The Library – the perfect place to mingle
I felt pretty lucky at 4.15pm on Saturday when I took my seat on the Secrets of the Editors panel in front of a sea of friendly faces in the Faraday Theatre at the Royal Institution – the awesome venue for Blogtacular 2014. Some people I’d known for years, some I’d only met minutes before, but there wasn’t a person I spoke to who wasn’t full of smiles, warmth and enthusiasm. It was the perfect place to pop my public speaking cherry!
I’ve been to blog conferences in the past where I’ve been left feeling completely frozen afterwards. So overwhelmed, so insecure about my own blog, so intimidated.
Not so with Blogtacular.
I was left buzzing. So many creative people, so many ideas, so many amazing things to think about and this time it was a buzz that got you excited and inspired rather than overawed. Bloggers old and new, big and small, all mingled, shared tips, enjoyed each other’s company. So many different ways of looking at the world and of translating it.
Maybe it was because I approached Blogtacular in a different way to other conferences. Instead of piling on the pressure to learn and ultimately “improve” my blog, I decided that I’d attend the sessions that I thought sounded interesting to me, even if they were not necessarily the most “useful” to me as a blogger. I also (pretty much) put away my notebook and pen and tried to just take it in. To listen and to really engage. And Blogtacular provided content that was really, really engaging.
Great content + inspiring people + a positive, supportive atmosphere = a damn good conference.
Roll on Blogtacular 2015.
P.S. If you couldn’t make the conference this year, you don’t have to miss out. A virtual version of the conference will be available soon – just sign up to the Blogtacular mailing list for the latest news.
I agree Heather. I came away feeling energised, full of ideas and plans. My blog is not one of the big hitters (by any stretch of the imagination), but there was no feeling of ‘my blog’s better than yours’ from those with more established blogs. It was really inspiring.
(I loved the panel chat you were involved with – it worked really well and you all made some useful points. Thanks!)
Thanks Lucy. Sounds like you enjoyed the conference as much as I did. I just need to find the time to put all my energy and good intentions to good use now! x
It was a great atmosphere – you were a natural!
Fab weekend. Thanks for poking me to attend. You were right!
See you in Briz!
Briz soon, definitely! x
I can’t believe that was your first public speaking engagement; you seemed so comfortable! Yes, the open equality amongst everyone was so lovely. No sense of competition. This blogging conference was the first I’d been to. Sounds like it was a good choice!
Thanks Bryony. I’ve done some radio before so it wasn’t the speaking so much that worried me, it was having an audience! But I so enjoyed it. Hope I can do it again some time x
You were wonderful! I so enjoyed the whole event, you’re absolutely right about how warm and friendly the whole thing was.
Hopefully see you there for a proper chat next year? x
So nice to finally meet you in person, Heather! And really? Your first time speaking? You were a natural! I’ll wave to you from afar when you’ll drive by on your road trip through France (and beyond) soon 😉 xx
Sorry not to have got to talk more Judith! Thank you for your kind words and I hope we cross paths again soon x
You were awesome! Thank you for being part of the very first Blogtacular x