It’s hugely exciting to have had the opportunity to speak about travelblogging at SxSW, but it’s possible that the most existing moment during Blog Highways was when we walked into the room and found it full to overflowing. My partner, Sheila Scarborough and I, could not have been more delighted with the turn out. Travelbloggers, represent!
We had a lot of well respected folks in the audience too — Jim Benning, Val Connors, and Mike Yessis from World Hum, Wendy Perrin and Tom Loftus from Conde Nast Traveler, Roger Wade from Boots N All, Matthew Cashmore from Lonely Planet… and some well known bloggers, too, Kelly and Austin from Travellious (they’re nominated for a best travel blog award) and Shannon Hurst Lane from the Traveling Mamas. It was great to have such well known people in the audience because they could help answer the questions– I particularly enjoyed that Matthew Cashmore could speak directly to the question of sponsorship, that Todd Lucier could address the question of working with CVBs, that because of the great voices in the room, answers could come from the floor, not just from up front.
My head was absolutely spinning by the time it was over, it is overwhelming to have 50-75 people hanging your words, and standing up in front of a room implies a kind of authority that I just don’t feel. But it was also wonderful to feel so very supported by the crowd there — it felt like the room was full of friends that I just don’t know yet.
Afterward, we rounded up many of the people I’ve mentioned already and a few more, including Elliot Ng from Uptake, and went first to the Four Seasons for drinks and then to Guero’s for Mexican food. I loved going from the swank immaculate bar to the packed and noisy Tex-Mex joint, from San Pelligrino in a fancy glass to beer in a bottle, and I loved the chance to talk travelblogging with people I know and respect, but have had almost no 3D time with.
What a perfect day.
Great session, Pam. You and Sheila were wonderful. Cajun Mama, Elliott Ng, Kelly Goodman and Todd Lucier really captured the energy of the room for those of us who could not be there. Was very exciting, even tuning in from afar. And thanks for your hilarious SXWX observations. You’ve helped create a very entertaining weekend!
Thrilled to hear that your talk went well! Love that such a crowd turned out – congrats!
One note: TravelingMamas.com is up for the same “Best Travel Blog” award at the Bloggies that Travellious is. 🙂
Pam – you so rock. I’m glad that you and Sheila were representing the Travelblogging community!
Indeed 60 to 70 peeps in the room and over 100 views online. Inspiring to have such an enthusiastic and supportive travel blogging community.
Thanks for bringing us all together Pam and Sheila. Absolutely wonderful meeting so many folks I follow. So glad I made it to Austin for this.
Congrats once again Pam!
A couple of us were actually watching live via @toddlucier’s iPhone feed.
How cool! So we got to watch you and Sheila (and yes! I watched all the way from Stockholm)
Cheers
L
Outstanding – congratulations!
Loved your comment about the Travel Blogging community being all inclusive; no “A” “B” or “C” list bloggers.
Your presentation with Sheila Scarborough really did come across like “it takes a village.” A really well connected, LinkedIn, Twittered, Facebooked on-line community, but a community none the less!
Now if we could get a jumbotron for Todd to live stream during Chicago’s BlogHer and TBEX, we’d be set.
Well done, Pam!
I was chatting with Val (World Hum) this morning about the whole A list blogger thing and feeling both blessed and irritable – there’s a talk on about blog competitiveness and while I wanted to attend, I really would rather have watched it on TV, Jerry Springer style. I really DO believe there is no A-list in travel. If there is, I don’t know about it, or I’m not on it, so I’ll just continue to pretend it doesn’t exist.
I’m honored to have shared a panel with you, Pam, and so thrilled that it turned out well. Then again, with the two of us obsessing about it for months on the phone/via email/on Twitter, how could it NOT have been a success?! 🙂
Certainly agree with you that we could not have asked for a better audience, both in the room and digitally from afar. I feel very blessed to be a part of such a community of wonderful wanderers.