Comments on: In the Fishbowl

By: Good Reads Wednesday « Artisan Family of Wines

Good Reads Wednesday « Artisan Family of Wines — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:19:58 +0000

[...] http://wannabewino.com/2009/07/29/in-the-fishbowl/ [...]

By: Sonadora

Sonadora — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:05:59 +0000

Hey All-

Thanks for the thoughtful comments.

I didn’t mean at all to suggest that having the PR/industry folks hindered interaction. In fact, I quite like many industry/PR folks very much! I still stand by the statement that I felt a little like a goldfish, and wish I had more time to spend with everyone, as much as I love all the people on my bus! The set up this year made me feel disconnected from everyone who wasn’t on my bus….I didn’t feel as if I got to develop relationships as much since the one full day was mainly spent with the 25 folks on the bus.

I also truly missed the ability to choose whether or not to attend certain activities and to have at least a bit of during the day downtime. The unscheduled pool party last year was my favorite time of the whole conference.

That said, I loved reconnecting with my old friends and meeting/connecting with at least some new ones! I advocate for more large (or larger) group events for next year.

Would love to grab a glass with any of you any time….let me know next time you make your way to the DC area!

By: WineWonkette

WineWonkette — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:53:21 +0000

I wished I could have been able to meet and/or talk to more folks as well. But I don’t see it as much a result of too many PR people, or them wanting to “observe us.” I see it rather a result of trying to do way too many things in one day (Saturday) and not leaving room for informal networking (like your lobby shoot the shit session)

For my money we could dump the whole “Wine Blogger Awards” event and have more time for small group interaction. Have it as part of one of the dinners, at the end, so if people don’t care, they aren’t wasting an entire hour.

I very much enjoyed hanging with my buddies on the bus, but I’d rather had some activities that I could self-select (not on Sunday) so that I could interact with different people or be able to meet some of the people I have been tweeting with.

I really enjoyed our pre- and post WBC events the most. That might be the best time to “hang with your peeps” and have many more opportunities to move in and out of other groups during the rest of the conference.

The 9 am to 9 pm with basically the same 25 people to me, created a missed opportunity for the newer bloggers to learn from the veterans.

That said, I already miss you and the rest of the Thea posse, and wish we could all meet for a glass of wine more often

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:39:09 +0000

Also, how can I thank you enough for posting the most horrible photo of me from the weekend…

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:38:37 +0000

Wow, a lot of great points made in this post and in the comments.

My own thoughts echo what Shana said. There is a difference between observing and participating. And I think we all felt it.

I think Robert says exactly the reason why all of the PR folks were there.

I think I want to delve deeper into this…

By: winehiker

winehiker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:11:39 +0000

Megan, I appreciate your observations; I felt some of what you felt, too. Indeed I was elated to see the proportion of industry/PR folks in attendance not only because they have come to recognize the power of blogging but because they recognize the value of establishing relationships with the wine blogging community. And we, them! In fact, I think “they” is actually becoming “we” – and that’s good.

I rather like that you wrote this observational/introspective post. I wannabe reading more posts like these!

And thank you once again from the bottom of my left ventricle for your outstanding and continuing generosity to me. Last week was truly memorable in your company.

By: Robert Larsen

Robert Larsen — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:46:32 +0000

Nice round-up of the action. As a PR person, I think it was good to get a grip (though I had a loose one before) on the nature of bloggers and what they are like in person… admittedly something I’ve developed with mag writers as a way of becoming more comfortable and at ease in working with them (with the reverse being true too, I suspect). I also think that the community would like the personal connection with the industry. It furthers the growth of wine blogging. And, we PR and industry people know how to party too. Re-measure that next year in Walla Walla!

By: Diane Letulle

Diane Letulle — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:26:07 +0000

Hi, your post captures a couple things that I felt too. 1) The population was less citizen blogger than last year, and, to my mind, that made it a bit more stodgy and less fun and 2) I wanted more unscripted time for mingling. That being said, I had a great time and hope I can make it next year.

By: Shana Ray

Shana Ray — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:18:05 +0000

Interesting to note that last year, my purpose for attending the conference was as PR person and to meet everyone, this year I came more as a wine blogger AND a marketing person.

What makes the difference between PR people like me and Rob and those there to “observe” is that extra connection you create when at events like these. Though, I cannot speak for the rest of the buses, we had a mix of PR people, winery owners, Joel, magazine people and top wine bloggers such as yourself, the Huston Winos, Catie, Ward and Thea (and The Beerwench in a category of her own) all intermingling and getting to know each other better, not just to observe that which might be unknown.