So this weekend I trundled off down to Kings Cross to attend my third — and final — blogging conference for this year. Blogfest 2015!
Blogfest — run by Mumsnet — is where a number of my blogging buddies had all met for the first time last year but it was my first time.
Unlike Britmums and Blogcamp, early in the year, I felt like it wasn’t such a huge learning curve. Those first couple of conferences were such a huge deal; so much information to take in plus, as a newcomer, it was fairly daunting to walk into a room full of total strangers.
Roll on a few months and I didn’t feel as though I was in a room full of strangers. There were lots of friendly faces — some that I’d met before — some that I’d occasionally spoken to online — but all of the people there were chatty and friendly.
I got to hang out with my blogging besties for the day, hone my craft and mingle and network with some fab brands and some lovely bloggers — what’s not to love about that?!
Here are a few pics of my day.
Highlights included David Baddiel’s Think Bomb session, The Crumbs Sisters chatting about their You Tube experiences and legendary film director Mike Figgis giving a talk on film-making. Getting tips from a renowned and established professional is pretty amazing — especially as it was in a fairly intimate setting.
Plus seeing lovely ‘Emily’ —Emma from Brummy Mummy Of 2 — win Best Vlogger was a highlight too. It was fab to see someone who is as lovely in real life, as she seems on the internet, be rewarded for all her hard work.
All in all, a fab day. Such a treat to spend a few hours with some like-minded people who make this blogging malarkey so much fun. Coming to these events definitely gives me a real sense of purpose and makes me so happy that I fell into this amazing industry!
Caro I love this, and the photo of us all is just fab. It was just a great day, I loved spending the time so so many lovely people and great friends xxx
I loved it too!! What an awesome day!! :)
What an ace way to spend a day, I totally agree with your highlights, there was something special about Mike Figgisin that environment too!
It was FAB wasn’t it? Just loved it all!!! xx
I’m glad you had such a wonderful time, it really does make us thankful to be bloggers seeing the community spirit for it #TwinklyTuesday
I totally agree! I thought it was a solitary pass time when I started! How wrong I was!! :)
It sounds like a fabulous day! #twinklytuesday
It really was Lizzie! Hope to see you there next year! :)
I’m definitely booking tickets for sisterkin next year. #TwinklyTuesday
Ah do it Kim! It was so much fun!! :)
It sounded and looked great! Couldn’t make it due to seeing Peppa with my daughteR! Already booked Brit mums though xx #twinklytuesday
Aaah Peppa! Yes — you definitely couldn’t have missed that!! :) I’m not going to BML next year — am going to Blogtacular instead! Will be going to Blogfest again though :)
I feel energised and excited just reading about this. Here’s hoping there’s one down here in Melbourne (or something similar), soon!!! #TwinklyTuesday
Aw fingers crossed for you Anna! I hope you manage to find one! :)
Ah wish I could have seen you. Glad you had a great time. xx
I know!! I asked after you but you were sunning yourself in Greece?!! I can’t say I blame you! ;)
Looks like you had fun day. I am yet to brave a blogging conference, maybe next year. Sounds like there were some really interesting talks, I bet you learned lots xx #TwinklyTuesday
I really do recommend it Wendy! Go for one of the smaller ones to begin with, like BlogCamp etc… they’re SO much fun! :)
What an amazing experience! I haven’t been to a blogging conference yet but love hearing about them. It must be strange seeing people in the flesh after seeing them online! #twinklytuesday
It’s so lovely!! You’re in a room full of friends who are total strangers!! It’s a weird feeling :)
Sounds fab. I need to get myself to one of these conferences in 2016!
