Earlier this year I had the opportunity to attend the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, TX. Perhaps as exciting as attending the festival was that I would have the opportunity to finally meet some people at b5media that I’d been working with for over two years already.
Normally I’m a bit of a tight-wad and wouldn’t spend money to attend an event like this, but through the generousity of b5 and a contest they were having that I won, I was able to win a free SXSW pass and lodging for the week. I had an absolutely great time hanging out with everyone and having fun at the b5ranch. It was a great week.
When the information about Blog World Expo coming up in Las Vegas, I again got excited about trying to figure out a way for me to go and hang-out with everyone again and hopefully meet even more people. My was going to Vegas with a few of her friends for a long weekend, so I figured it would be an easy discussion on me going as well. I have friends in Vegas that I could stay with for free if I needed to save money on lodging, and they’ve even said I could use one of their cars anytime I was there if I needed transportation. The only cost to me again would have been getting out there, the Blog World Expo pass and food. We’re planning on?a family trip to Disney World in December for our Christmas present to each other, so I just didn’t plan on swinging it and let the idea of me going die down.
Then b5 announced they were going to have another contest and the prize was a free-ride to BWE. I had a great idea for the contest, I just had to put it together. I was just too swamped with work on everything else I didn’t get it done. The winning entry video suprisingly enough, was very similar to the direction I was going with my idea. So close!
Regardless of whether or not I get to BWE for free or even cheaply, the real thing I’m missing is another opportunity to develop deeper and stronger relationships and friendships with the folks at b5media. As great as all the tools we have like twitter, Facebook, Skype, etc., for staying in touch and connecting with each other; sometimes it just can’t replace live, face-to-face interaction with other humans (and Ed!).
The conversations that happen (which leads to new websites), understanding just how powerful a tool like twitter can be, the memories, the laughter, the business insight and opinions, and on and on. That’s all great stuff that has some serious value to what it means to live this life and share the experience with those around us.
If you’ve got the chance to go somewhere and meet people that you work with that you normally wouldn’t meet. DO IT! It doesn’t matter if you work for b5media, or anywhere else. Doesn’t matter if you work together. Build relationships with people you normally wouldn’t. Enjoy it. Understand the value. Just Do It!
I don’t know if we are going yet or not… It’s getting to be time to decide though isn’t it. I was half hoping you were saying you were going and were missing those who wouldn’t be there… then I would have another pebble on the Going to go scale. At this point it is leaning the other way…
Maybe we can both use each other to convince each other that we should both go. Confused yet?
I’ll go. I should get to go. I want to go. I’m sending I want to go juju’s out into the world. WORLD EXPO? Hello. They need a little estrogen up in that place.
You should go…Amanda & I registered and looking forward to it. It sounds like a great opportunity AND I’m *finally* going to be able to meet a few of our clients face-to-face (one of which some of your fellow b5ers are beta testing a WordPress plugin for at the moment).
Oh, and on the Disney World thing…I don’t know if you have the plans set already, but whatever you do avoid that at all costs between Christmas and New Years…the crowds are horrible (and I’ve been to WDW a lot) due to everyone being off work plus the numerous college bowl games going on in Florida (two of which are in Orlando). Late November-Early December is much better (Early-Mid May isn’t too bad either).
Looks like I’ll probably be heading to Blog World Exp after all. Just have to figure out how to save as much money as possible on airfare. We’re going to Disney World the beginning of December. We’ve found that the timing then is perfect. Too far past Thanksgiving for people extending that holiday and too far away from Christmas for people extending that vacation. I have no problems at all taking my kids out of school for those days either.
Sounds good…be sure to register before the 22nd for a 25% discount…and e-mail me if you want an additional discount code.
http://www.kayak.com and http://www.airbedandbreakfast.com should get you there the cheap route. Check Southwest too. Good luck!
We’re going Southwest…~$250 round-trip with fees and such…that’s about $100 cheaper than all of the other airlines we looked at.