all the ladies I read online and make new contacts too...

Unless I am glued to the wall and stammering and yammering like a fool

Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com

All of the above were true

ByJane — Sat, 26 May 2007 13:23:51 -0500

All of the above were true of me last year when I signed up to go to BlogHer. But I made myself do it anyway, because I felt so alone as a blogger in my real world. I can't say it was always easy doing the social thing with huge groups of women, all of whom seemed to know one another since high school. But I made myself go up to people and by and large, everyone was friendly. It is worth the discomfort, however, in being with 700+ people who 'got me' and my passion for blogging. This year I know more people, so I'm hoping it will be easier. As Jenn says, we're all dorks, and this is the place we can let it hang out.

By Jane
ByJane.blogspot.com

MataH: Oh, no!

Elisa Camahort — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:38:10 -0500

I didn't know you weren't going to be able to come...now I'm sad :(

Elisa Camahort
BlogHer and Worker Bees
elisa@blogher.org/elisa@workerbees.biz

HeatherB: Ask me to tell you about the photos...

Elisa Camahort — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:36:58 -0500

HeatherB: When I see you at BlogHer I'm going to tell you, with big gestures and dramatic vocalization, about the photos I saw of a friend's childbirth that convinced me it (childbirth) is very very unnatural. LOL.

Nothing but respect for all of you who have done it!

Elisa Camahort
BlogHer and Worker Bees
elisa@blogher.org/elisa@workerbees.biz

I wanna

Mata H — Sat, 26 May 2007 00:22:57 -0500

I wanna be "time transcendent"!!!

But I am not going to be at BlogHer...sigh....so I'll have to be a time-transcendent-wanna-be-at-a-distance.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool

BlogHer '07 "Know Before You Go" - It's Okay If You're Small, New, Young, Old, Single, Childless...

KristySF — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:44:25 -0500

Perhaps this sounds familiar to you:

"Well, I would be going to BlogHer, but...

...my blog is too small."

...my blog doesn't fall into any one category."

...I'm not a mommyblogger."

...I don't really know anyone who'll be there."

Maybe you've said it, or thought it, or know someone who feels this way. I know there are still plenty of would-be attendees who are interested but unsure about signing up.

I know this, because last year I was one of them.

Like many of you, my blog simply chronicles my life's escapades. It's not any one "type" of blog. My readership is modest. And last summer, I honestly wasn't sure if it would be okay for me to attend a conference for "real" bloggers.

I worried that I didn't know enough about blogging or BlogHer to attend. I worried that my blog wasn't interesting or serious or well known enough. I worried that everyone would know each other, or that it would be hard to find someone to talk to. I worried that I would be older than everyone. I worried that I would be younger than everyone. Essentially, I worried that everyone would be a "certain way," and that I would find myself odd-woman-out for one reason or another.

But I signed up anyway.

Turns out, my worries were needless. I had underestimated how empowering it would feel to be surrounded by hundreds of women who also think blogging -- in whatever form, on whatever topic, for whatever reason -- is cool. Anywhere I went, I could engage in conversation about my "secret online passion" and not suffer the glazed-eyes or inevitable questions I get from non-bloggers. (You know the ones.)

In the end, I learned a ton, had a blast, and forged instant friendships all in a matter of hours. It was pretty awesome.

All this is to say that although this year I'm part of the BlogHer team who is planning the conference, I know first-hand how it feels to be undecided, and offer the following resources for those who are still on the fence:

Peruse the Day One and Day Two schedules to see what's in store. Stay tuned as speakers continue to be added to the list.
Read through the Frequently Asked Questions.
And don't forget to check out our http://www.blogher.com/forum ">Forums

. We've just added new ones, including one for those who will be single at the conference and are interested in meeting (and partying with) other singles! Check out the http://www.blogher.com/forum/blogher-conference/blogher-conference-07/07... ">Nightlife Forum for starters. We've also got a discussion started for conference new-comers http://www.blogher.com/forum/blogher-conference/blogher-conference-07/be... ">here.

If you're on the fence, I hope you'll consider joining us. Registration options are available here.