#twinklytuesday
YAY! It would be awesome to meet you in real life! :)
One day I will be brave enough to go to one of these! Looks so much fun! #twinklytuesday xx
Do it Rachel! The first one is pretty daunting but it’s lovely once you’ve met everyone once! :)
Looks amazing and I cannot believe David Baddiel was there.. I had such a crush on him as a teenager, lucky you! #twinklytuesday
Thanks so much pet :) xxxx
I really should have taken more pictures – you captured the sessions well. Glad you enjoyed it – I wish everyone would wear a massive sticker on their head or something with their name haha #twinklytuesday
Were you there????!!! Ohmygod! I can’t believe I missed you!!!! That’s such a blooming shame!!! Yes! Or carry a balloon with their name on maybe?! ;)
Looks like you had a good day – I’ve never been to a blogging conference as there isn’t anyone to look after my 4 to free me up to go, wish I could link up remotely lol #twinklytuesday
Aw that’s too bad! Some people had babes in arms there but I think you’d be run ragged with four littles in tow! xx
What a cool event! It really is inspirational to spend time with fellow bloggers. I always leave encouraged & happy. It is an amazing network to be a part of! Thank you for hosting x
oooh it looks fab. I’m thinking of attending next year if everything blog wise is still going. I can imagine that your first one in terrifying though!
#TwinklyTuesday
Definitely worth biting the bullet and plucking up the courage to go to one! I was really nervous the first time but my nerves had gone for the second and third!
What a lovely event and a great way to get together with other bloggers! I have not attended blogfest yet, would be nice to attend one in the future and meet other wonderful bloggers too. #TwinklyTuesday
It was a great day pet! Hope to see you there next year! :)
Looks a great day out. I’m hoping to attend my first blogging events next year – would love to meet some of the people I’ve been getting to know online :)
I hope to see you there pet! :)
I’d love to have been in on the You Tube session, that sounds like the winner of the day from what I’ve been reading. May be I’ll get there next year too #TwinklyTtuesday
It was really excellent! Although it makes me realise that I’ve got a LOT of work to do on my YouTube channel!!! ;)
Sounds like you had a great time – how lovely to meet up with fellow bloggers. I can imagine how daunting it must be when you attend your first blogging event. Fab to come away with useful tips too! Thanks for sharing #TwinklyTuesday
I was pretty terrified the first time, I must be honest! But the second and third were SO exciting — I was so excited to see everyone again, there were no need for any nerves! :)
It sounds like you had a lovely time, and were really energised by it! It must have been a lovely way to round off your 2015 blogger conferences! #TwinklyTuesday
It was brilliant Fatima! So nice to see all my blogging buddies again and lovely to learn new things about this industry we’re in!
Sounds like it was pretty amazing. I bet David Baddiel was good too, he’s always funny on tv. #twinklytuesday
Aah Julie, it really was good! David Baddiel had me in stitches! :)
Ooooh … sound like a fab experience. It has not even crossed my mind to attend, but you look like you had so much fun I might have to see if Im able to come to next years one.
xx
Definitely do! :) It was such a fun event! :)
Sounds like a good day. I couldn’t go, but maybe next year! #twinklytuesday
Aah it was really, really fun! Hope to see you next year! :)
My mummy went to Blogfest last year and didn’t enjoy it, she was too scared and skint to go back this year, so it’s good to read others posts from this year x thanks for sharing. #TwinklyTuesday
Aah that’s no good! No need to be scared at events like this! Everyone was so friendly :) I thought it was a lovely event :) xx
A great post – I was so gutted I had to miss out this year as I am so heavily pregnant! Just reading this makes me excited for next year though x
Aah then you’ve got an exciting year to come! A new baby AND some fab blogging conferences to look forward to! :)
This sounds like you had an absolute blast! I can’t wait to eventually get round to going to a blogging conference and meeting people in real life, I’m sure it will be soon.
Aah I hope so Laura! It would be lovely to meet you!! :)
Sounds like a great day was had! I really want to attend one of these big blogging events next year, would be great to put some faces to people I chat to online! #twinklytuesday
It was FAB! Although I’ve since found out there were so many people there that I didn’t even see!! We need to hold signs with our names on!!!
