Normally I save the reviews for books and technology, but this time the event itself merits it.
I was admittedly skeptical about Blogger Social, the gathering of over 80 bloggers in New York City earlier this month. Living in New York and traveling to events around the country, I meet quite a few bloggers, social media mavens, Twitterers, Facebook junkies, YouTube c-list celebrities, podcasters, and others who clearly fall under the “creator” category of Forrester’s technographics. I didn’t really need another event to meet bloggers. Since there was a decent chance I was going to need to be out of town for at least part of the weekend, I just signed up for Saturday night rather than the entire weekend, hedging my bet.
Then the event happened, and the people who came were a different sort than I usually met at the events I went to. I’m not sure exactly how. I met Arun Rajagopal who came in from Oman. I met Todd Andrlik who once interviewed me, Jason Falls who blogged about my client, and Scott Monty whose client I blogged about. I caught up extensively with Rohit Bhargava, one of several authors in the room and who I never get to see since he’s too good for search marketing events these days (umm, okay, so my job title says “emerging media” and I work for a digital marketing agency… but I can’t get the search thing out of my blood).
There are way too many other reasons to name why the event was so wonderful, though I’m including the list of attendees in the extended entry. It was a very warm, welcoming, creative, loquacious, and ultimately tipsy crowd, making for a great time to forge or strengthen friendships.
There was a lot of talk about Blogger Social ’09, namely if there will be one (the demand is clearly there) and where it will be, with a lot of buzz around holding it in Europe. Odds are I won’t make it out there unless it happened to coincide with a business trip.
But whether it’s at a Blogger Social, some other event, or just syncing up through dopplr, I do hope the conversations that started there continue.
Attendees of Blogger Social 08:
Susan Bird
Tim Brunelle
Katie Chatfield
Matt Dickman
Luc Debaisieux
Gianandrea Facchini
Mark Goren
Gavin Heaton
Sean Howard
CK
Valeria Maltoni
Drew McLellan
Doug Meacham
Marilyn Pratt
Steve Roesler
Greg Verdino
CB Whittemore
Steve Woodruff
Paul McEnany
Ann Handley
David Reich
Tangerine Toad
Kristin Gorski Mack Collier
David Armano
Ryan Barrett Lori Magno Tim McHale Gene DeWitt Mario Vellandi Arun Rajagopal Joseph Jaffe Rohit Bhargava Anna Farmery Marianne Richmond Thomas Clifford Lewis Green Geoff Livingston Kris Hoet Connie Reece CeCe Lee Toby Bloomberg Seni Thomas Darryl Ohrt Joe Kutchera Paul Dunay Marshall Sponder Chris Kieff Tara Anderson Jason Falls Paul Soldera Roberta Rosenberg Saul Colt Todd Andrlik Nathan Snell Ryan Karpeles Mike Sansone Jennifer Laycock Neil Vineberg Cam Beck Mike Arauz Matthew Bailey Heather Gorringe John Rosen Cathleen Rittereiser Tamar Weinberg Rita Perea Linda Sherman Matthew McDonald Kaitlyn Wilkins Terry Starbucker Jennifer Berk Jane Quigley John Wall Scott Monty Kevin Horne Virginia Miracle Amanda Gravel Susan Reynolds David Polinchock Shashi Bellamkonda Vahe Habeshian
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Show comments Hide commentsDavid, enjoyed talking to you Sat. night – glad you made it out!
David,
I enjoyed meeting with you at the event. You did miss some great times, and the first ever live cookie acceptance testing on a ship in NYC harbor. I hope to meet you again soon.
Thanks,
Chris
Hi David, I really wish CK had introduced us earlier in the evening and not as the party was winding down. I would have enjoyed talking with you. Hopefully, you can juggle your business travel to coincide with BS09.
Doug
It was great to spend at least a few minutes speaking with you, David. Hopefully we will meet again — with or without a trip to Europe!
David,
Glad you had a great time with all of us. It was a pleasure speaking with you about India.
Mario
David, it was great fun seeing you again although I wish I had had more time. I’m delighted you were able to make it, though, and that you were delightfully surprised! See you again soon, I hope.
David, I don’t think we met at the event (I was the one with the spouse at all the events =). There was so many people and very little precious time. If we did meet and I don’t remember, I apologize. If you’re ever in the Bay Area, please let me know. Otherwise, maybe ’09?
I hope Todd took it easy on you in the interview!