My head is still swirling in BlogHer fog, but my spirit is bursting with enthusiasm. I went to BlogHer nervous, scared and not knowing what to expect. An event of 4,000+ is really not my cup of tea.
But some amazing things happened that changed how I see myself.
I’m a big girl now.
The fact I had to fly to Chicago, all by my lonesome, was kind of a big deal.The coolest thing was getting on the plane, dressed in my little button-down blouse and cardigan, my hair pulled back, with my small black carry-on when the steward immediately said, “You must be traveling for business.” That’s right, I was mistaken for a lady executive. And I actually started believing it too. It felt awesome!
When I checked into the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, I dutifully took the first room they offered. The room was dark, worn, and lifeless with nary a view and I thought they must have given me the worst room in the hotel. I reminded myself not to be such a diva, I’ll only be in there to change and sleep, so I began to unpack. With every passing minute I realized this room was seriously depressing and not the place I wanted to rest my weary head or steal a few moments of peace after experiencing the conference frenzy all day. Diva won.
I made my way back to the registration desk and begged in my sweetest, most desperate voice, “That surely with such a lovely lobby, they must have some newly refurbished rooms, and perhaps they would be so kind as to let me switch to one since mine is kind of sad looking?”
Within seconds, the lovely woman behind the desk produced me with a new set of keys to my shiny new room with a gorgeous view of the city and Lake Michigan peeking through the buildings. I practically bear hugged her. Usually, my husband handles all the check-in details with great glee, so I felt tremendous pride in fixing this myself. (You’re now just realizing I live in a little bubble, right?!)
I love my fluffy bed. Thanks Sheraton.
After settling into my lovely room and unpacking yet again, I proceeded to walk to the nearest Starbucks and felt my wings of independence puffing up. Sometimes just stepping out of your comfort zone into the big world is the best shot of confidence and inspiration you can give yourself. I highly recommend it.
The view from my window. Hello Chicago!
What I learned at BlogHer:
Aside from the some of the amazing sessions where I learned about humor writing, newspaper syndication, and midlife blogging, theses are what stood out most.
1) Taking not one, but two cell phone battery chargers was a stroke of genius.
2) The best action was in the bar or small, intimate meals, where you could actually have a meaningful conversation and get to know someone. I developed friendships and made more contacts than at any of the large parties.
3) That we’re all in the same boat: Everyone gets writer’s block sometimes, humor writers worry if they’re pieces are funny enough, if at all, and that many of our husbands think we spend too much time in front of the computer.
4) All the time spent fretting over what to wear really didn’t matter. The full spectrum of fashion was represented and it didn’t matter one bit. I know it sounds corny, but your smile is your best accessory.
5) I wish I would have taken more photos of all the lovely women I was lucky to spend time with. I miss their smiling faces and cherish the time we were together.
6) Pace yourself. If you’re anything like me, you might need some downtime between the day’s activities and evening’s events.
This is what I schlepped in my purse just in case you’re wondering what you might need:
The essentials…
What to bring:
Cellphone and charger or battery pack, iPad or laptop with charger, business cards (I brought 250 as many suggested, though I still have plenty left over), pen, a Sharpie for writing on business cards, notepad, reading glasses, snacks, water, and lipstick.
What to wear:
During the day I wore nice jeans, a cute top, a sweater (the A/C is usually blasting), and comfortable flats (you’re on your feet a lot and might be walking long distances). (FYI, you’ll see everything from yoga pants to summer dresses.) For night, if there was time to change, I’d slip into a wrap dress, a sweater, and wedge sandals. Main thing is wear something you that makes you feel good and that you’re comfortable in.
Hope to see you in New York for #BlogHer15!
I’m sad I didn’t get to meet you! Although I took the advice of many previous attenders as far as battery chargers, comfy shoes, business cards, etc; I failed to write down specifically who all I wanted to meet! Next time!
I learned that there are other teeny tiny little bloggers like me! I guess everyone had to start at one time or another :)!
I LOVED meeting you, Linda. You are one of my favorite people ever.
We met … we met … it was like real life swag. Heart you even more now, and who knew that was possible!
Love to see what it meant to you beyond just the actual conference. Really inspiring.
Thanks, Helene! The feeling is mutual! xoxo
Linda, Did you ever see that movie Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion? When they go into the diner and say they’re business women and get the business lunch? That’s what I felt like. I’m so glad we met IRL and hope we’ll be business women again at BlogHer14!!
Dang Linda, why didn’t you tell me about the room? Julie and my room over looked the construction site. I mean we flashed the guys every morning but we would have preferred a better view. And here we had breakfast lunch and dinner and did you mention once how beautiful your room was or the view???? No! Instead you were the sweetest most fun person to be with. So I guess I’ll give you a pass on that one. Loved getting to know you and look forward to lots more fun. I will never take a room again with the view of a construction site.
Darn – I wish someone would’ve mistaken me for a lady exec on the plane! Maybe next time I won’t wear my yoga pants and tank top that says “Geek” across the front.
I’m glad your BlogHer experience was good. Mine was the best BlogHer experience yet, and it was my third. I don’t think it was because of the programming – I think it took me a couple years to kind of tackle being social and open up to making real connections that don’t come through my computer screen. 🙂
Hi Linda,
Loved this post. I so enjoyed meeting you, hopping in cabs together and scarfing down burgers and other delicacies at parties. You are a breath of fresh air in a sometimes smoke-laden world.
Estelle
Linda, it was so great to spend time with you at yet another conference — I love that you switched rooms (didn’t that happen last time, too?!) and that you are now a pro 🙂 Can’t wait to see you again soon, and know that you will be leading a session of your own soon enough. xoxo
I learned that it’s easy to spot a beautiful woman when she’s wearing a red sweater tied around her neck.
