As I’ve mentioned (probably too many times!) I’m headed to the Haven conference next week. It will be my first blog conference and even though I may seem like a chatterbox I suffer from a bit of social anxiety when I don’t know anyone. This then leads to several sources of stress prior to an event like this – What will I wear? Who will I eat with? Who will I go to dinner with (dinner is not included in the conference)? Will I be what people expect? What if I can’t think of something intelligent to say?!
I’m happy to report several folks have been posting articles about just this topic! In case any of you are feeling the same way OR you are thinking about signing up for a conference in the near future, I thought I’d share some great links for you.
What to Expect at Your First Blog Conference by Home Stories A2Z
Checklist for the Haven Blog Conference by the Bungalow Blog
Social Anxiety and surviving a Blog Conference by the Bungalow Blog
Blog Conference Attendee Planning Printable / How to Represent Your Brand
Crafting for a Blog Conference: Make Your Brand Visible
Fab Friday – Blogging Boot Camp Edition
How to Prepare for your First Blog Conference
How to Beat the Blog Conference Blues
8 Tips for First Time Blog Conference Attendees (I love #6)
Are you?
Stephanie
Thanks for coming to my Haven Conference talk on Blog PR. I hope you took away some good tips. You’ve got a beautiful site!
Amy
Recipe for Press
Thank you thank you for sharing these!!! I was looking at the list of attendees tonight and visiting blogs, and I’m so glad I stopped here b/c I need tips too!
Hope to meet you at Haven! 
Have fun and take lots of photos! Even though I’m not going to Haven, I checked out a few of these blogs. I get MAJOR social anxiety when I’m thrown in with a whole slew of new people. I think I was hyperventilating when I went to my first meet up with some other bloggers from my area, so I would probably feint at a real blogger conference.
Awesome list!! Every little bit of advice helps!! So excited and nervous I could pee my pants!!
Hi Stephanie:
Thanks so much for dropping by my blog – I’m so glad you did, I’m going to Blogher (first time) in NY in August and have all the same social anxieties! I’ll likely spend most of the time hiding out in my hotel room blogging about my anxieties! And WHAT TO WEAR? OMG. I will read all your helpful links, thanks.
Good luck on the Suzuki violin! Just stick with it. It can be hard at times but you will never, ever regret doing it and neither will your child – music is a gift. (-:
Hi Ado,
Thanks for visiting my blog! I was talking to some folks at Haven about Blogher, would love to go! I’ll be honest, the first night I struggled, so many people at the cocktail party. I really did better in the sessions with meeting folks. If you’d like to chat about it to help some of your anxieties just email me!
Stephanie
Great list of articles – thanks! I’m a newbie too for this conference, feeling all the same nervousness as you are! Let me know if you’d like to meet up – we can be each other’s dinner buddy!
Eliesa,
I’m so sorry, I’m still getting used to the WordPress commenting and I’m just now seeing this, AFTER Haven! ugh. How did you like it? I had a blast but it was definitely overwhelming at times!
Stephanie
Thanks for adding me to the list! I’m checking out the other posts. See you at Haven!