I’ll be heading to NYC in just a few short weeks for my return BlogHer, the largest women’s blogging conference in the world. I’m kind of excited to say it’s my third year. I’m starting to feel a little old school (Don’t worry. I know I’m not truly old school since I haven’t been blogging since Al Gore invented the internet.)
This year seems to be the year of making people feel comfortable about conferences before they actually attend the conference. I’m totally down with that. In fact, I belong to THREE Facebook groups devoted exclusively to pre-BlogHer chatter. And when I remember, I actually look at the BlogHer hashtag on Twitter (#BlogHer12). But I’m such a non-preparer that I will be decidedly unprepared as conference time approaches.
One thing I don’t need to prepare for is the wide variety of faces I’ll see. I’m used to it by now.
I’m not talking about individual people. I’m talking about the faces that bloggers put on. Some you’ll want to kiss and some you’ll want to smack. We are all women, after all.
So to alleviate a little anxiety about what to expect, poke a little fun, and exercise my acting chops, I’ve prepared a brief video on the top 10 blogger reactions you might expect to find at BlogHer 12.
(My apologies to anyone named Karen or Cathy. Any similarity to real persons is strictly coincidental).
170 comments
Fadra, this was fab! Â You’ve got to move to Ohio and be my next door neighbor.
Sorry. I did my time in Ohio. I put 7 years in. I can’t do the Midwest thing again. But you should totally move to Marylanf!
Okay, so I’m just going to tell myself that I’M the Cathy…..and I’m CATHYISREAL on Twitter, FYI. You ten-faced blogger person, you.
You know, I made no plans for the names. It just came out that way and YOU ARE THE ONLY CATHY I CAN THINK OF. Which is why I put the disclaimer at the bottom. And made sure I say @Cathy – NOT @CathyIsReal. Because I so know you.
What? There are private FB groups chatting about BlogHer..see now I’m feeling left out even before I go! (Kidding kind of). Also, I cannot wait to hug your face again!
I don’t think you really know what you are getting yourself into with the groups… They are, how you say, a little nutso. Yet I can’t stay away.
I watch. I read. I shake my head. And then I go back for more.
I think I might fashion my BlogHer wardrobe after yours at Type-A. We can be twinsies! Except I’ll be shorter and fatter 🙂
Hugs coming soon…
bwahahahahaha! So true, so very true, wish I could make it again this year! Lovely to meet you last year, Farrah, Shauana, Fradra… yeah…. ;D
It’s okay. Nobody gets my name right the first time. Or second, for that matter. Maybe next year?
Oh, Fadra. This is HILARIOUS! And so true. And now I’ll be self-conscious about which one(s) I might do. ::sigh:: See you sooooooon!Â
I can’t imagine you’d be anything other than #10. At least, that’s what we’ll tell ourselves 😉
Required viewing before attending. And not joking either.
Any community has its own sense of self-importance. The trick is not to take any of it too seriously or personally.
 Not taking it personally is THE HARDEST PART about BlogHer.
Well, to be honest, some of it IS personal. But you have to file that away for later and remember it for next time.
I agree! Although I’m all 10 of those at various points. Feel free to call me Sybil. Or, you know…Karen. And if you tell me I don’t look like my avatar I promise not to take offense.
That was awesome. I’m going to introduce myself as A Seven from now on.
Even Sevens make friends, right, friend?
This is hilarious.
It’s only funny cuz it’s true.
Goddamn I love you. You should move to my home … country.
I told you I will. As soon as you get rid of those bigger-than-watermelon spiders.
OMG I love this, you are right on!!!Â
Sadly it’s true. But there are plenty of #10s!!
You captured this perfectly and you were totally a “10” when we ran into each other last year. 🙂
And you are??
Hee hee. I try but I’m guilty of many of these myself.
So true. So jaded. So brilliant.
–Ann (aka Guilty on a couple of counts)
And so many more that I missed. Luckily, I seem to travel with a positive bubblesphere around me and usually avoid all the meanies.
