At this moment I’m sitting on my couch, in dog-hair-covered yoga pants and a T-shirt. I can hear said dog snoring on the floor next to me. Even as she sleeps, a cloud of fur billows up from her body. I watch it float away and distribute itself evenly on every surface in the house.
Also in my line of sight: a dusty TV and entertainment center, a pair of size-6x pajamas, a spilled puzzle, and a composition book (wonder which kid forgot THAT). The dishwasher clanks and swishes in my unswept kitchen. Waiting for me in my laundry room is one load to fold, one in the dryer, and at least four more waiting to be washed.
I’ll admit it – my life is a thrill ride.
***
But last weekend… I was a Rock Star.
I attended my very first bloggers’ conference, BlissDom09, in Nashville, TN. Along with just three hundred other women, I spent 48 hours filling my brain with knowledge about branding, content, readership, advertising, and more. The panelists gave us so much amazing content that only now am I organizing my thoughts about it. So a post about that will have to wait.
***
Today: Rock Stardom
Everyone involved in BlissDom09 made me feel like a celebrity.
1.
Allison Worthington (aka Mrs. Fussypants) and Barbara Jones (CEO, One2One Network) know how to throw a PARTAY.
We ate well. Many of us drank well. Some karaoked. The hotel was both beautiful and reasonable. We got to dress up. We got to dress down – for a pajama party. They raffled off prizes (including iPod Touches). The weekend was flawlessly organized.
I think I would attend a conference about pig farming if Fussy and Barbara were organizing it.
(Not really. Unless the pig farming conference had really good swag.)
2.
Which brings me to my next point: You know how Grammy and Oscar presenters receive a bunch of amazing free stuff called swag?
We did too! No diamonds or Moet. But I’m still raving about it.
The “swag bag” itself was a cute Land’s End tote (PINK!), and it was stuffed with: a box of Little Debbie 100-calorie snacks (DeeLISH); three CD’s, a book, a chance to win a free Cherish Bound photo book (I won! You’ll see a post about it in the future!); a generous Crocs gift certificate; and more. Did I mention how reasonably-priced this conference was? I think I made my registration back in swag alone.
3.
Special entertainment. Saturday morning, Disney (yes, that Disney) gave us an exclusive screening of their upcoming PBS event: Yanni Voices. No WAIT! Don’t stop reading!
This is not your grandma’s Yanni. First, he’s lost the mustache and mullet. For this concert, he picked young rising stars in the music world to sing his compositions. And they were, shall we say, ready for their closeup.
For some reason… [grin], the screening mostly featured the two male singers, Nathan Pacheco and Ender Thomas. As a result, when it was over the lights came up on some … flushed faces.
Then SQUEEEEE! (I now know what that sounds like) erupted as Nathan and Ender walked in a side door. In the flesh! We even got to hear them sing live when they graciously serenaded two attenders with “Happy Birthday” (in three languages). Then they took questions from the audience.
My favorite exchange:
Question: “Is either of you involved in a relationship?”
Both singers: “Yes.”
ENTIRE audience: “Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!!”
Host Barbara, wagging her finger at us: “So are most of you!”
All: [giggle giggle]
(What was the median age of attenders? Thirteen?)
After the Q and A, both singers signed autographs and posed for pictures. I can only imagine the poses requested…
Anyway.
On Saturday night, Chris Mann, who has an album scheduled to release soon, sang for us. Y’all, he’s GOOOOOD. (And cute. And funny.) And when he becomes famous, I can say I sat in the front row at his mini-concert. And now I’m his Twitter friend. (Follow him at @iamchrismann. He’ll follow back!)
4.
I’m saving the best celebrity perk for last. But it’s hard to describe.
Let’s just call it RESPECT. Every panelist, every moderator, every advertiser and PR representative, made it clear to every blogger, no matter how new or small, that we are IMPORTANT.
Just by being there, the Disney people and John Andrews (of Walmart, hello?) showed how they value the voice of mombloggers. Same with David Griner, who represented Little Debbie, and Nancy Martira of Ketchum PR.
The speakers, true rock stars of the blog world, taught us a ton. But even better, they were honest about their own journeys. And they offered encouragement.
I came away believing, I can do this. The “how” is still swirling around in my head, but the courage to do it is pretty solid.
If you’re a momblogger, you must attend BlissDom next year.
