You all are amazing. Thanks for your sweet, supportive comments on my Help-I’m-Going-To-Haven post. As you predicted, Haven was totally wonderful and I had a blast!
What put this conference over the top was the friendly, approachable atmosphere and niche specific discussion. This was one place where I could mention Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, contrasting piping, or moroccan tile and whomever I was talking to totally understood what I was talking about. Unlike my poor husband, who thinks the word ‘fuschia’ is my Boston way of pronouncing ‘future’. {love you, honey!}
Here’s a few gems I learned at Haven as well as some tips to help those who are attending a blog conference for the first time. My first piece of advice? Just do it! Once I got over my fear of the unknown, here’s what I learned:
- Centsational Girl really is as warm and friendly as she appears. She was the one ‘blog rockstar’ I was most looking forward to meeting, and after a big hug and conversation I was kinda hoping she’d take me home and adopt me so I could live in her home surrounded by all that gorgeousness for the rest of my days. It looks like I’m a stalker in the photo (um, yes I am) but I promise she had just finished hugging me and telling me she wanted to wrap herself up in my gold link necklace. Love her!
- Wear bright, bold colors. Unless black is your trademark color, go for a bright hue to help people remember you. As you can tell, my girls in the photo below all did the same thing. 😉 Lots of people wore a beautiful statement necklace or ring, or a bold colored scarf. It was easier to remember names and faces that way for some reason. I wore a yellow sweater as a play on “Lemonade”, and people commented on the connection! And layering is key, it can get chilly so it’s nice to have a sweater.
- Waffle House is a lot cleaner than when I lived in the south 10 years ago. And egg whites and hash browns never tasted so good as after a long day of traveling!
- Approach vendor booths when there isn’t a crowd. YES, it’s scarier to meet with the rep one-on-one, but that’s when I made my best and most valuable connections. They’ll get a better idea of who you are, and vice versa. I have a short list of brands I can’t wait to contact this week, all of which I met with one-on-one.
- Same rule applies to approaching the big-time bloggers everyone wants to meet. My tip is to not rush up right when you get there, after a session, when someone is eating, or when they are getting ready to speak to the group. You’ll get a way better connection and conversation when that person is relaxed and not having to split the focus on something else.
- Mr. Goodwill Hunting is hilarious. It’s safe to say I already know a lot about thrifting, but attending his Thrifting 101 session for pure entertainment value was well worth it!
- On that note, and this is specific to a niche conference like this one– attend a good mix of blog sessions and creative sessions. I felt overwhelmed with business information the first day, so the Design Studio and Thrifting sessions helped remind me why I came to Haven in the first place. I mean, I finally learned how to mix fabric patterns the right way!
- Have interesting business cards. I handed out a packet of lemon tea with mine, and it seemed to be a hit. I clearly remember the names and faces of the folks with the interesting business cards, it really does help when you are meeting hundreds of people!
- 18 people can {happily} fit at one long table at La Paz. Also? They make a mean margarita over there!
- Look up from your phone. It’s extremely tempting to hide behind it, especially if you feel shy. But walking up to a table, sitting down, and saying hi was liberating and I met some great people that way. Connections happened at meals, while waiting in line, in the elevator– had I hidden behind my phone, that wouldn’t have happened.
- Really think about what you want to ask in sessions. If it only pertains to you, wait until afterwards to ask your question in private. Unless you want 200 pairs of eyeballs wishing you’d stop talking, think before you raise your hand and ask about some piece of code that isn’t working on your blog and how to fix it! I’m going to add that my dad always said to compliment in public, criticize in private. That doesn’t mean smile to someone’s face and then gossip about them later, but rather focus on the positive while in a group and if you have feedback or criticism, tell that person privately. There’s nothing more of a buzzkill than listening to someone loudly complain when everyone else is having a wonderful experience.
- Wear comfy shoes. Seriously, you can’t have fun if your feet are killing you. Plus, you never know when you’ll need to walk a long distance (helllooo, Atlanta airport! Holy cow, it’s ridiculously far from arrivals to baggage claim if you choose to ignore the monorail everyone else is taking…) I found these {cute ruffled} gold sandals before I left and they were a lifesaver.