I was definitely #7 last year – way too terrified to talk to anyone!
Awesome! Â This all at once made me super nervous and super excited. Â I’m going in with the thought that everyone will be like you. Â We miss you in Raleigh!
Don’t worry Amy!  Your roomies will look out for you 🙂
That’s what I told her!
If you’re a nice person (and you are), you’ll gravitate towards the nice people and just forget about all the rest.
So many familiar echoes. You are brilliant. I can cop to a bit of the twitter one…you forgot the person who swears you’ll hang out in the weeks leading up and then puts you off the whole conference and then tweets you the following Monday, “What happened? I *so* wanted to see you!”
Looking forward to seeing you.Â
I totally do the Twitter one. Everything needs a point of reference for me. But yeah, I have totally missed people before and then wonder how we *truly* missed each other.
Funny. You’re good.Â
I’m the one scanning the environment and also having trouble committing to getting together on the spot, because I have issues with social overwhelm, a certain, er, inability to filter, and a charmingly neurotic worry that I’m always saying the wrong thing (at least I’m self-aware.) Things happen on the spot and then I spend too much time worrying that I wasn’t nice enough or focused enough although I try so hard, and my head explodes. So new people, especially, please know that it’s often about awkwardness, cramming seeing a bunch of your very favorite people into three days, and not AT ALL how awesome you are. I can also count the crappy interactions I’ve had at BlogHer in seven years on less than one hand, so it comes correct in so many ways. Have fun, y’all. 🙂Â
Oh yeah, you’re making me think of some others. I could have totally included the blogger who makes jokes at inappropriate times because she always hopes humor will gain her acceptance. I mean, I’ve heard of a blogger like that. Not that I actually know that person. Or anything.
Laughing…oh man I have totally done some of these. Most notable the
Twitter recognition and also the “I don’t recognize you, but I’m
pretending while I work on figuring it out”. My biggest pet peeve is the
blogger who looks around the room for other bloggers while feigning
interest in you. I hate that!
It’s really, really hard when people totally recognize you and perhaps you have a middle-aged brain and all the synapses haven’t connected and you can’t quite place them. That’s when I do the corner-of-my-eye glance at the nametag.
And yes, I’ve experienced the looking around the room. Yep. Makes you feel small. But I can read body language like nobody’s business so I usually hightail it out of there,
seriously, seeing you was just what I needed. You with your cheeseburgers and fries, and I never expected you to be so cute. You were so cute. Anyway, you appeared just what I needed someone. You did.
THANK YOU for sitting with me that night. So very much.
That’s funny because it’s true. I didn’t think I was capable of laughing since we were up all night with thunderstorms and my daughter, but lo and behold, I was laughing out loud, hunched over my phone, in the kitchen.
Wanted to say, b/c I forgot: Number 4 actually happened to me. “Big” blogger threw my card back on my lap and said, “never heard of you.”
WHAT?? Ouchieee.
 And also, I have been 9 out of those 10 faces: but for totally different dorkitude reasons.
…Making the case for me not going anymore. People haven’t heard of me sometimes because I’ve been around since the Triassic and have the most generic blog name possible. It actually makes me sound stupid and/or arrogant to say, “No, not a mommy blog, I write The Mommy Blog.”
 I have known of you since forever. YOu are right: you are The Mommy Blog.
No, no, no! Not trying to steer anyone away. Just preparing people. Now I’m going to read The Mommy Blog. The one that started it all 🙂
To which you respond, “That’s because you weren’t listening.”
Also, see douchebag (yes, women can be those too).
So flippin’ funny and I’m sure you nailed it.Â
Love this!
Can’t wait to see your face.
That was FABULOUS!
THAT? Was fabulous.
