So that was BritMums Live!
June 27, 2012
Sarah Brown speaking at BritMums Live
So I went to BritMums Live! on 22nd-23rd June.
Here are the reasons I was glad I did:
- the perfect opportunity to catch up with my good friends geekmummy and geekdaddy, who I first met at university many moons ago
- also chance to meet up and gossip with lots of other bloggers I’d already got to know at previous events
- chance to meet some bloggers I’d not previously met such Older Mum and Alice from More than Toast (and Older Mum was carrying the bag she bought after reading this review on my blog – how cool is that?)
- whooping and cheering as Helloitsgemma, Penny from AResidence, Mammasaurus and the Mummy Whisperer won their Brilliance in Blogging awards
- the special guests Ruby Wax, Sarah Brown, Katy Hill and Cherry Healey were all lovely and it was fascinating to hear what they had to say
- picking up lots of useful tips from the workshops, my faves included Julia Boggio’s session on photography, and Ruth Arnold’s session on videoblogging
- really amazing Bloggers’ Keynote session
- some interesting conversations with sponsors – including style advice from TK Maxx
- excellent items in the goody bags – will be blogging about some of the items that particularly impressed me and my son
- having a hotel room all to myself
And here are the things I wasn’t quite so impressed with:
- too many people and too much content – I had seriously run out of steam by the end
- some of the ‘Discussion Den’ sessions with multiple people talking were quite frustrating – e.g. I would have liked to heard more from Zoe Williams
- a strong sense that the only really good blogger is someone who pours their heart out about private matters when this has never been my style
- half-naked wine waiters with #winebuffs written on them – not funny and made me somewhat uncomfortable
- a trendy bar in the hotel and a firework display nearby did not make for a good night’s sleep
- the goody bags were extremely heavy and kept slipping off my shoulders – I could have done with chance to edit them before I headed home and I should have brought a wheelie suitcase with me to carry the really heavy items
I’ll be adding this post to the BritMums Live! linky – check there for lots of other perspectives on the event.
That bag did me proud, and I’m with you on the pouring your heart out thing. I like to keep certain things private. You should only share if you are comfortable with it. Great review. I was so tired by the end too!
I’m so pleased you like the Mia Tui bag as much as I do. And thanks for reassuring me that I’m not weird to avoid pouring my heart out online.
Ps It was very nice to meet you too albeit briefly!
Ditto!
Good to meet you. Get a sense you are a very interesting woman.
Good to meet you too – and I’m flattered that you get the impression I’m an interesting woman
Nice post and thanks for the feedback! Sorry we didn’t get to chat in person – we’ll have to hook up next year!
So glad you came along and sorry we didn’t get to chat. It’s good to hear feedback – positive as well as constructive criticism. Seeing so many bloggers together and reconnecting with old friends was one of the highlights of the two days for me too.
I’m very glad I came along. I’ve only been blogging a year but people have made me very welcome and BritMums has been a key part of that. Thanks!
Oh no, I was there and didn’t meet you – gutted!
completely ignore that last comment – I got mixed up between two people, I did meet you, and you are lovely! and I’ve now matched person to blog *facepalm*
It was lovely to meet you too! (don’t worry about mixing me up with another blogger – it’s easily done)
It’s because your hair is longer now than in your picture (and because I am very stupid) xx
I probably need to do a new photo!
I’m really enjoying reading about everybody’s experiences at BritMums Live! It’s making me think that I might try going next year.
I hope I get chance to meet you at a blogging event soon. You might also want to consider going to a BlogCamp – much smaller and slightly less overwhelming than BritMums Live. Free to attend too. I also enjoyed Cybher very much.