Was so lovely to see you gorgeous lady!! Looking forward to Blognix and being able to spend a bit more time with you for chatting and drinking gin x
Amen to that!!! It was fabulous to hang out with our little group wasn’t it? I loved it — can’t wait for the spa weekend!! :)
Aww, it sounds like you had great fun. I had a diary clash so didn’t make it this year but I’m looking forward to a few events in 2016. Sad to hear it’s your last Twinkly Tuesday (I missed the announcement last week), but I get where you’re coming from. Time to get some free time back! #twinklytuesdsay
It was brilliant — less so for learning but awesome to see everyone again!! Hope to see you at one next year?! And yes — I have just this round of comments to do for Twinkly Tuesday and then Mondays and Tuesdays will be all mine again!! :)
It would be great to meet you in the ‘real world’ – I have so many Dolly questions! ;) My next blogger event is Traverse in April and then Britmums in June. I’m hoping a few more might crop up in between :) X
YES! It would be so lovely to meet you!! Haha! We’d end up talking just about caravans, I bet!! I’m not going to BML next year — I’m off to Blognix in March and Blogtacular in June but I think I’d definitely do Blogfest again — I really, really enjoyed it! :)
I keep meaning to go to Blogfest but it hasn’t yet happened (I’d be one of the four awkward looking dad bloggers at the back). Seems like you enjoyed it and I had the god fortune to briefly bump into Emma of Bryummymummyoftwo myself the other day at a different event! #twinklytuesday
Aah it was SO good John! I saw Tim (Slouching) again which was lovely! I think more men should come to these events! Even it out a little bit!! :)
Wow! That looks amazing! As a newbie, I think conferences like that are quite a way ahead in the future, but I’d love to muster the confidence to go on day! I think I’d be a little star struck, meeting all the bloggers who I look up to!
#twinklytuesday
If you’d told me, this time last year that I’d have been to three, I wouldn’t have believed you!! They’re SUCH good fun! A lovely way to meet the people you’ve been chatting to online. I highly recommend it — but perhaps start with a smaller one first :)
I guess after a few events it becomes like a reunion rather than being strangers. I would love to attend some blogger events at some point. Thanks for hosting your last #TwinklyTuesday hope to still see you around :)
Debbie
That is ABSOLUTELY what it felt like!! YES! Much more like a reunion — certainly not anything to be daunted or nervous about, in comparison to the first I went to! :)
A really interesting read. I’m only six months into my blogging journey but I’d love to attend some blogging events next year – it’s just very daunting the first time like you say :) #twinklytuesday
I highly, highly recommend it!! Choose a small scale on to begin with. I went to BlogCamp in Birmingham first and that was lovely! Only about 80-100 people! Not so daunting as one with 500!! :)
Hi, glad you had a good time. I thought about going but am not sure how I’d keep my anonymity. It sounds like a really useful conference though so I need to figure out how to make it work. Thanks #Twinklytuesday
I know a blogger who — due to her work — has to remain very, very anonymous. I met her (in real life) at the MADS and found out she actually has a pseudonym! I think there are lots and lots of bloggers on the same boat. You’d be in good company. You just have to be honest when you meet people — I think everyone would respect your privacy though :)
Oh Caro it was so good to see you and I had an amazing day too – can’t we do it all again this weekend?! xxx
It was BRILLIANT seeing you pet!! LOVED it!!! Looking forward to the next time already! :)
Looks like you had a fab time – a blogging conference is one of the things of my checklist for next year. I think it would be so useful and great to meet everyone is person rather! #twinklytuesday
It was SUCH a fun day! Would definitely recommend :)
Hi Caro, great to see you had a lovely day! It looks like it was a great day and event. I Hoping to make it up there myself next year. Two years blogging and I’ve still to make my first blogging event. Roll on 2016 :-). Emily #TwinklyTuesday
Aah Emily!! I had been blogging for almost 2 and a half years before I went to my first blogging event!! ;) I was SO nervous for that first one but SO glad that I plucked up the courage and went along! xx
Looks fabulous. I love conferences like this as you always come away feeling really uplifted. I have never been to one as a blogger but attended one on a stand several years ago when it was all quite new and was fascinated. I get the whole first time nerves thing. I would be exactly the same but I guess for all of us newbies it’s the next step. Shall miss you hosting #twinklytuesday and thank you Nicky xx
Aah they’re SO good aren’t they?! I totally agree that you come away feeling inspired. Attending the conferences is now one of my favourite things as a blogger. I was SO scared, the first one I went to, I so very nearly bottled it and didn’t go!! I’m so, so glad I swallowed my nerves and went along.
Thanks so much Nicky — that’s so lovely of you — it will be weird not hosting every week! xx