NICE TO MEET YOU, FADRA. Ahem 🙂
So you’re telling me you’re a #10? Let’s hope so 😉
This was awesome. I don’t know if I should be happy or sad now that I won’t be making it to BlogHer this year. Hopefully, next year…
Focus on the mean ones and you’ll be happy. Pretend I would be mean too (even though I wouldn’t).
You nailed it!
Love it! This will be my 2nd BlogHer but I’m firmly in the #7 catagory. I don’t do well with crowds so just remember please – it is not you, it’s me!
Might I suggest an alcoholic beverage? Not seventeen or anything. Just one. It helps take the edge off. There’s a reason they serve it at all the social events. It’s called liquid courage!
But if not, I usually find people sitting by themselves and at least say hi because I feel bad. I used to struggle a lot in social situations where I knew NO ONE. Now I’m older and it’s a bit easier!
I love you. Do I know you?Â
I sing Disney showtunes in an offkey voice. You might recognize me by that.
You are a trip! Â (And boo on you not living in my state anymore!)
I’d like to say it’s too hot for me in NC but it’s been hotter here! At least we’ll have NYC 🙂
I think I’ve been all of those at some point. Very funny & spot on.
I refuse to think you were EVER #4. Right? No way.
Love it! I’m a newbie to the event but I was born, bred and raised in NY (In WI now). So, I’m the friendly one that will introduce myself to everyone and anyone at the conference. Totally looking forward to it… well, maybe I was looking forward to it until you said there are 4,500 women… umm… yeah… that’s a lot of everyone to introduce myself too! I’m up for the challenge.
Thanks for the laugh and… maybe our paths will cross… before you drink. (Because, if that’s how you are drunk, I may laugh until I can’t breathe.)
Irish smiles!
I’m an East Coast-Midwestern-Southern girl so I’m sure that’s where I got my chatty hospitality. I promised my husband I wouldn’t drink too much so I’m sure I’ll be fine. Although we never quantified “too much”…
Ahh – well then, that explains it all! 😉
As for drinking… I tell people I don’t drink because I’m Irish. When I get the quizzical look on their face, I tell them that it is because I’m Irish that I know better.
Still hoping to cross paths. I’d love to see the energy we can create given our chattiness.
Oh my gosh. I’ve met them all, too including that super sweet girl at the end. 😉
Can we please hang out at BlogHer? And not in the non-commital way?
Loved this. And now I’m really concerned that I might be one of those other bloggers… you know, other than #10.  🙂
The first step is admitting you have a problem…
No way, Julie 🙂
Love it!!! Â
Fabulous, Fadra!Â
Annnd I love you. But you knew that already. MISS YOUR FACE!! 🙂
Will I see you and baybay at BlogHer? I know I will. I know you wouldn’t miss it.
You are TOTALLY a 10! This has got to be the most hilarious, spot-on and painfully true depiction of blog conference goers ever!Â
There were plenty that didn’t make the cut and thankfully I have been personally spared most of these. But I know they exist!
Everyone should watch this before going to BlogHer! Hilarious! What about the shifty-eyed try-to-read-your-name-tag person? Or the person who is awkward in the elevator (do I say something or not?)? I think I’m the “I have so many names I don’t know how to introduce myself” blogger. Oy!
I’m TOTALLY the shifty-eyed person. I can’t talk about that though or it will give my secret away!
As for elevator chatter? I’ve met some of the best people in the elevator at BlogHer. But sometimes, I just need quiet 🙂
That was great! I strive to be the #10 on your list. I hope to succeed!
My motto? Be friendly, be yourself.
It’s the golden rule!
LOVE. LOVE, LOVE this!  I totally want to get together and hang with you at Blogher…maybe later on saturday, or possibly sunday morning because I have a lot of private parties to go to, you know? 🙂
I’ll have my people call your people. I think that’s how it’s done 😉
Fabulous post! #10 is my favorite of course! I HOPE we get to spend time together. Let’s make a plan!
Sadly I’ve had all the other conversation…the one with the person who is looking over your should for someone more interesting is brutal. Way to make a blogger feel like #&^%!
