When Leah and I started on this adventure doing a small, intimate blogger meetup, we put our heads together and did a bloggy prayer that it wouldn’t be just her and I sipping Mai Tais on Bourbon Street come July.
We wanted some friends to blog about.
And who better to meet with us then the partying lifestyle of mommy bloggers? Ok, Ok. Maybe not so much the partying, but absolutely there had to be bloggers out there that wanted to connect in a more 1 on 1 environment, sans kids, no lame SEO classes, and have a break. Plus, knowledge can really come from regular chat, not necessarily from structure, so we knew people would learn just by being together.
Putting together something brand new, with a new concept, and having never done a large meetup or a conference at all put us at a large disadvantage in a world that judges influence by page rank and stats. Not to mention that approaching sponsors with a blind idea and the words “New Orleans” doesn’t always conger the greatest visions.
I am happy to announce, however, that we suckered have received some amazing corporate sponsorships, our tickets are completely sold out, and the event is coming together more beautifully than I had originally imagined.
I have a feeling we will be calling it “The 1st Annual Bloggers on Bourbon” meetup after its all said and done.
Although I want to leave some things a super-secret surprise (because it would be premature for me to announce everything in the works), I wanted to currently thanks and acknowledge those that made the following happen.
Tentative Schedule:
Friday Night check in no later than 4pm and meet in the lobby.
After dinner (TBA), the rest of the evening will be supported by Lingerie.com whom is sending everyone on an ultra fun (and hopefully scary!)
Vampire tour followed with beignets at the famous Cafe Du Monde.
While the night is still young….who knows where it will bring us!
————————————
Saturday
Saturday morning, after breakfast (provided by the hotel, which by the way gave us an $89 a night rate!), we will have an official meet-n-greet in our conference room where you will be getting some amazing swag bags and meeting up with your fellow future friends. There will be some things going on in the morning (no, not in the conference room….out in New Orleans!) but I don’t want to tell everyone what quite yet.
Me likey secrets.
When lunch rolls around, Global Resort Homes is sponsoring a fabulous lunch and a giveaway for the attendees. Tara herself is flying in from Orlando to be a part of the event. She is so fabulous!
Then more super secret options for the afternoon.
(hey, I have to keep some things a surprise for now).
OUR MAJOR SPONSORS!
Just when you think the day is over, the night begins! Collective Bias and OpenSky is bringing everyone the amazing 5 star restaurant Dickie Brennens where, in our private room, you will dine like the internet celebrity you are.
Ted Rubin from Open Sky and John Andrews from Collective Bias will also be on hand so you can make those one on one connections!
(that means no jeans ladies)
Afterward Bourbon street will get its taste of all the Mommies it can handle! ….cause whats “Bloggers on Bourbon” without Bourbon Street!?
Did anyone say Karaoke?
—————
Sunday
After you have finally drug yourself down for breakfast, we will do official goodbyes and then those that are not leaving out till later can have some exploring time in the French Quarter with your new connections.
French Market shopping, more beignets..maybe a VooDoo reading or horse carriage tour? Its up to you!
——————————
I am just so proud of Leah, myself, and all the amazing sponsors for making sure that food and site seeing events were all included in this excursion. And we didn’t need to charge $500 for event tickets, or $300, or even $100 to attend.
$50.
Our ticket price for the attendance… $50.
Saturday breakfasts, lunches, dinners covered…special events on friday night and Saturday…covered! Amazing, or what?
Our goal was to put your minds on each other, not on money and we are grateful for the brands that have stepped up to make this event literally a 1 in a million opportunity for the bloggers.
Now here is the good part, no, the GREAT part. Even though we are completely sold out, we have opened up two extra spots to host a contest for a FREE ticket to two people that are dying to attend. Keep your eyes peeled on MomDot and Bookieboo/Mamavation for the announcement of how you can win one!
In fact, let me know below if you are are interested so we can make sure you know when the contest is live!