(I’d talk more, but I need to change the vacuum bag because it’s full of dog hair. After all, I vacuumed yesterday.)
(Know any advertisers who want to let me test-drive a new vacuum?)
Click here to check out all of the sponsors who made BlissDom a reality.
16 responses so far ↓
1 michael alan // Feb 11, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Can’t help you with the sponsorship, and besides, I only own a broom, but I can’t imagine you need much encouragement from others(but any reason to party, right?) you’re a very talented writer and the blog world thanx you for it.
michael alan’s last blog post..Feliz Cumpleaños to ME!
2 Mel // Feb 11, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Ok i so wanted to go this year, next year i am there!!
Sounds like it was completely amazing.
Mel’s last blog post..A Rare and Unique Gift & 47/365
3 Annie K // Feb 11, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Glad you’re back..we MISSED you!
Annie K’s last blog post..The Word for Wednesday
4 Vintagesquirrel // Feb 11, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Stephanie,
I don’t think we had a chance to meet at Blissdom09. (So many bloggers…so little time…) I just posted about feeling exactly the same way. I wasn’t sure if was even supposed to be going to a blogging conference since I’m brand new to the blogging community. (Today is my 2 month bloggiversary…WooHoo!)
Everyone made me feel like I was just as important as any other person there. And, boy did I learn a lot.
Hopefully we’ll get a chance to hang out at Blissdom10.
Michelle
5 SECRET AGENT MAMA // Feb 11, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I still don’t think I ever found you.. Might have to find you at a Zaxby’s or something..
Great re-cap!
6 Musings of a Housewife // Feb 11, 2009 at 7:55 pm
This is a fabulous recap! It was so nice to meet you.
7 the domestic fringe // Feb 11, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Wow! Sounds SO very exciting. You made me want to be there too.
-FringeGirl
8 Steph at the Red Clay Diaries // Feb 11, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Michael Alan- Michael! I haven’t heard from you in awhile! I’m so honored by your comment.
Mel- Gotta go, Girl. It’s totally worth it.
Annie K- I’m still not totally caught up, but it’s good to be back.
Vintagesquirrel- Yeah, I don’t think we got to meet. I’m glad you had a good experience too! And 2 monthiversary! Woot woot!
Secret Agent Mama- I think we said hi in passing on Saturday. But we definitely need to get together sometime since we’re “neighbors.”
Jo-Lynne (Musings)- Wonderful to meet you too!
FringeGirl- You. Must. Come next time!
9 katdish // Feb 11, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Can you seriously make money blogging? I know you can do those content generated ads from Google, but I don’t even want to think about what might ads might pop up on a post entitled “HOT MONKEY SEX”.
The thought of actually making money for sitting on my assets all day and being random is quite interesting…
Also, how far do you live from Atlanta?
katdish’s last blog post..Come talk to me
10 Steph at the Red Clay Diaries // Feb 11, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Yup, there’s money to be earned. Not sure if/how I’m supposed to go after it.
Who knew random could equal money?
And I’m within an hour of Atlanta. (Not to be vague, but you know, gotta throw all those rabid fans off the trail.)
11 Helen // Feb 12, 2009 at 8:47 am
I do not have rabies!
Helen’s last blog post..Internet Fast Begins By the Time You Finish Reading This…
12 Steph at the Red Clay Diaries // Feb 12, 2009 at 8:58 am
Helen,
Wait…. What?
Have you been sampling the Drambouie again?
13 Helen // Feb 12, 2009 at 11:40 am
“Not to be vague, but you know, gotta throw all those rabid fans off the trail.”
I do not have rabies……..
But I do have Drambouie. And I love Jesus.
Helen’s last blog post..Inspired by a Noninspirational Song (I Think…)
14 Steph at the Red Clay Diaries // Feb 12, 2009 at 11:45 am
Helen,
Ooooooohhhhhhhh. Now I get it. Sorry. Limited caffeine this morning.
Funny how going back and rereading what *I* wrote clears things up…
15 katdish // Feb 12, 2009 at 11:50 am
Note to self: do not read Helen’s comments whist painting stripes on a wall. You will mess up.
16 Helen // Feb 12, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Note to Katdish: Sorry, if I knew you were painting, I would have been more careful….You know, things like that might not happen if you twitterered more….then again, I haven’t twittered in a while myself. I think of Jon’s comment about his sandwich…..
Helen’s last blog post..Inspired by a Noninspirational Song (I Think…)
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