BlogHer: What it's all about

I had a call from a friend today--a BlogHer friend. We met at last year’s BlogHer Conference (feels weird to call it a conference) in San Francisco.

Within the span of a weekend, I considered her to be a dear friend. She is part of my BlogHer posse, and I am part of hers. It’s not a clique so much as it is a group of amazing women who became close friends within hours of meeting IRL (in real life).

That’s what BlogHer is really about.

I decided to attend last year’s BlogHer rather late in the game, and decided to arrive a night early just hours before adding another night to my hotel reservation and shlepping my butt to the BART station.

I knew no one.

No. One.

Prior to BlogHer, I read quite a few bloggers, but my own readership was low. So, I knew I wouldn’t be having any “Oh, I read your blog!" moments.

I am shy.

I know, hard to believe. My friends are spitting shit on their keyboards right now. My shyness quickly departs once I feel I know you. Then, I transform into a table-dancing freak. Even without booze.

But that first night, as I wandered in and out of the welcome parties, awkwardly making my way through the tables of schwag, I started to meet a few people.

I met BlogHer women in the elevator who had a penchant for pushing all the buttons. Great comic relief when in an awkward social setting. I highly recommend it.

I met women in the bathroom who had some stage fright of their own going down.

And, I met the beginnings of my posse.

On the floor.

Outside the bathroom.

We added to our tribe during our late-night/early-morning lobby fests.

We never really stopped adding. BlogHer is cool like that. There are no boundaries to finding friends, unless you make them yourself.

What BlogHer isn’t?

• a place to force your ideas on others


• a place to market without creating relationships


• a place to show up thinking you are better than anyone else


• like any other conference

What BlogHer is?

• a place to be yourself


• a place where you are not alone in your shyness


• a place to meet and make lifelong friends


• a place to learn


• a place to share


• a conference like no other—a vacation!

Needless to say, I’m going back to BlogHer this year. It’s my beacon of light right now. The thing that keeps me from jumping off the bridge. I need that. A lot of us need that.

Comments

[Adrienne]

You are amazing and I am honored to have become a member of the posse. Hoping we can add lots and lots more this year! Is it too early to start getting excited?

[Suebob]

That is my favorite part about BlogHer - the randomness of the fun. I always meet great new people and find out amazing things about people I already knew.

[crunchy domestic goddess (amy)]

Great post. I've yet to attend BlogHer (and am pretty shy myself), but I so hope to make it this year. :)

[califmom]

Oh, you must come. It is worth every penny and then some.

[This Military Mama]

I totally felt shy at BlogHer too last summer. It took me sometime to get comfy. The posse totally made BlogHer a blast! I can't wait to see you all again!

I thought of you and the others when I bought my ticket. When I got the confirmation I squeeled with glee thinking "Yes, I am going to hang with my friends!". Plus, this year I can do the all night/early morning lobby thing because my daughter will be at home with her Daddy.

[Rachel]

and this is why I am so excited to go this year!You make it sound amazing and I cannot wait.Of course, I'll be the dork cowering in the corner because nobody knows who she is, but it's all good ;-)

[Headless Mom]

You're absolutely right! I'm hoping and praying I can go again!

[Fear and Parenting in Las Vega]

That's awesome. It'll be my first year this year. Thanks for quelling some of my worries. Thankfully I'll be rooming with a few other women I've met online, but hopefully we'll meet too!

[Jenny, Bloggess]

I'm totally going too and I can't wait to go to the bathroom with you!

Ooh...that sounds wrong.

[Lucretia Pruitt]

You are going to *love* these women, I promise... and then your life will revolve around "when is the next one?? What? I have to wait a whole year??" like the rest of us! :)

When I book my flights? I'll tell ya, so you can see if we can get seats together!

[Lucretia Pruitt]

And you *know* we will miss the gorgeous and darling Emma - but so happy we get to have you in our "late night lobby fests" :)

[Lucretia Pruitt]

OMG no you won't be... trust me. We were all feeling that way our first 5 minutes!! And then you realize that whether they've been doing this since the 1st BlogHer, or are new just like you, everyone there will welcome you in and you will find your own wonderful BlogHer posse!!

[Lucretia Pruitt]

You were such an amazing and wonderful part of our BlogHer last year Jenny... we'll sit in the bathroom and drink with you *anytime*!!

Social Anxiety sucks rocks - but having friends who will hangout in the bathroom? Kinda makes it more fun!!

((((hug))))

[Summer]

You're getting me even more excited to go this year. I'm thinking of selling one of the kids if I have to. ;) I wonder which one would bring in the most...

[Susan, Broad Humor]

I loved it too... and I'm jealous. I am not shy in person, so I met a lot of GREAT women. But I get shy about it after, keeping contact, and so my BlogHer acquaintances haven't turned into friends or a posse.

[Lisa Stone]

Califmom, I think this post made my year. And it's only Jan. 24. Thank you! BlogHer '09: Everyone into the Women's Room. Kinda catchy, no? :)

One thought for Susan of Broad Humor: I am *the worst* correspondent in the world. The worst. The overwork-child-sleep-shy continuum is no excuse, but it doesn't help me do better. That said, I have found new girlfriends I met through BlogHer to be both the most forgiving and the most willing to drag me back into the conversation (occasionally kicking my tail as necessary and deserved by moi). So go for it - go reach out now. I'm betting they'll be thrilled to hear from you.

See you all in July!

[jodifur]

I'm still wavering, but thank you for this! It may put me over to the going side!

[Megan {Velveteen Mind}]

Can I just say how much I loooooove the fact that the photos you used are from our party? The People's Party!!!

The whole point of that party was to make sure people felt included and welcome at BlogHer... before it had even begun. To try our best to make sure people knew that we are all in the same boat. Hell, it was my first BlogHer. Um, why not throw a party?

I know there will still be people this year that say they don't feel like they'll fit in or belong, but if you keep up with posts like this, maybe there will be just a few less.

[Loralee]

I had the time of my life at BlogHer and I can't wait to go again. I think it's just a great time, full of great people and great opportunities.

(I realize I sound like a PSA, but I can't help it. I'm a huge BlogHer fan!)

[Mr Lady]

Yup...right there with you. And, um, err....I was pushing a ton of buttons in the elevator. Were we in the same elevator and didn't know it?

That would just be WEIRD. :)

[califmom]

You were a button-pusher, too? Krisco was the button pusher on my elevator.Wait, that sounds like a euphemism. It's not. I swear.

[califmom]

I just figured you'd be hosting a soiree in the pisser again this year. No?

[califmom]

Aw, shucks. I was just speaking from the heart. BlogHer *is* my beacon. Icannot wait.

[califmom]

I am sooooo glad I decided to show up that night instead of waiting untilthe following morning. The parties were a great way for me to meet peoplebefore the conference was in full swing (not that I didn't meet even morethen). It's just that the parties were great ice-breakers, if you will.Helped to have cocktails available for a little 'courage.'

[califmom]

Susan,

I'm not sure if you're on Twitter, but that's been a great (and easy) wayfor me to keep in touch with my BlogHer friends, and continue to meet moreamazing women. It was also an important tool during the conference to stayconnected as we often didn't have each other's cell numbers, but we alwayshad Twitter. When we got back home, the Twitter relationships continued.