Dont be jealous of the tweets, the photos, the entire event…dont get lost in the BlogHer crowd….. be a part of something that will leave you with a memory, a friend, all while experiencing one of the greatest cities in America!
Le Bon Temps Roulez!
~trisha
PS Are you a company that wants your product in the hands of our influential and involved mom bloggers that will be there?
Contact me for details!~
This sounds incredibly awesome. In fact, this event (though sold out) is already on my the Master List of Womens & Moms Blogger Events for 2010-2011 that I publish on an ongoing basis as a community service on my blog. It’s a FREE list of all the events us blogging ladies need to know about and it’s FREE to have events listed too. Let me know how I can help promote the GIVEAWAY tickets for this, too.
I have only been to 1 blog conference before and it wasnt a full conference but a focus group about a conference. I learned a lot from that though and have done some positive things with my blog since then. I think that if I can continue to attend conferences that I can do more great things with my blog. I would also love the chance to meet some of my #mamavation sistas in real life. I <3 @bookieboo! Vampire tour sounds oh so fun!
Wow! This looks ridonkulous! Would love this opportunity so that’s why I am tweeting about it, sistas!
Paula
Wow this sounds like a dream conference! I learned the most and got the most out of the time we get to just talk with each other at conferences. I think young kiddo or not this mom would be on a plane for sure, if given the chance to attend.
It looks like it is going to be an exciting and fun trip! Everyone who is getting to go is very lucky! I wish I could have gotten a ticket and hope everyone of you have a blast!
This is really shaping up to be a fabulous conference!!!
It sounds like a blast! I wish I was going. My kids are still at an age when I need to be around, so I hope to make it to future BoB’s!
OOooeeeeee that sounds fun! Lemme know when you have that contest mama! Yer so clever….Bloggers on Bourbon. LOVE IT!
I really cannot wait to take a part of this.
Sounds like so much fun, I wish I could be there!
I so wish I could go. I just can’t afford it and I would mean my son missing school.
Sounds like it’s going to be a blast.
This sounds amazing! One day I hope I get to meet the blogging world of everyone I talk to. So wish I could be there!
I really wish I could go! I can’t wait to see what you gals come up with for next year!
I wanna go SOOO bad! Know anyone who would want to buy one of my boys..?
I would love to join you on Bourbon St! I will keep an eye open for the giveaways.
I’m so excited to be going! This is going to be so much fun! I totally need to find a sponsor too for my airfare. I can’t wait to see what surprises you have in store for us.
It sounds like so much fun! I’d love to go!!! I’m so happy for & jealous of everyone going!
i would LOVE to attend- wanted to but we are looking at layoffs come june 1st and I couldn’t spend the $50 for the ticket, knowing I might need it to cover a bill in 2 weeks! So YES, I would love to be in on a raffle for a free ticket!
You had me at Vampire tour…
I’m all about trying to win a ticket.
Trisha I’m totally up for going. I’ll find a way to get sponsored at this point.
I would love to join in the fun!! It sold out before I could get my ticket.
I would love to go. If only I had time off from work and someone to watch the kids and pay the bills. Sounds like some great sponsors too. Love window wishing at Lingerie.com. Ted Rubin is fantastic to tweet with too!
Sounds like an amazing way to connect with other women, bloggers, and sponsors. I’ll look into it!
That sounds amazing, Trisha! Way to go on all the plans & sponsorships – I know y’all are going to have a blast. I WAS going to be going to BlogHer, but things came up and now I have a ticket for sale, lol.
Bloggers On Bourbon is much closer to me (and hello! Much more reasonable, lol) Even if tickets were still available, July is going to be pretty busy so I doubt I could make THIS one, (Hey, no promises on the not being jealous thing though, just sayin’.) but when do tickets go on sale for the 2011 Bloggers On Bourbon event? Can I preorder?