Â
Yeah, I’ve had it too. Luckily I can read that and just get out of there. If someone doesn’t want to chat, I can ALWAYS find someone else to talk to 🙂
Yes – I actually have LOTS of free time this year so I can actually socialize!
You forgot one type: The Total Spaz – she says something harmless but ridiculous and everybody laughs. That’s me! See you there!Â
Good for you, Karen. I’m close behind you with inappropriate humor because that’s what I do when I’m nervous!
See, you should totally throw in the eleventh face…. people like me…the frazzled, lost and confused person who always asks: “Oh my god, how does anyone find other people in this thing? It’s CRAZY!!! I feel like I need to wear a “newbie cap” so all these people go easy on me.”
And the twelfth face….the “star struck newbie”. The one so focused on number of followers that they discredit themselves while getting all fangirl on the more widely followed blogs.
I have seen the star struck newbie and BlogHer can be a rude awakening for them (sometimes in a good way). But if you’re frazzled and lost? The #10s will find you. We’ll recognize the blank stare on your face 🙂
That was awesome! 🙂Â
That’s to funny, I’ve seen some of your vids before and I really enjoy your personality. On the topic of meeting bloggers in person – I really love conferences for the chance to meet new people and expand my vision of the world around me. Once I booze up I even introduce myself to some of the amazing women I’m too awkward to walk up to sober. I may need to work on that last part.
Ummm, why do you think they serve drinks at every social event? A glass of wine or two is perfect. Seven glasses and… well, that probably wouldn’t go well.
Oh, how I love this 🙂 You hit them all so perfectly!
Totally spot on! 😀 I’m kinda like #5 with a pinch of #7, LOL!  I didn’t recognise a soul at one of the last conferences I went to until people started telling me their twitter handles, and then I’d be all like, “OMG! I love you!!” or “Hey! We tweeted for an hour last night!”  ROFL  First time going to a BlogHer conference, and can’t wait!
Well, at least you know what to expect now. I’m definitely a #5. I’m just a visual person and I usually warn people in advance so they know I’m not being rude. Just trying to make the connection!
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this soooo much! I think everyone should see this! Thank you Fadra. Can’t (REALLY) wait to see you again. 🙂 xoxoxo
Oh, you’re just saying that 😉
Love the video! Totally made me smile and laugh…hoping to meet more of the last blogger then anyone else at my first BlogHer12 this year! Hope to see your face but no promises about remembering your name! (I’m horrible with names)
It’s totally okay if you meet me and say “You’re that chick with that video!” You’ll find plenty of #10s as long as you look for them!
 Amazing Fadra! I will be that person going “hey you’re the girl from the video with the different bloggers you’ll meet and the cool name that i can’t remember right now lol”
I will totally be the “I know you from Twitter” face! But you, I will recognize now 🙂
Truth be told, I’m actually #5 most of the time. But it’s not a bad thing, really. It’s just a blogger thing 🙂
This is so funny! Â I have met all of those people. Â Also, I think you might have a personality disorder. Â Or, was that acting? Â Well done!
Whichever one impresses you more is what I am/have/was doing.Â
LOVE this!! 🙂
Hilarious. I think I’ve been all of the above at some point or another. IT ALL MAKES ME SO NERVOUS. But in a good way.Â
I puffy heart you, Fay-drah. I do. I promise. Unless you don’t give me any of these faces and you see right through me when I walk over … because then I will cry. In sadness. And hide in a corner. There’s a face for that – right? 🙂
This is a must watch because it really IS the truth.Â
you’re pretty much my new bff. you have got to move to central indiana. 🙂
So it IS FAY-dra. 🙂
And now I’m kind of scared that I’m no. 6, but not on purpose.
HAHA! I loved it! This will be my first BlogHer but I think I’ve met every single blogger you’ve described 🙂Â
This is perfection. Oh that acting minor is coming in handy. You should totally stop moving further away from me because I love wine and I’m a theater minor too! Cue drama and awesomeness. Just come back!
