Did you sell a lot of books from your speaking at Blogworld? How about getting any folks to sign up for your newsletter? How many new listeners to your podcasts? I think any speaking engagement in front of your audience is golden opportunity.

I had a great time at Blogworld made some cool contacts and saw some good and bad speakers. Much like the PME which I have attended each year they have had it.

I will be attending Blogworld and the PME again in 2008. I love the audience at both for connections I like that some speaker aren’t polished and I can still extract some good information. If not I can walk out. Rick like Tim has done, will weed out the really crappy and salesy ones as the show grows.

Just an FYI I bought your book after hearing you speak.

Keep the commentary coming!
Mike

I have every right to review this event. The points I made in the video are not changed by the fact that they chose not to reimburse my ticket. I shared the impressions that the event left on me.

Regardless of it being in its first year, one glaring point remains which should be of concern to consumers of this show. When BWE told me that they would not reimburse my admission into the show, they said that they would have preferred to just let the session be canceled.

This means that it was not worth paying $131 (a very small amount in comparison to the cost of the overall show) to preserve a session as advertised to attendees. I have a problem with that. Yes, unexpected things will happen, but organizers should do what they can to put the show on as advertised.

This was not a fringe session either. It was podcast monetization–clearly a popular topic given the attendance to my session.

This is not about the money for me. I don’t need that $131. It’s about respect for conference attendees and speakers.

P.S. The language of your comment is very similar to communications sent to me by email from BWE.

Honestly I had to crack up at “Mike”’s letter. So Jason doesn’t have the “right” to “trash talk” the event? What, are we in high school here? HELLO, it’s the blogosphere and people’s reasoned opinions are exactly what we DO WANT.

Another of “Mike”’s points: Jason should shut up apparently unless he is willing to transform himself into an event planner and create a similar but better event?

Uh, sure, “Mike.” Great idea. Anything critical is “trash talk” and anyone unwilling to be a cheerleader for a sub-par event should “put up or shut up” by starting their own competing event. Get a grip, dude.

Gee, this all makes me wonder if it just may be possible that “Mike” is someone working for, or very similar to a guy named Rick Calvert, the organizer of Blog World Expo.

Jason, much respect for not blocking the “Mike” letter. If this is what you’re getting back from BWE, it’s pretty comical, and pretty sad too.

As a SCORE counselor that drive is usually the difference between success and failure. Keep the drive alive. It keeps others going.

I still stand by my video. I was simply sharing my experience as I saw it as is (or should be) the M.O. in the blogosphere.

There’s one addition that I need to make. Rick did offer me free entrance to next year’s BWE as consolation. However, I saw it as a weak gesture—especially since the chances are small of that I will attend next year. All the same, I failed to mention that in the video, so in fairness I add it here.

I’ve invited Rick to comment here.

@Adam,

Next time I’m calling you in to produce my videos!

As for Steve the DJ’s comments, he did do a good job but he’s right: the party seemed very disorganized, just like the rest of the show. And read his longer letter at the Yahoo forum if you want to be even more shocked: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/podcasters/message/33911.

It’s sad that’s how Blog World Expo treats people. Don’t go back! I know that I won’t.

I haven’t heard anything from BWE. Either they are not paying attention to what is being blogged about them (odd for a blogging conference) or they are choosing not acknowledge this video–which now has been posted on nine different video sharing sites. My last email to them was ignored.

If the tone of the response to my request to be reimbursed for the entrance fee had been different then maybe I would be more understanding. But it was basically “we did you a favor by ‘letting’ you speak so sorry.”

It demonstrated a lack of respect. If they really don’t have the money then they should at least be a little contrite about the fact that the event was not run as well as it should have been.

@Dee,

Thanks for the kind words. I’m agree with your “selective” philosophy when it comes to choosing conferences–not only in attending but also in where I speak now, too.

@Jay,

Glad to hear you got some valuable contacts from attending. In the end I think the value of these conferences is largely what you make of your time there and the fact that you are surrounded by like-minded individuals.