You gotta have a tough skin to be a blogger and you gotta have a tough skin to be the organizer of Blogfest. And that’s the truth as Lily Tomlin used to say.
The day after Blogfest I was under attack for having a sponsor and for not disclosing that I was given a bottle of vodka, a Flip camera, access to a VIP gala, and linkage from the Absolut Facebook page.
There. I did it. Again. Now you know. And if you didn’t already know: a well-known vodka company sponsored Blogfest and sent some swag my way.
Yesterday I was tired from the event and from months planning the event. A live event is stressful, you never know how things are going to turn out. I am always primed for disaster, for things going wrong, for chaos.
There was a big crowd and getting them into the space, tagging them, etc. was time consuming and stressful. The show started 30 minutes late.
The Spike and Lemon portion was unrehearsed and I had no real idea how long it would run or what Spike was going to do when he got up to the podium. The vodka company said he’d be there for five minutes. I’m sure he exceeded that. He sort of bit my head off (humorously) when I tried to move things along (“I’ve got this covered. Chill miss,” was what he said).
The party was lavish and fun. I had two drinks. The martini was tasty. The cocktail was not my kind of drink at all. The combination of ginger ale and apple/ginger vodka gave it a funny taste. People seemed to prefer the martini.
The food by Oaxaca, a new Fourth Avenue restaurant (chosen by me) was wonderful and I am very happy that I chose them to cater the event. Jake, who is a part owner, is a good guy and he really came through. The food was delicious, warm, fresh and plentiful. The restaurant has a catering arm and they really know what they’re doing.
My feeling during the show, the Blogs-of-a-Feather breakout groups and the party was that people had a great time. The next day the naysayers were more vocal.
Like last year, the Blogs-of-a Feather element impressed me. Bloggers and wanna-bloggers like talking to other bloggers to get advice, share insight and information. Some of the groups lasted until 10PM and I think that’s very cool.
Reading the comments on Brownstoner and the NY Times I found out what I already knew: some people like me (“You like me, you really like me,” as Sally Field famously said at the Oscars) and some people don’t (hey, what else is new? I’ve been slammed since I started this blog and the Smartmom column. I’m used to it).
Still you need a tough skin and fast fingers to defend yourself from unpleasant attacks of your character.
That said, it’s all food for thought. I got lots of useful comments, advice, criticism, complaints and compliments. I take everything that was said very seriously and I am really listening and wondering and pondering and thinking.
And that’s the truth.
Attacking the attacker hardly pushes the discussion forward. While I think brownstoner was over-the-top, as he clearly states above, his criticism is more of a theoretical one than against the fact of sponsorship.
And I do agree that Louise does a wonderful job in organizing bloggers and giving them a great venue in the blogfest (and a great party). Do keep that up!
That said, I watched the blog-call (I did not attend the event) and cannot agree with the above. As one who detests rap and finds it assaultive to the senses—the exact opposite to listening to poetry or Shakespearean language, for example (no doubt an age-related issue)–I would probably have walked outside for a breath of fresh air during it.
The DJ was Van Vader. http://www.vanvader.com
here’s what we posted on another related thread below:
For the gazzillionth time, we’re not critical of the fact that the event was sponsored at all. The way Absolut tried to coerce bloggers, many of them small bloggers earning little or no income from their blogs, is what we were critical about. Our only point, and it’s a narrow but very important one, is that any blogger who played ball with Absolut needed to disclose it in some way. Failure to do so makes readers distrust the entire medium, and that hurts all of us. In fact, it’s serious enough that the FTC put rules into effect that year that require certain bloggers to reveal when they’ve received items for free. This particular instance may not have met the legal standard of that rule, but it’s the court of public opinion that matters most. Anyway, we don’t need to beat this dead horse any more. Hopefully the Blogfest will emerge bigger, stronger and more legitimate from this learning experience next year. Not that we’ll be holding our breath for an invite or anything…
Had SUCH a good time. Could you tell me who the DJ was? I can’t find his information anywhere on the Blogfest site. Thank you!