This will be my first BlogHer…I really hope that no one thinks that I am any of these bloggers! 🙂
ah this was great. i am petrified as this is my first blogging conference ever. and it is like the biggest one. Ah but hopefully, I will meet a lot of #10s. fingers crossed! I hope to meet you! (I will be the shortest one there…not kidding)Â
I’m guilty of like NINE of those things. So ya. I’m the big blog conference cow. Better people know about that now I figure. Now excuse me, I have to go eat some asparagus and practice my aim. Wink.
 I’m all, but mostly b/c I get overwhelmed and don’t know where to look.
True story.
SO funny! And so true! I’m the friend that likes to get a little away from the noise & have real conversations. But in the BlogHer environment, I find it challenging cuz I want to see alllll my buddies! It’s tough!
And THAT is why I haven’t been back since 2008. LOL. I’m always #10 and then left hanging, so I sit down and type furiously to feel less awkward until the next session. (And to think I stuffed binders for the first one in Elissa’s apartment back in 2005…)
 The post/article this could make: the beginnings of BLogHer. WOuld love what you have to tell.
“Who are you on Twitter?” – YOU WILL SAY THIS A MILLION TIMES!!! #Truth
I definitely say this A LOT. I don’t even thing we need to apologize for it anymore.
Ooh! I’m a mix between friendly, too awkward to talk to you, and pretends to know you. But my name is not Cathy so I’m going to be okay.
I’ll be able to break the ice with you. Your hair is now a dead giveaway.
Loved this. Have come across almost all 10 types at some point… #4 was the hardest to swallow, and of course it was awkward because it was my first BlogHer (’09) and no one had been cool enough to make a PSA like this to warn me that such people existed.Â
You are so cool for making this Fadra….you should totally moved to Texas and we can be BEST FRIENDS. 😉
Thank God no one has ever been directly rude to me. Hopefully they wait to do it behind my back.
And I would SO totally move to Texas but I’m pretty sure it’s freaking hot there.
Your video was hysterical! And that theater minor shone through – excellent acting 🙂 You are definitely a 10!
You are so sweet 🙂 Now I need to try my hand at Shakespeare…
that was awesome, Fadra!
Just stretching my vlogging muscles 😉
This was amazing, amazing, amazing. Thank you! I’m actually pretty nervous about BlogHer and I’m scared I’m going to be the blogger that is afraid to talk to anyone else! But as long as I get at least a few bloggers who are actually friendly near me at sessions, I’ll be good. 🙂
You will be surprised at how quickly you come out of your shell. I guarantee you will find plenty of friendly faces (um, mine! hello?)
This was so cute and helpful – and I’m not even going to BlogHer! (But if I ever do, now I’ll know what to expect and will think of you and giggle when I encounter one of these people.)
Believe it or not, these faces are not restricted to blogger conferences (except for maybe the ones about Twitter). There are all walks of life out there but blogging definitely has its own subculture!
I’m totally guilty of being #9! 😉
Aren’t we all? We just have to make sure there’s no photo or video proof.
Awesome! I would totally be #5 in some cases and would definitely be #7 in a lot of cases.
#7? You? You never struck me as that type. But I’m right there with you with #5!
i love this. i am # 7. don’t hate me. i’m so painfully shy and awkward sometimes. it’s hard. and then i do also get confused by people whose names/faces don’t match their avatar or blog name or twitter handle. that’s why i decided to streamline everything. my name is my blog is my twitter handle, etc… though i won’t judge anyone for not knowing who i am. little fish, big pond. ginormous pond!
xo
Look – I met you at BlissDom and I have absolutely NO recollection of you being painfully shy. I remember you be utterly delightful with beautiful red pants. I think you’re a 10.
I am hoping not to be #7 … but I can be kind of quiet/shy before you get to know me. And I’m @yesnofilms on twitter before you need to ask 😉 LOL.
