Bummed AND relieved at the cancelled BlogHer 08 conference
Tuesday, 16 September, 2008 at 5:42 PM If last week's theme was "I love Squarespace more than ever before," this week's them has been "Um, Melody, how do you anticipate fitting this in on top of that, and that, and that?" (Yes, thank you, I'm quite aware that it's only Tuesday. My point.) I've been reworking my schedule, trying to make room for things I need to do and scaling back on things that are important but not vital. For this week, next week, and the week after that.
In spite of the evidence that suggests I should cut one or two hours of sleep out of my nightly rest, I was no less disappointed to learn that the BlogHer 08 stop in Greensboro isn't happening on October 18, after all. This information came to me by way of an email telling me that not only was it being cancelled, but my registration fee is being refunded even as they write. It was a nicely-written note, and of course I understand the reasons offered:
One year ago, in response to community polling about where BlogHer’s annual event should take place, we created an ambitious plan to spend two weeks on the road visiting six cities. Although we have done casual meet-ups in various cities in prior years, our goal here was to bring each city a full BlogHer Conference experience, including multiple tracks of programming, full meals, schwag and a fun cocktail party. At only four weeks out from the Tour’s start we realized that we simply would not have the resources to deliver that kind of high-quality experience in all six cities and instead have decided to focus on the two cities that have the most sponsor and community member support.
I get a little ahead of myself, all the time. So they did too - can't fault them for realizing it at this stage. Especially if interest and participation weren't what they'd anticipated. There are so many factors to weigh in such decisions. (I'm suddenly reminded of a fundraiser I helped plan a little over a year ago that ended up getting nixed. After the posters and postcards and press releases, etc., had been out for a while. Was mortified - the event felt like 'my baby' - but based on the information we had at the time, there was no other choice. I'm confident that's the case here, as well.)
And? ConvergeSouth is still being held on October 16 and 17! I have no doubt that I'll be exposed to more information, as it is, than my brain can process and turn into practical application. And I'm still very much looking forward to ConvergeSouth 08. But with a busier-than-ever schedule now, I can only imagine how October is gonna' go. I'm thinkin' 2 days of blogger conference sessions will be more than enough.
Melody
Okay, relieved is so the wrong word. I just paid a visit to my website and saw that I did, in fact, declare to the world (or to the 75 or so people who will visit my site tomorrow, same thing,) that a part of me is relieved that BlogHer Greensboro was canceled. It occurred to me, in hindsight, that people are going to read this declaration and get the wrong impression. Because I gave it to them.
That I'm relieved is frankly not true at all. I wanted to go to that convention. I really wanted to go to that convention. And I really am bummed that it's been canceled.
What I should have said is that when I Iearned, this afternoon, that I could not go, while I was bummed I wasn't totally distraught. Because I cannot quite imagine how I am going to get through this week and accomplish everything I've said I would do. And if I can't imagine how I'm going to get through one teeniny little old week, then how on earth can I muster the proper amount of disappointment at the loss of an event that had been heretofore scheduled for one month from now? Alas, I cannot. I'm disappointed, yes. But since I've seen my calendar and I know what's going to be happening between now and then? I won't call it relief, because yea, that would be a lie. But I can let it go. Because by the time that date gets here, chances are I'll be doing well to get through 2 days of conferences, much less 3.
That's all I was saying. More or less.