AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Untangling my thoughts DATE: 7/31/2007 09:42:00 AM ----- BODY:

Upon reading my post about Friday, it crossed my mind that I was too negative. When in truth, I had a really good day. The sessions were a bit of a let down, but it was more in general really. I think what bothered me overall about the sessions was this:

The audio was torture. The mics were equalized completely wrong for women's voices, most of them were too hot, and the speakers and the audience didn't know how to use them. Covering a mic with your hand when it is feeding back is terribly ineffective, people.
The topics were far too broad to try and facilitate a conversation in a room of 50-100 people. For a 90 minute session that centers around discussion, I would have only one speaker, and three main points. There were too many people that wanted to comment on each topic, and the panelists were often just left to sit in the front of the room hoping that their mic didn't start squealing. Plus, a discussion means that you go back and forth between commenters, and that didn't happen so that everyone who wanted to say something got a chance.
In reality, panels could have been run more than once so that if there were two you wanted to attend at the same time, you would have another chance to get to one of them later.
The panelists didn't seem to know from session to session whether or not they were supposed to talk or moderate.

When I started thinking about why I went to Blogher, I realized that it had less to do with the actual panels and sessions, and more to do with making connections. Blogging is not something that my real life friends do. And I have wondered on more than one occasion why I do it. Connecting with other women who understood that was a great experience. Being able to ask the question, "Why do you blog?" and get honest answers was wonderful.

I think I even answered my own question. I blog because I love to write. I love to tell stories. I write because it helps me organize my feelings. Writing is cathartic. It is entertaining. It is freeing. I can say things with the written word that I would never be able to find the words to speak. And I blog because I enjoy the community it has created.

Labels: Blogher

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Busy Mom DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 12:46:00 PM EDT I agree with your second point, especially. Too broad to be open mic night in every session. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Whymommy DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 12:56:00 PM EDT Yeah! Good stuff! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Jenn DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 1:37:00 PM EDT Why I so wished I was there was to meet everyone; definitely not to go to sessions about ads and race car testers.

Maybe a social blogging conference? Disguised as something professional, of course.

I'm on it. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Erika, Plain Jane Mom DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 2:48:00 PM EDT It makes me hot when you say "equalize"... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Liz DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 3:01:00 PM EDT I agree with your points regarding the set up and management of the sessions.
I found only one or two sessions to be truly interesting. The first one was the Passion session--less the lady who really seemed to be there to toot her own horn (NASCAR lady). But I think the reason (other than YOU!) that this session resonated with me is because I'm alway in pursuit of finding of my passion. I've had a post brewing since Friday morning about this.
I made no bones or secrets about my goal for BlogHer, it was purely social networking. I started blogging just before my son was born and found a community of women who shared the same experiences. I came to Chicago to meet my community face-to-face. The rest was gravy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

slouchy DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 3:08:00 PM EDT this is all so helpful for me as i try to figure out whether i want to go next year -- thanks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Lisa DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 7:41:00 PM EDT Slackermommy (my roommate) RAVED about meeting you. Wish I could have met you too!

Maybe next year? :-) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

katy DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 7:43:00 PM EDT Sounds like you and had a good time in Chicago. Next year you won't get tired so easily and can stay up and party with the rest of the girls. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Lisa DATE:Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 7:44:00 PM EDT P.S. Yes the mike sitch was bad. The Naked blogging panel mikes did alot of loud sounding stuff. ALOT. It DID NOT make my Friday migraine any better. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Ally DATE:Sunday, August 5, 2007 at 5:36:00 PM EDT Those are the reasons why I blog, too, said much more eloquently than I would have stated it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

HollowSquirrel DATE:Sunday, August 5, 2007 at 8:21:00 PM EDT Ooooh yes yes yes and yes. Maybe next year I won't pay to go to the actual conference-- just the cocktail parties...unless then I don't get swag. not that I'm a swag whore, but ok, yes. yes i am. ----- --------