I read Brownstoner’s self-serving diatribe condemming the lack of transparency of the blogfest and the fact that it had been “hijacked” by Absolut.
The pathetic thing is that he wasn’t anywhere near the blogfest tuesday night and got all his information from other bloggers with their own agendas. SHAME ON HIM.
As many have commented, Brownstoner is certainly the last “blogger” to discredit someone else for having a sponsor.
Louise worked tirelessly to produce the event. She was happy to have Absolut sponsor the event in order to allay the costs which in the past have come out of her own pocket.
The blogfest was an incredibly exuberant and fun event this year –
And thank you Louise for all your hard work.
It wouldn’t be a big deal if Absolut gave Louise a bottle of vodka for throwing the event! She deserves many (if she wants them). But as far as blogging “integrity,” the issue is bloggers who wrote posts about “stoop life” in Brooklyn – at Absolut’s request/suggestion – and for agreeing to do so were given a FlipCam. This actually violates Federal Trade Commission law (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-paul/new-ftc-blogging-regulati_b_311851.html) and does change the blogging orientation. We’re writing blogs and people trust that the blogger has a certain “authenticity” (as Jake from Gothamist stated). To go writing about stoop life and Absolut without disclosing that it’s an veiled ad is not right. It changes the blogging rules, orientation and what’s so great about blogging (or has been). I think it is totally different from having ads on your site. Combining a post and an ad in your own ‘voice’ IS different.
I’ve read everything – or at least a LOT – that’s been written on the controversy and opinions on this year’s BlogFest. I think the shout out and also more audience participation (Q&A) as BIB suggested are both really important. The BlogFest seemed to me a bit too preoccupied with how “bloggy” Brooklyn is (that’s sort of a few years ago now) and needs to be about blogging and community and whatever else is deemed important. “Brooklyn” may need to take a back seat. (And FIPS is right – if Manhattan did what Brooklyn does — a la “Manhattan BlogFest” — it would get flack. It’s because Brooklyn is still slightly the underdog, that it’s deemed ‘okay.’)
Nonetheless, there are things, yes, I would do differently If I organized the event. Still, I got a lot out of it and I realize it’s A LOT of work to organize (all consuming, I’m sure). The event – despite all the emphasis on Brooklyn – had less of a home grown flavor and feeling to it and whether that was ABSOLUT / Spike Lee’s involvement or not, I don’t know. I also could have done without Marty Markowitz – proclamation or not, I think it would have been great if Louise had said no to that! Still, Louise and OTBKB were at the forefront and she has helped many of us starting out which is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your leadership, insights, balance and sense of humor. I’ve always really appreciated your work and commitment to our neighborhood. Most sincerely –
Wow. Louise, sorry to hear you’ve been getting slammed. I think you did a wonderful job. For all the time and energy you devoted to this event, you deserve at least a bottle of vodka! It’s not as if you’re a public official and you need to disclose these sorts of gifts. It’s not as if Absolut is paying you big bucks or anything. Anyway, you’re a wonderful community leader and I’m a huge fan!
Thanks for all of your hard work.
When a woman sticks her neck out to take risks as a leader in a community, she often is the recipient of attacks which are personal and viscous in nature. These attacks represent sexism at its worst.
It is so much easier (and more cowardly) to sit back and criticize leadership and organizing efforts than it is to roll up your sleeves and actually help out and be a support.
Having organized this event in the past with Louise, I know about the countless hours and the heart that she puts into this evening. I also have experienced Louise as being extremely open to new ideas and input in the organizing of Blogfest. She is willing to try new things every single year and not just rest on what was done in the previous year. That takes courage.
I personally had a blast at the event. I loved dancing to the awesome dj music at the end and grabbing my friends and new friends for group photos with Hugh Crawford.
I loved having the scope and depth of what bloggers do reflected back in a rap, a photo tribute, and a film.
Thanks, Louise. Don’t worry about the naysayers. Just celebrate all the good that has come out of five straight years of putting together a really interesting, inspiring, and fun event. You continue to make a huge difference to many people and to the Brooklyn community as a whole.
