Because All The Kids Are Doing It

Otherwise known as this year’s obligatory pre-BlogHer post. The one in which I will offer advice that none of you will follow. Because that’s just how women roll. I’ve come to accept it so I won’t spend time trying to change your mind, I’ll just get right to the giving of the pointless advice. Ready? Good, let’s go.

• Pack Light – Seriously ladies. You will not regret leaving that sixth pair of heels, the ones that are just like the third pair of heels you packed but that have that slightly different sole, at home. You won’t. I promise you. Pack light, it’s good for your back, the environment and your sanity when you’re trying to figure out what to wear. Because here’s the thing: No one gives a shit what you’re wearing. Of the thousands of people I’ve met at BlogHer conferences I remember one outfit and it was on an awesome woman who’d I’d already met the year before and I only remember because she came up to me on the dance floor to show it off. She was wearing a black bathing suit as a cocktail dress. Yes, you read that right. And you know what, she rocked that bathing suit and I bet anyone who she didn’t specifically tell, hadn’t a clue. Because they didn’t care. They don’t care. I promise you.
• EAT! – Now. Go. Eat! Every year there are women who go to great lengths to diet for BlogHer. I too am guilty of worrying about my weight and what everyone would think when I got to the conference. Guess what, they didn’t care. Last year in the “What It Means to be Pro-Woman in a Post-Palin World” session (Or something like that…) Sugar Jones was sitting just down the row from me and when we came to the topic of women and appearances she stood up and she said “All these women are starving themselves for this. I don’t understand that. I ate! BlogHer is coming? I ate a bowl of pasta!” (Or something like that… it’s called paraphrasing, it was a year ago. Work with me here.) and the room lit up. And even now, a year later it’s one of the few highlights I actually remember from the conference sessions. You will not be the only woman with body issues in the room. If you’re a bigger girl, you won’t be the only one. If you’re a tiny girl who wishes she had more curves, you won’t be the only one of those either. Bodies of every shape and size are represented, loved and greeted openly. And guess what, no one cares. I’d tell you that I’m probably a bit bigger than I was when you saw me last year, but chances are you don’t remember what I looked like last year anyway. Because even you, you got it, don’t care. And if you do care what my weight is, frankly, you’re an asshole so why would I want to meet you anyway?
• Speak Up, Say Hi, Be Bold! – There are a lot of beautiful people at BlogHer. I think this year’s attendance is set at 2400, so 2400 of them to be exact, but there are no unapproachable people. Don’t be afraid of the big faces, the big names. They’re just people and I’ve not met one that has been unkind.
• Consider It One Big Buddy System – I have never heard of something bad happening to a BlogHer attendee during a conference, that said, it could. Look out for your fellow BlogHers, trust me, they will do the same for you. It’s the nature of the conference. If you see someone who looks lost, distressed or upset offer a helping hand. The worst that could happen is that they will decline your offer.
• Have Fun! – This may be last, but it is certainly not least. Loosen up, take a deep breath and have a blast. You will never regret it, but you may regret sitting on the sideline if you don’t. Dance. Laugh. Eat. Drink. Speak up and share your ideas. We truly want to hear them.

I can’t wait to see you there. If you see me, say hi!

Tagged as: Advice, blogher, BlogHer '10, Conference