I really, really wanted to go to BlogHer this year, but with times being what they are and blah blah blah, we just couldn’t afford it.
So! I have an idea. I’ll make up for it with a Fake BlogHer (BlogHer Splenda? BlogHer Toupee?) here in Ottawa.
Here’s what I’m thinking. I’ll plan a one-evening event for any bloggers in the area, male or female, who would like to attend. I’ll book a venue (a bar? a restaurant? an auditorium? someone’s house?) and we’ll get together for fun and socializing.
But also! There will be readings. Anyone who is interested can choose their favourite post from the past year and take a turn at the mic, reading out loud.
I’m eyeing Thursday, July 23rd, as it is the first day of the BlogHer conference — so I’ll have something constructive and bloggy to do, other than sitting at home wimpering into my cup of tea.
What do you think?
Comment and let me know:
a) if you’re interested in coming,
b) if you’d like to do a reading,
c) what kind of venue you think is appropriate,
d) what you think we should call this thing.
If I get say, 10-15 interested parties, I’ll do more than just blog about it, I’ll actually make some phone calls!
Feel free to cross-post this info if you think this is a great idea, and you can reach a wider audience.
TurtleHead 
I wish I was in Ottawa! I’d love to go. 🙂 Maybe another year….
I’m in.
I think the venue would have to depend upon how many people are interested in attending something like this.
I like the idea of giving a reading. You should put a time limit on it, you know, for those people who tend to go on and on and on and on. 😉
As for a name? That’s the hard part. I’m at a loss. FlogHer?
(Clearly I need coffee before I get creative.)
Me! Me!
My only issue would be whether the venue would be open to nurslings. I will have a 6 1/2 month old at the time who may or may not be able to be left alone for a longer period of time at that point. His schedule for the night will determine my availability if it’s somewhere I can’t bring him.
As for a name? Oh gosh…
BlogHERE? (“here” as in Ottawa)
BoogHer (can you tell I have young boys??)
Awesome! Count me in. I will tweet it because there was talk about this type of thing on Twitter a few weeks ago. If that is okay with you? There are a ton of Ottawa bloggers on Twitter. #ottawomen was the twitter linky thing (I dont know what it is called, can you tell I am a new tweet 🙂 )
Awesome, go ahead and twitter! I am totally new to Twitter — basically I just ignore my account (which is turtle_head, if anyone wants to follow my non-entries and non-posts). What is yours? I have no idea how to find people on Twitter!
Lynn, I think that this is a great idea! I’m with Chantal, I’ll send it out on Twitter. I’m a much more active on Twitter compared to blogging. (BTW, the linky thing is called a hashtag.) I’d totally go, let me know if you want/need any help in organizing things.
Wish I stilled lived in Ottawa, is what. Good luck and fabulous idea … best wishes.
It’s a great idea and I’d love to come and I’ll be happy to use our Otttawa Breakfast Blogger’s mailing list to help promote it. A few of us had actually discussed having something like a mini-blogger conference some time, but I guess no one was motivated to organize it. We could try to invite some really prolific, popular blogger like Yarn Harlot to come and give a talk (if she’s not at BlogHer). As to venue, it would depend on how many are coming. Middle of summer we could maybe do something outdoors in a park? BBQ/potluck?? Keep me posted and I’ll do what I can to help.
I think a guest speaker is a great idea, XUP. I also had this idea but I thought maybe we should wait until next year (see, I’m already planning NEXT year’s event!).
If we get a lot of interest and there is going to be a lot of readers, I think we should just try that for this year. Next year we can have a two-evening event :).
Can lapsed bloggers attend? If so, count me in!
I think this might turn out to be a lot huger than 10-15 bloggy peeps. I’m in.
I probably wouldn’t attend since I’m not big on letting people who know me find out I have a blog, but I fully support the idea!
Keep in mind though that if you open this up to any Ottawa bloggers, you might get some weirdos so I definitely suggest you do not hold it at someone’s house and that you don’t give out last names or contact info.
As for a name, how about BlogOtt (pronounced blog-got)?
I’d love to go! (But I have a morbid dread of public speaking, so I’m not doing a reading, ok?)
I’ll be happy to read Zoom’s stuff for her, because he definitely should be heard!!
I’m in. (And Twitter got me back to your blog after an absence). I think the reading idea is a good one and the getting to know each other in real life would be great.