Comments on: BlogWorld Expo 2009 Report

By: David Walsh

David Walsh — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:36:05 +0000

It's funny that someone was intimidated by you. I have to say you are one of the most approachable people I've come across, but hey, people still have that fear of people.

I know I've had to overcome it with some people in the past, but it's not a real issue for me anymore.

Great report. Will take that trip next year now.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

David

By: davidwalshonline

davidwalshonline — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:36:05 +0000

By: Arjun Singh

Arjun Singh — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:19:49 +0000

Hi David, sorry I missed saying hi to you at blogworld. Your pre-conference post was the first I found and I commented saying it would be great to meet. Hopefully, will get to say hi next year!

By: Rick Calvert

Rick Calvert — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:23:14 +0000

Got it Nathan and David. Not discounting what you guys said at all.

By: Nathan Hangen

Nathan Hangen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:44:50 +0000

Rick,

The problem isn't the keynote, it's the placement of the keynote. Many bloggers wanted to be inspired going home...the closing keynote didn't do that.

I think it would do better on the first evening.

By: David Risley

David Risley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:19:04 +0000

Thanks for commenting. Yeah, keep doing what you're doing. I don't find it personally offensive at all. It just wasn't what I expected in that particular venue.

By: David Risley

David Risley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:16:49 +0000

Rick,
There wasn't anything about the keynote which was personally offensive, don't get me wrong. I just found it really weird to have something like that at a conference. I was more the venue, not the content. Hope that's clear.

All in all, great job, Rick. I don't know how you manage to organize that event every year.

By: jennybloggess

jennybloggess — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:13:09 +0000

I totally get it. My stuff is not always for the faint of heart and people either get it and love it or they don't and are offended. Still, it's interesting to note that (according to alexa at least) the majority of my readers are college-educated moms and they prefer my more outspoken, irreverent blogs and columns to my far-more-tame parenting blog on the Houston Chronicle. I think the point (for me) of our keynote is that “new media” is changing and flexible and organic and has room for so many voices that might otherwise be discounted, labeled or ignored because they are silly, or unfiltered, or different. It's a brave new world out there.

By: partywedo

partywedo — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:48:18 +0000

David,
My second year to BlogWorld and first as a seminar attendee. (I took a cement mixer to display last year).
The seminars where great and I had the opportunity to meet some very supportive people.
Your point on the trend toward turning the industry into some REAL money is spot on.

I walked out of the final keynote...just don't need to hear that stuff, and was embarrassed to be sitting next to mommy bloggers during that part.

Coree is a nice blogger and great person. She helped us share some the elephants, and we thank her.

I will continue to participate in BlogWorld and in the evolution of this exciting industry.

By: Rick Calvert

Rick Calvert — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:29:01 +0000

Thank you for the feedback David. It was great meeting you this year. I am sorry the closing keynote wasn't your speed. Honestly I laughed a lot myself and the room was full right up until the end.

Our idea was to end the show with a show where everyone could lighten up and have some fun at the end and celebrate just how far new media has come. As of now I am leaning strongly in continuing that tradition for next year. We had over 120 sessions and 7 serious topic keynotes. That was our one "fun" talk and featured four very funny people and Guy as the host. I think Jenny, Matt and Aaron held their own quite well with Kevin Pollak who is one of the funniest comedians on the planet. That is a very cool thing for new media in my opinion.

We could definitely improve our production, and Jenny is definitely adult content, It is very valid criticism that it may be too much for our diverse crowd, but we really wanted to give her a forum to be herself. She is amazingly funny and deserved to be seen at the worlds largest new media event imo. While she does use a lot of adult language, she doesn't really say anything "offensive". That's just my opinion and I could be wrong.

Thanks again David. We are listening and we know we can improve.

Sincerely,
Rick