We had a great time! For what it’s worth, the highlight for us (my partner and I co-curate our blog) was the topic breakout groups — ours being “parenting.” It was so much fun getting to meet the bloggers we know online but of course had never met in person. I’m hoping we made some real connections, and that we’ll all meet up again in a different setting to continue to share ideas and tips.
I would have loved to have had time to meet up w/ more than one topic group, which might be something to consider for next year. And it was awfully hard to hear each other talk (even at close range) in the Lyceum. Know acoustics are often an issue in big venues, but being able to hear better would be a plus for future years.
I’d never been before and so had never seen the Shout Out — understand others may have missed it, but I thought the “blog-call rap” was clever and fun (and we got a quick shout-out!). I can see how letting individuals speak at an even of that size could become unmanageable….
Anyway, awesome job! Thanks for playing hostess and we look forward to next year’s bloggy shin-dig! Enjoy your bottle of Absolut — you deserve it. :)
Just do your thing Baby!
Brownstoner is a Hypocritical Retarded Bastard!
I bet he wanted something from Absolut and when he didn’t get it, this is his version of a ‘temper tantrum’! See Third and Bond – they get a post every week and advertise on his Blog, disgusting!!!
See all the posts covertly promoting Condos and new High Rises?!
Don’t bother calling him out on it he will ban you!
He’s really a Punk!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end..
There’s been all kinds of criticism of BF2010, some fair, some misplaced, and I know that you will take it all on board. Anyway here’s some straight simple and practical suggestions for the debrief.
1. Bring back the shout out: Many people were there thinking they’d get to shout their blog out. It always takes longer than expected, has moments of chaos and can get pretty random. But that’s why we love it! It is the best way to present what is at the core of blogfest: celebrating blogging, giving the many voices a stage and putting faces to URLS.
2. Bring back questions for the panel: It gives proceedings an edge and unscripted interest. It’s also much more engaging.
3. Maybe have the panel question blogging around a specific point. Perhaps responsibility, community, commodification or sharing. It would be great to have more of a debate.
Bless you, Louise. You did a fine job.
Organizing an event that brings together several hundred independent, low-budget souls — I’d say that describes most bloggers — is not easy, and not likely to be profitable as a grassroots endeavor. Someone who works as hard as Louise (on OTBKB and in her SmartMom column, where every week she exposes her life to public scrutiny) isn’t about to sell out for a $29.99 bottle of liquor.
I hope the cheap shots of critics won’t get her down.
If I’d choose to be a cynic instead of the sunny, perpetual optimist that I am, I’d suggest that if Brownstoner was organizing the event, it wouldn’t be satisfied with a bottle of Absolut — it would want a pot of gold. For Brownstoner, of all Brooklyn blogs, to impugn Louise’s integrity based on her receipt of a few cheap trinkets … well, the thought leaves me speechless. Don’t we all know that Brownstoner is above reproach, that it has NO conflicts of interest, that it does NOTHING for a buck?! (Uh, who let those fleas in the house?)
In one of her posts yesterday, Louise itemized her expenses and income relating to BlogFest, and it appears to be a modest watch-every-penny affair. Would Brownstoner expose to public scrutiny its Brooklyn Flea balance sheets and its ledger of revenue from real-estate ads and sundry promotions? Enough said.
Anyway, Tuesday night’s event was a good one. Louise’s opening comments were on-target, the Blogs Aloud section was BEAUTIFULLY performed, and Adrian Kinloch’s photo show was professionally assembled and effective. The rapper kept plugging Absolut (yeah, so? They paid! — They get a commercial!) And Marty, what-ya-gonna-do about Marty — like him or not, he’s the Beep and it was nice that he showed up (for just a few minutes) and gave some respect; it wasn’t Marty’s crowd and they let him know it, but did so with civility (which is more than can be said about some of the nastiness directed online toward Louise).
Sure, the event could be better — and I bet that Louise will continue to find ways to improve it. By next year, with the potential of drawing hundreds more, a larger location would be useful, along with more time for learning and networking.
A bigger space … more workshops … more food … more time …
Ah, I guess it’s time to begin looking next year’s sponsor.
Again, Louise, congratulations!