Part one, because I’m sure there is more.

I know, I know…it’s only June. Why in the world am I talking about BlogHer already?  Those who have been are wondering why I’m doing this two months early.  Come on Issa, you know it’s only JUNE right? The conference isn’t until August. Those who aren’t going are shaking their heads, rolling their eyes and thinking, already? Seriously?

I know. Mea culpa. Have you looked around though? People are already freaking out. This is for the newbies. Because this time last year? I was them. I started freaking out two months prior. No joke. I started having BlogHer nightmares about this time. I’m me though, I’m an anxious person. However? I know I’m not alone. I figured I’d bring up a few things, to help you out. I’m sure I’ll come up with more later. When I do, I promise to post them.

Business cards: If you can, get them. I bought 150. I think. I came home with 40. Or something. I’ll buy new ones this year. It’s hard to remember everyone. It’s nice to have those cards when you come home. I put my name, blog name, blog address and Twitter ID on it I believe. I used Zazzle last year and paid $25.00 with shipping. But there are tons of places to get them.

It’s not you, really. It’s not: I have, well I’m going to call it people ADD. I’ll be in the middle of a conversation with someone, see someone I just have to say something to, tell you I’m coming back and then I’ll get lost. It happened a few times last year. I’m sorry if I did it to you. There is just soooooo many people and sooooo little time. Please try not to take it personal.

People are mostly nice: They will talk to you. Some people aren’t so nice. Guess what? BlogHer is real life. 1,200 or so people who all happen to blog, in one hotel at the same time. There will be people you like and some you don’t like, all there. At once. It’s okay. It’s a big hotel.

I went up to people I’d always wanted to meet and said hello. I talked to people I’d never heard of. I talked to random people in the elevator and the lobby. I walked up to people I thought I knew and then realized I had no idea who they were. All of those people were nice to me. This year, I vow to be braver. To make sure I meet the few people who I was too scared to last year.

I? Am a very nice person. I’m polite. I’m kind. I smell purty. I don’t bite. Swear. If you see me and want to meet me, feel free to come say hello.

Bloggers who you’ve always wanted to meet are likely to be willing to talk to you. Do me a favor though? Remember that they are there to visit with their friends too. No matter how big name a blogger is, nor how unknown, most of us are there to see our friends. Meet new people? Yes, that too. But try not to take it personally. I? Want to meet anyone who wants to meet me. Promise. But that doesn’t mean I’m not there to see my friends. It’s not an affront to you, if they are busy with someone else, or chatting with their friends. It’s not a personal attack on you, it’s just life.

Use the same theory you would at home, if someone is in mid-conversation wait for a slow moment to interrupt. People are nicer if you remember the manners that we teach our children.

Every year there will be posts after the fact of people who felt it was a personal attack that someone didn’t have time to talk to them. It’s generally not. This conference happens once a year. I am seeing my friends who I haven’t seen in a year. People I talk to online every day. It’s different to have this few days. To hug in person. To talk, joke, laugh and if you are like me, cry in person. 95% of the people there are there for the same reason.

Wear what you want: Wear whatever makes you comfortable. If you want a new dress for the parties, buy and wear a new dress. There will be people wearing dresses. There will be people not dressing up at all.

I promise you, I don’t care what you are wearing. Heck, I’ll barely care what I’m wearing. I saw people seriously dressed up. I saw people dressed more casually. Some dressed up for parties. I’m a jeans, t-shirt and flip-flop girl myself. I doubt I’ll change for parties. If I do, it will just be a fresh t-shirt. But that’s me. Be you.

There’s a little bit of everything. My friend brought six pairs of shoes. He’s strange though. I believe I brought two pairs of flip-flops. Whatever floats your boat. Truly. Just know, be comfortable in what you are wearing and you will be fine.

Leave the hotel: Trust me. I didn’t do it last year except for daily visits to the local Starbucks and two dinners out. LEAVE THE HOTEL. You will regret it if you don’t. I’d never been to Chicago. Want to know what I saw in Chicago? NOTHING. I won’t make that mistake again. I am not even saying leave tons. But make a point of picking one thing and doing it. I have a million things I’d like to see and do in NYC. I’ve picked two for this trip. See Central Park….not all of it mind you. But a part of it. I just want to see it. I also pan on going to Serendipity. That’s it. Two things. So that I don’t regret not seeing something.

Food: Food and water can be scarce around the hotel, although I promise you that caffeine will be everywhere. One can not live on booze and Starbucks. Enough said. Eat. Go find food. Drink water. This one speaks for itself.

Drama: There will be some. There is always some. Try to avoid it. Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes you have too big of a mouth and you step into it without meaning too. (see: me) It’s okay. It’s all okay. It’s only four days of your life.

Panels/workshops: Whatever you want to call them. There are tons of choices of pick from. I went to way too many last year. (Please see above on not leaving hotel.) I went to tons, however I only truly enjoyed two of them. The MamaPop one and the Men of BlogHer one, which was given by some of my favorite male bloggers. The rest? Meh. I can’t even remember what they were about, if that tells you anything.

See the Keynote: Plan on being around for this. I’ve heard it’s amazing. I believe it. I just don’t remember it. Because last year I was in it. I went second. I followed Bossy. I was so anxious and nervous that I barely remember that entire day. I wanted to hide in a corner and evaporate. However the corners backstage were already being used…plus hai, second. If you aren’t in it, I hear it’s the best part of the conference. (I did watch the video and I can attest to this being true.) If you are in it, well um…email me if you want. You can do it. Swears.

Swag: It’s not worth fighting over. I swear to you. It’s not. I went home with nothing, except a squishy ball from the Men of BlogHer panel. I gave it all away. If you think elbowing babies is worth a Swiffer wipe or a USB flash drive, well come see me, I’ll give you mine.

Have fun: Make it fun. Enjoy it. You are on vacation for peet’s sake. Ignore the drama if you can. Party. Meet new people. Talk to strangers. If you see someone sitting in a corner, go sit with them. Chances are? They are just as freaked out as you. Truly, BlogHer is what you make of it.

That’s all I’ve got for now. If you have anything you want to know, I’ll gladly answer it for you.