The BlogHim Boiz Choir
Is this really just another BlogHer 08 wrap up post?
Um…kinda.
I am not going to talk about the sessions (well, maybe one), or the parties (well, maybe one), but mostly about the one thing that always makes conferences successful or failures for me.
The people.
But, first let me go through the things that I really found interesting.
The first night of BlogHer, the keynote was a series of blog posts written by the authors live in front of 1,000 people.
Read that again.
Read live.
We bloggers, blog because we want to talk about deeply personal things, or our personal views on technology, business, health, sports or other categories, with the protection of the mythical "fourth wall" that allows us ot not have to discuss one-to-one the words we write.
For me, when somone tells me that they have read something I have written and it meant something to them (or made them laugh), it get very embarrassed. After all, its just me. Just some dude that lives in Boulder, CO. Thats it. Just some dude.
To see twenty men and women read their words, be they emotional or outraged or funny or thought provoking simply just blew me away. Completely.
I immediately had enormous respect for those 20 individuals, which is a memory that will stay with me, inspire me and drive me moving forward.
That night, hanging out with so many wonderful people (men and women), such as Rick Calvert, StephAgresta, Tara Hunt, Aaron Vest (YES! Mr. Queen of Spain!), Laura Fitton, Andrew Hyde and others at Lefty O’Douls talking about issues (some specifically women’s) and ending up at Tara’s house with six of us (2 women, 4 men) singing 80’s power ballads and forming the BlogHim Boiz Choir, is a memory that I will enjoy revisiting time and time again.
The next day, I attended a session that Erin “Queen of Spain” Kotecki Vest help facilitate and Lisa Stone moderated, that brought members of the Obama and McCain campaigns together to discuss each candidate’s view on women’s issues. The highlight of the session was running into Leslie Bradshaw, who I got to know in DC, and is quickly becoming my favorite person in DC (sorry Nick, Frank and others). She was on the tail end of a 3 events in 4 days trip with her good friend Jen Nedeau, who I also had the pleasure to meet. Seeing Erin so happy at the session going well, and seeing Leslie so happy to be in attendance just made it for me. Throw in Leslie’s excitement at meeting Erin, and my ability to make that happen, was just the cherry.
That night, I broke away from the BlogHer bunch, and went to Whitewalls, which is run by my friends Justin and Andreas. I was met there by Adam Glickfield (Shana Glickfield’s brother), who I have gotten to know, and after finding out he was an artist, introduced him to Justin and Andreas. (BTW, if you are looking for a good graphic artist in SF, here is his site. Really smart and great sensibilities. Of course, if you are looking for someone in DC, Jess3 and nclud are the best. Dammit, did I miss anyone? If I did, whatever.)
Heading back over to the BlogHer party at Macy’s, I got a text from Erin to meet her in the lobby of the hotel. Prior to leaving the BlogHer party, I ran into more people I knew from Twitter, such as Jenn Satterwhite. I even picked up a book and got it signed by a few friends.
When I got to the lobby bar, besides my new partner in crime, Aaron (yes, the infamous Mr. Queen of Spain) Pete Cashmore was there. I was disappointed he had yet to get a HamSwords tattoo, but I still have hope!
After the 8 billion photos of “Pete plus a lovely lady,” a group of us: Pete, Erin and Aaron, Nicole, Chris, Lisa, Rita, Maria, and Laura headed out looking for food. We ended up at Marrakesh, a Moroccan restaurant, where the drinks and food flowed freely, and dancing ensued.
After we were all partied out, we headed back to the hotel, and I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. (Another realization: The best part of being sober is the mornings!)
Got up the next morning, and headed to the airport.
So what did I learn?
I learned that I would be going to BlogHer 09.
- There are just too many of my (new and old) friends at the conference to skip it.
- There are people that are inspiring with their energy and drive, like Patricia Handschiegel and Melanie Notkin.
- There are people that I can learn from and provide information to (my couple of words in a session - GASP! yes a man spoke….)
- And dammit, its fun.
Plus, where else will the BlogHim Boiz Choir play?
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I still can't believe it took you guys nearly 1/2 an hour to get from one end of the hotel lobby where I left you after herding parts of your rebel party out of the elevator to the other. Especially as I had already been in the bar for 25 mins when you guys showed up over there. I suppose trying to get anywhere with Cashmore in a crowd of hundreds of women is rough! lol
Glad that you'll be there next year too.
i wouldn't miss it for the world.
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I also appreciate the JESS3 shout-out. Along with nclud (w00t, @MRinglein), we got DC covered :)
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be at all the next ones moving forward (albeit a bit grumpy, or else,
I would blow my cover!)
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listen to Journey again without smiling.
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