Following you on Twitter but I can’t say I’ll recognize you from your avatar 😉
Outstanding! I wish I signed up earlier to go to BlogHer. Now I just suck! Next year. And by the way, I look just like my avatar; just a little less crooked.
You do NOT suck. You’ll just have to wait a year. It’s fun and crazy and definitely worth the experience, at least once.
Per-fect! Can’t wait to hang with you again girlfriend… unless you know, someone more important walks by. KIDDING – if I am talking with you, then you are the MOST important, my friend, really!
I’ll be the first to admit that I get distracted by shiny objects and then I feel so bad. But this year? Total focus. Unless I’m drinking.
This totally validated about every fear I have about attending BlogHer! Now I know what to look for, and what not to do 😉
At least you know what to expect, right? (trying to put a positive spin on the fears I just gave you). If you meet someone you don’t like, it’s easy to get lost in a crowd.
Such a fun vlog, absolutely love it.Â
Completely out of my comfort zone but I went to the basement and told my family NOT to come down no matter what they heard!
ROFl this is hilarious!! Not attending this year but I sure hope to in the future!! I see posts all the time about what to wear to blogher but this is the kind of stuff I’ll stress out about!! =)
This kind of stuff is way more important than what you wear. I try not to take it personally. I just put it away in the big blogging file I carry around in my head.
I was just smiling through this whole thing because Man, I’ve seen ALL those faces (and you do them so well!).  The last one is of course my favorite.  Although I gotta admit the drunk one is pretty good too.  😉
p.s. I REALLY hope to meet you this year – I’ll be the gal that looks like my picture on her and on twitter, well mostly…Â
You know, we can make that meeting happen. I’ll be around and definitely on Twitter throughout the conference!
That was so refreshing. And unexpetedly inspiring.
And totally unexpected that it WAS inspiring. Yay!
First time here and I loved it. LMAO at this–thank you!
Come back for more. I don’t always do goofy videos but you never know 😉
Farrah I mean Francine I mean Fadra, loved this. I’m going to be a first-timer at Blogher and this is all the stuff I’m afraid of so thanks for the laugh. If I run into you I promise to get your name right. (-:
GET MY NAME RIGHT! Don’t worry about anyone else’s. Just mine. You’ll be fine. Seriously. If you’re a nice person, I guarantee you’ll find others just like you.
HILARIOUS!! So wish I could go. Sigh. I would be the struck dumb blogger who’d be clutching her phone & tweeting people she didn’t dare approach in person.
Have fun in NYC!
That’s the great thing about a blogging conference – if you don’t know what do, pick up the phone and tweet! Makes you look important and gives you a good cover.
I am coveting your lipstick.
I think that might be Face 11 – Blogger Lipstick Stalker Face.
I’d love to give it to you. I think I bought it for BlogHer last year and decided it totally wasn’t my shade. I put it on for fun and then my mother proceeded to tell me she hated it.
This is hillarious!!! I promise I’ll be the friendly blogger even though it’s my first!!!
No reason not to be the friendly blogger. Looking forward to meeting you!
This is the best, Fadra! I’m not going this year but man, you really hit the nail on the head. Also? That minor in theater really did a girl good 🙂
You are hilarious! And a wonderful performer. Or someone with multiple personalities. Hope to meet all of them at the upcoming Blogher. It’s my first one, so thanks for preparing me for all the blogger types I’ll meet!
[…] This was my crowning achievement. This was my Academy Award. I got to open the Voices of the Year event with a reading of a blog (vlog?) post I did last year. […]
Okay, I don’t know if this encouraged me to go to Blogher or made me want to go screaming in the opposite direction.
That was fantastic btw. Like, beyond fantastic.
I laughed really hard out loud. The snorty kind of laugh. You could have been in pictures, kiddo. So glad I found you, you’re a hoot AND a do-gooder. Best kind of person.