Nothing’s worse than being so far away from where you really want to be.

From my perspective … it was nice to meet and chat with you for a few minutes in the bloggers lounge. If you met any other folks like me who were just looking to put a real person with the online presense then you should consider that little piece of the conference a success. Face time is big … and in my case you were the giver in that you didnt have to sit and chat with me. What did I have to offer you? That makes me a fan – see what I’m saying? Relationship building.

But, you’ve got great points here no matter what my take is.

Thanks man!!

@franswaa

Dont criticize yourself, you are always your worst critic anyway. ever heard yourself speaking on an audiotape or mp3 (nowadays ) its so horrible

@Sean – Thanks, I appreciate it. I find that transparency can be uncomfortable in the short term but is the best long term strategy. Plus, trying to fake it rarely works, I mean, nobody would believe I was a party animal, heh

@Sue – Exactly, you might save some dollars but when you don’t have the option of escaping for a short while you really miss it.

@Charlie – Don’t wait for SXSW, come to Blog World in Vegas. There is even a travel blogging track at this years Blog World

I also absolutely agree about the hotel issue. I have a couple of physical limitations and willing to pay big money to actually stay at the actual hotel where an event is held. A) I physically need the downtime and B) It allows me to occassionally sneak away for quick mental health breaks when I need them. Last year, when NTEN NTC’s conference was happening in San Francisco, I opted not to get a hotel room and just commute in to the city for the conference and really regretted it.

Wow! Powerful post. Not so much the points about SXSW but the “brutally honest” nature of it (as per Cliff, above).

I know more than my fair bit about being less than outgoing; it really stunted me for years. Luckily I finally worked my way out of it; it’s still there in the background, but I’m so used to smacking it down by now, that I’d nearly have to go looking for it if I wanted it. But, I still can totally identify with what you describe.

To me, what is powerful about this post is your transparency & honesty. Knowing that the world is looking on, but still giving such a warts-and-all account of your own performance; inspirational, and you end up coming across as a class act. Well done.

Sean

Brutally honest. Thanks for sharing this experience. I’ll look for you next year should you make it back.

I know I enjoyed our conversations. You were insightful and listened very well. A lot of bloggers on your level just blow people off and don’t even try to enjoy the F2F time.

In my book you got an A+. I’m not sure how they grade across the pond, but you did a great job.

@Valeria – You were the opposite of suck, you rocked

@George – My wife is the outgoing one in our pairing too, but she is really not into this world and only tolerates it because it pays the bills, heh Well, take that back, she thinks some of the people are really cool providing they don’t talk shop

@Tamar – Would love to catch up with you. You must come to Blog World, let’s not wait a year!

They’re fun conferences for tech nerds like us

Glad your daughter is 100% fine. That’s the important stuff.

For those of us, really really on the outside, What is SXSW? and Blogger World? and what other conferences, conventions and meetups should we know about??????

@James – Deb’s halo does that, plays havoc with getting my paparazzi on

@Darren – Yeah, I tend to go for the round table sessions, meals, quiet beer, coffee etc. Problem is that doesn’t scale so I have to break out of my comfort zone to see everyone even fleetingly :/

@Amber – Blog World is going to be even more awesome this year as it is happening right at a hotel, even easier to get back to your room for a recharge that way! Make sure you say hi

@Lana – It wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t at least a little critical of myself Glad you liked it

@Henri – Me too, and it is over the meals you really get to know people rather than the fake elevator pitches and lame jokes (I didn’t do any of the former but lots of the latter, heh)

@Derek – I love it when people introduce theirselves to me, saves me doing it in the other direction Always say hi if you spot me I’m actually getting better at it though, I had some nice conversations in taxis of all places