Conference #2 under my belt: #BConnectedConf different but equally great!

 My first first Blogger Conference was Blissdom Canada 2013, and in terms of size a much bigger, busier and established conference than my second. There were lots of bloggers, sessions, workshops, and speakers. I had just started Cathy Thinking Out Loud, and the learning curve was steep as you can see from my post conference post Reflections: Did I Find My Bliss? Tickets have just gone on sale for this year's Blissdom Canada 2014  and I fully intend to be in the middle of all that big and busy again.

Last week I attended my second Blogger conference, the BConnected Conference 2014 . This conference was much smaller in terms of attendees, and it was its debut year. The formats were different, but I found both to be very good value for the cost of the ticket. BConnected was two full days of speakers, and presentations on a very diverse range of topics. Each speaker brought a different perspective, and offered bloggers, brands, and speakers alike a better understanding of each others, role, skills, goals, and perspective. The conference offered each group face to face opportunities to network, engage, and build relationships that have the potential to completely change lives. Who knows what the ripple effect will be? Many of the most valuable things one gets from attending conferences aren't tangible. It is difficult to place a value on friendships and networking opportunities, but they are equally if not more valuable than the information the speakers have to share. I had the opportunity to see friends I had met in the past again, and to met others IRL (aka In Real Life) for the first time. 

I am a sponge .... there I have admitted it. I love nothing better than to sit listening and taking copious notes about a presentation on almost any topic, regardless of whether it applies directly to me or my life. To me this is bliss. All these notes and presentations are the catalyse for future calls to action, and posts, and dialogue. The Bconnected Conference was chock full of these! Worth every cent of the price of admission. Bconnected was a very positive experience for me and I will be back for sure for BConnected Part Deux. Three cheers for the organizers who worked so hard to make it such an overwhelming success!

One last note, which I am sure will not make me any friends, but I am going to say it none the less. It always surprises me when people show a total lack of respect for the both the speakers, and the attendees who have paid to attend, by talking through a presentation. Personally I think it shows very bad manners. I was disappointed to have experienced this at both conferences. If you have an urgent conversation, or merely do not find the current speaker or subject matter to your liking, have the courtesy to leave the room and not disturb others who have paid specifically for that privilege. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about the BConnected Conference. 

Note: I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers my reflections and experiences about attending Blogging conferences.