I think I booked a deluxe room since it was the same price, we had a great view of the lake. NEVER be afraid to ask for a better room! I’m glad you got a better one :). Their beds were awesome, too!
I learned that I’ve come a llloonnggg way, baby, but I still have a ways to go, too. I need to reach out more and be better prepared with contact numbers in advance, and NOT be afraid to hang around after sessions and stick out my hand. I would have met all of you IN the midlife session had I not scurried away like a frightened kitten. Next year is sure to be a whole different BlogHer for me, and I cannot WAIT!
I learned that a woman named Linda, who said she was an introvert, was the sweetest, kindest and most adorable girl ever. I learned that without our husbands taking care of everything we can either be amazingly scared or surprisingly competent. You and I chose the latter. I loved spending time with you, Linda, and I look forward to keeping in touch and seeing you at another event. Toot, toot! Look out for the Carpool Goddess – NOT a diva.
We met… we met… it was like real life swag. Heart you even more now, and who knew that was possible!
I learned that all the women I know online that I met there in person are far more fabulous, generous, welcoming, warm and kind than I ever expected, and it is THEM that made the conference for me. You, my friend, truly are a big girl now! I’m proud of you for getting the room you deserved. Empowerment comes in so many different ways, and you seem to have raised the bar for yourself. I can’t wait to see what comes next for you, I can’t wait to see you again (and hopefully have more one-on-one time with you)!
Hi Linda,
To me, BlogHer is all about empowerment and you seemed to have found yours, congrats! Great post!
Love,
Rose, aka Future BlogHer Attendee
Even though I’ve know you for years, now I feel like I REALLY know you, and it was a pleasure! You can tell Karen her little sis is a terrific lady. So glad we got to spend the time together.
I learned that I’m part of an amazing generation of women and had never been more proud. I actually told someone I was a writer! And I don’t think I lied. How fun!
I learned that you are a beautiful person..inside and out! xo
You are always a highight to me, Linda. I’m so glad you had a good time. I agree that the small, intimate settings are the best ones. I did go to some great parties, but I don’t think they were as important as I thought they would be.
Seeing your beautiful face at these conferences makes my day, my week, and yes, even my year. I can’t wait to see what this year brings for all of us.
So glad that you had such a wonderful time! 🙂
Flying on my own scares me. I’ve only done it once that I can remember. I live in the Chicago area, so I didn’t have to worry about that this time, but if I go again, then yes. I’ll be freaking out. Enjoyed meeting you even though briefly and I agree that the best times were in the small intimate gatherings…although I had fun at the parties too. Ha ha!
I was also wishing we had more time to chat with other bloggers…. every meal also had a speaker, so just as conversations got started, we had to be quiet. I also loved traveling by myself. And I’m glad you got a nice hotel room!
I didn’t go but love reading all the different accounts of BlogHer.
I learned how genuine people are online – their personalities shine through virtually and in real life, they are all just as I imagined they’d be. I’m so happy that you came this year and had such a terrific time! Now we have to see each other at home more often – it’s a crime that we live so close and don’t do that more often.
The first BlogHer that I went to, I was so overwhelmed that the only photo I took was of a dish of melting ice cream cake at one of the luncheons. I
I really want to go to a conference soon. My biggest fear is being alone and no one talking to me. lol
Hello there! I really enjoyed reading this post, as I am loving all of the BlogHer ’13 posts. Anything to make it last a little longer. Thanks for sharing, Much Love, Fondly, Robin
I loved reading this. I’ve never been to a blog conference but love to live vicariously through posts like yours. You lucked out with your view!
Yes to the #2! I was unable to go to Chicago this year, but the best conversations and best new friends I made were in the small group chats I had at BlogHer12. I hope to make it next year and really look forward to finding these small moments to make new friends and learn more! (stopping by from SITS, btw)
I have never had the opportunity to attend BlogHer but really want to go someday. It’s a little scary to think about going on my own, though. I wish they would come up with some sort of Little Sis/Big Sis program so newbies could be mentored through their first time, LOL! Stopping in from SITS – have a wonderful weekend!
I really related to this post, Linda, because I went to my own blogging conference in Chicago last October, and experienced exactly the kind of “big girl” feelings you described here. I also found that it was in the small, intimate dinners that I made the very best connections.
Cheers. Here’s to you, your trip, enjoying things outside the sphere of our normal day-to-day, and to writing what’s real, and true, and authentic to what we believe.
I really enjoyed this post. I would love to make it to BlogHer one day. This one would have been close enough to drive! I’m actually a midlife blogger, despite my blog title, so it’s nice to know that there is a place for me at BlogHer. I’m enjoying your blog–we have severall things in common.
Good for you! That was awesome for you to speak up about the room – what a great lesson. I love blog conferences and I have made some lifelong friends from them. I was sad that I didn’t chose to spend the bucks to go to Chicago for BlogHer. I’m going to get there some day. Hopefully next year, it will be someplace closer to me.
And I hear you about the pictures. It is one thing I am always very shy about. I will take a ton of pictures of the room, the decor, and all the events, but I’m always embarassed to ask people to pose for pictures. So you know what I did at the last blog conference – I put a tweet out there asking people to help me be braver about taking pictures of them, and you know they did. I came home from that conference with a phone just FULL of pictures of all my dear friends. It was wonderful!
I’m so glad BlogHer was such a positive experience for you. I can’t wait to go to my first blog conference. You should repost this before the next conference – your tips are really good, but I doubt I’ll remember them when I finally get to go!
Sounds like an amazing trip!
I enjoyed your post! I live in a bubble somewhat as well, and felt like a real grown up when I had to travel for work alone. Of course, while I enjoyed the trip I quickly quit my job and moved to consultant status where I got to pick if I travelled or stayed put. Best wishes!
Love this! Thanks so much.