Tenth Musee

Hey, We Wrote That!

Kathy and I decided to forego SXSW this year so we could attend a conference that allows us to meet n’ mingle with our clients and other lovely people likely to be potential clients and friends… BlogHer.

We were supposed to go together, but she’ll be delivering another kidlet right during that time, so I’ll be flying solo.  I was just going to go to hang out and observe, but I’ve reconsidered and decided to throw my hat in the ring to host a panel, but not really a panel because it’s just me. A session, they call it.

I wanted to call it “When Your Blog Has That Not-So-Fresh Feeling”, but I decided at the last minute to call it “Blogging with Moxie”… you know, what with the book n’ all.  I figured I could go over topics from the book and do a lot of Q&A and maybe some on-the-spot blog critique and tip-offering, if anyone was interested.

Or I could just sit there and drink coffee if no one shows up.

I’m not stuffy, in case you hadn’t noticed, so my session won’t be either. It’s not going to be boring, it won’t be explicit insert tab A into slot B, it won’t be overhead projectors with code all over it.  It would be more intimate, more relaxed, fun, if you will.

I’m open to questions and basically… dishing.  About blogging. And all the merriment that comes with it, like the obvious design tips and some technical stuff like, what exactly does an RSS feed do? which blog platform is right for me?  where should my ads go?  But also things we’ve gleaned over our six years in this business, like how to handle blog drama, blog etiquette, choosing a topic, how to keep people enchanted with your bad self… that sort of thing.  I’m considering some kind of game or quiz and of course… prizes.  Everything is better with prizes.

If you are going to BlogHer (or even if you’re not), I’d welcome your input on my session idea. You can let BlogHer know you’d attend by visiting this link.

Did we mention that we loved our interview with John Haven at BlogTalk Radio?  Well, we did. We want to drink beer with that man.  If you’d like to take a listen, please clickety-click that widget right there.

Don’t mind the very occasional sound issues… it was due to the intermittent WiFi and the fact that we were streaming live (or the hoardes of attendees shuffling past). Ah, technology!  We both started spontaneously singing “Let’s Get Together” from the Parent Trap, which I find amusing. Fortunately (or unfortunately), you can’t hear it that much. 

Well, it’s almost time to go home.  Despite our Hilton shenanigans (which I will expound on more later on), we had a really great time at SXSW and I hope that they ask us to come back again. I’d love to participate in another panel (and next time, I want my partner in crime to come, too!) I’ve run into people I’m familiar with, but don’t know and spotted people I was too chicken to talk to, for whatever reason, including Jennifer Robbins.  I must have seen her 10 times and every time thought, “I should introduce myself.” and then I just stand there like a tool until she passes by.  I’m smooth like that.

I think I saw j. brotherlove last night at the hotel and I almost ran up and said hi again, but I wasn’t positive it was him because I was kind of far away and again, that “tool factor” came into play. So, I got coffee instead.  Everyone should have a backup plan.

I just got out of the CSS Problem Solving panel, which if I’m being perfectly honest, didn’t really share anything like, new or advanced.  I think I underestimate myself sometimes.  I assume I don’t know this or that or whatever and it turns out, hey!  I know stuff!  Who knew?  The best parts of that panel were the self-depricating, charming goofiness of David Shea, who looks nothing like I thought he would (in a good way!) For some reason, I pictured a beard.  I have no idea why.  Anyway, the best parts were some little tricks that he and Ethan Marcotte (also charming) shared, the latter of who had the more thorough and dynamic presentation.

I’m sorry, I’m having a hard time writing because there is a guy at the table next to me who just keeps staring. Stop it, dude!  I don’t think he’s really looking at me, but more like in my direction. He’s on the phone, but every time I look up, he meets my eye and it’s freakin’ me out. Stop it. No, really. Stop.

Anyway, the other great thing about the panel was meeting geeky!  I snuck up on her, actually. I walked into the room and sat a row behind her. I didn’t realize it was her until I stole a glance at her laptop and saw she had her blog up.  I said, “That wouldn’t happen to be your blog, would it?” And that was that!  We sat through the panel together and chatted a bit.  What a cutie, too!  And sweet. I dig her.  There’s a photo, but I want to get her permission before I post it.

So, here I sit, waiting for mike to pry himself from March Madness and come join me for lunch.  We got some ass scrambled eggs this morning from room service; they were runny and not just a little.  Like, they only cooked them for 15 seconds in the microwave and poured them on a plate. Ptooie.  So, we’re gonna hit the IHOP again, m’thinks.  All hail IHOP!

Then its just killing time, really, until we have to catch our flight around 7pm.  We’ll probably just hang, watch people and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.  I’ll be spending the next couple days in “hiding”, catching up on client work and preparing for the week ahead.  I have to wade through a bevy of emails, so if you’re waiting on one from me, I’ll be with you as soon as I can.

If any of my fellow panelists are reading this, you should know that I was nervous about meeting all of you (because I’m a chick like that) and you all made it so easy.  I was honored to be included with you and I admire all of your work. Thanks for such a great experience. I look forward to doing it again!

I haven’t done it yet, though. But let me tell you somethin’ kids, these panels are HUGE!  I went to “How to Be a Web Design Superhero” this morning and it was filled to the rim (not with Brim, though. That was me. Caffeinated and slightly nervous are a classic combo).  It was a great panel, though with Andy Budd and Andy Clarke. It was entertaining and it made me feel better, really, about my process as a designer and how we do things.  We utilize most, if not all the “superpowers” they outlined in the panel, which was reassuring.  But equally and possibly more reassuring was hearing that these two designers also are growing and adapting and learning to better handle clients or critique or whatever… just like we do.  I mean, I assumed that. We don’t live in a vacuum, but it was nice to hear it, straight up like that.  I think that everyone is really their own worst critic, no matter how confident you are in your skills.  It is also nice to hear that many of the designers I admire may be like me, not formerly trained.  Sure, I had a year of design school way back in the Stone Age, but I quit, knowing I could do it on my own.  Comforting, somehow.  It lets me feel like maybe, someone I admire someday may admire my work in return, however remote the possibility.

So, I’m having a cup o’ joe and taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi they’re offering over here at the convention center.  Mike‘s back at the hotel. He’s still feeling under the weather and I’m working on catching it. I think I’m just staving it off until I get home.  Fortunately, working from the couch in my bathrobe is something I do best. 

I still haven’t run into anyone I know. At all. ANYwhere. Really makes me feel out of touch. I wish I had more time in my everyday life to connect with colleagues. I feel like sometimes we’re so busy that we don’t get a chance to come up for air and really network.  Obviously, being busy is a plus, but balance is really the key, I think.  We’re workin’ on it.

Our panel is at 3:30 CST.  I haven’t seen Susie, Peter, Paul or Lisa yet.  I suppose I may have and didn’t know it, but I’m fairly conspicuous with my pink bag and pink shoes and look of complete “holy crap!” so I’m sure they’ll find me. We have to meet in the “green room” at 2:30, which I’m looking forward to, mostly so we can chat about what we’re going to say. “How to Make Money with your Blog Design Skills”… what do I say? What do I say?  Add one part coffee, two parts photoshop. Shake and serve with a CSS garnish?