BTW, you should secure a couple or so extra swag bags for a giveaway on MomDot – your readers will love it & the sponsors won’t mind too terribly getting mentioned one more time, lol.
Can’t wait to hear all about the event!! Have a little extra fun on my behalf.
I’d totally be there if I could get airfare covered!
Everything looks so cool, and sponsorships sound awesome! Wish I could be there, but I know you all will have a great time, some for me too
Hi Mamas! I won’t be able to join you this time, but I have a great to do list for my friends visiting New Orleans – I’ll look forward to reading about your fun. Remember – the red drinks will cost you a whole day a hangover recovery!
http://www.alexandrabeverlyhills.com/wp/?p=1170
What an amazing event! GREAT job putting it all together!
Woohooo! Sounds like a wonderful time is planned and such awesome sponsors, WOW! Take lots of pictures ladies!!!!!
I am SUPER excited this is exactly what I wanted to go to!
Kas
I am sooooo excited about this trip; I wish we knew everything . . .I love the anticipation of KNOWING! lol
I can NOT wait to go! I look forward to getting to know my roomie and getting the much needed break!!
Hope you plan another event. Looks like you guys are going to have a blast
Oh Emmm GEEEEEE! I can not WAIT for #BOB!
I can’t wait to show everyone my hometown!
maybe i’ll hold a bakesale for myself so i can come…
You had me at Karaoke.
I am so, so excited for this! I’ve never been to any sort of blogging meet-up…I think this will set the bar high!
Heck ya, I’ll do Kareoke!
Thanks Trisha and Leah for putting this on and thank you to all of the sponsors. Can’t wait to meet everyone!
Sounds like it would be a fun weekend! Have fun on those that are going. Gotta do some get-together thing closer to my area and other areas around so more can be involved.
I’ll be there….just have to tell DH – haven’t mentioned it as of yet.
I would have loved to come, but the airfare was just too much so I thought I would keep an eye on it, by then all the tickets were gone *sigh* Looks like so much fun, and just what I needed!
yet another exciting event I miss out on because my duty as a mother keeps me home …Sigh….maybe one day I’ll get to have some fun.
Have Extra Fun for me ladies. Can’t wait to hear all about it
I can not wait! I am so excited that this will be my first blogger event and it is with Leah, Trisha, and so many wonderful ladies!!! Thank you Leah and Trisha!
I am so excited!!!! I especially can’t wait for the surprises
WOW! This sounds amazing. I felt bad it was sold out and really want to go!! I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the chance to win a ticket.
This looks like it’ll be a great meet up. Fun events, good sponsors and good company.
If my schedule weren’t dictated by the Army, I’d be there. I think it’s awesome how affordable you were able to make it so that even those of us who’d have to fly in and get rooms would have a shot at swinging the cost.
Im so excited about this! Thanks to you and Leah for making this happen! You guys rock!
You and Leah are amazing in getting such awesome people to sponsor this! I am so excited to meet new bloggers, see you, Alicia and Blondie again. I have a feeling thanks to everyone this will be well worth it and better than anything else out there!!!! Thank you sponsors, thank you so much – I am so excited!!!
Looks awesome and the sponsorships are great. I would totally be there if it wasn’t for a family vacation that week. Who knows, if my family drives me nuts I might show up anyhow.
OMG that is so awesome. I wish I could come. SOOOO wish I could come. Tara is the best and so is Ted and Drew! I don’t know the others but I bet they are great too. Have fun!
Lee
I. CAN. HARDLY. WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!
This is going to be so much fun! I cannot wait to meet everyone! I am super excited about the sponsors and can’t wait to meet Tara IRL!!
Thanks MomDot & Bookie Boo YOU ROCK!
You freakin’ rock. ‘Nuff said.
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS!!! I’m so excited….I’m going to New Orleans for the first time EVAH! XXOO
It looks like you all are going to have so much fun! I wish my DH would have let me go. Phooey on him!