- Leave room in your suitcase for SWAG! I almost brought a carry-on until Diane reminded me about the swag. Trust me, they won’t let you carry-on a quart of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint or a Ryobi saw so leave room in your checked bag for that swag!
- Beckie from Infarrantly Creative is a brilliant business woman. And that’s all I’m allowed to say about that for now. 😉
Whew. It’s safe to say I’m having a Haven hangover. I’m so happy to have met a great group of people, and am already planning on attending next year too. If you have any questions about attending your first multi-day away conference, please ask… and don’t let shyness keep you away!
If you attended Haven, what was your favorite session, experience, person you met, or event? What’s the most important thing you learned? Do you have a list of ‘action items’? And any conference tips to share?
Hi Carrie,
I think this is all great information. I remember attending conferences back in my professional day, and practicing these same tips, well maybe not the long table at La Paz. 🙂
Thanks for sharing,
Laura
Sounds like you had a great time. I really enjoy events like this – hoping to find one or two more for the fall. Good tips all around – love the lemon tea idea!
Sarah (from USAlovelist.com)
ya know, i didn’t go to the waffle house at all because when i lived in NC 11-15 years ago, it was not that great. now i have regrets….. sigh. 😉
so great to meet you, carrie! you are adorable!
Haven Hangover….I love it!
It was so much fun! Love the hilarious Mr. Goodwill. It helped my mind for a little while lol. So glad to have met you. Now I am a new follower! Looking forward to seeing more of your blog!
You nailed the tips! Spot on. It was SUCH a pleasure to meet and hang out with you! I’m so glad we got good time to chat… over the sound of a pump. 🙂
Oh my gosh what a great list! I agree with every single tip! It was so wonderful to meet you. I have some pics of you too that I will have to share soon 🙂
Great tips Carrie! Seriously, each one is spot-on. It was so great to meet you in person! My list of “action items” is growing as I remember things I learned. I do feel like the most important thing I came away with is “be who you are, and do what you can,” no more.
xo
Thanks for sharing these great tips! I will be sure to check back on them when I head to my next conference.
I think the best thing I came away with was a feeling of TOTAL VALIDATION. for the past year or so I just wondered constantly if i was where i was supposed to be and if this was where God wanted me.. and seriously after this conference I feel so validated and like I am exactly where I am supposed to be!
It was wonderful meeting you and babysitting your nametag for the evening!! 🙂
Great to meet you!! Love your recap post!!! I agree, MrGWH is sooooo funny and so entertaining! Loved that one! And wow did Beckie blow my mind or what. One of my action items is trying to figure how the heck to actually DO what she explained!! 🙂
So glad you had fun!!
I’m having Haven envy!!! Sounds like a great experience…and the tea bag idea was genius!
Haven envy. That’s it. Can I treat you to a tall glass of lemonade and let you spill your secrets from the trip?
Some great ideas and tips!
I seriously love those ruffled sandals! What a great idea you had to wear the yellow sweater. I didn’t get any of your lemon tea, but I wish I had. Maybe next year we’ll have an opportunity to meet.
This post is PERFECT, Carrie! I love all of your takeaways and tips. You are right on every one!!
Great advice, Carrie! I DO remember seeing you here and there but never really getting a chance to connect. Thankful we can all keep in touch through blogging and sharing online until we do meet! 😉
Great post, Carrie!! I still need to get my wrap-up posted! It was so wonderful to meet you and I’m giggling because I don’t even remember you taking that picture at Waffle House!
Haven was wonderful, I just wish I had got to meet you! Love your business and I will try to be more creative next year!
Good girl…mum is the word. HAHA! Thanks for coming to Haven. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Carrie, so good to really get to meet and talk to you ;-). Looking forward to hopefully seeing you again sometime in the near future. P.s. You always have a place to stay in NC!!!
I had a great time at the Haven Conference! I am going to have my to drink my tea tomorrow. I enjoyed meeting you and I love your blog
Great insights. I love the part about wearing a bright color!
Wonderful advice Carrie! I am so looking forward to meeting you at Haven this year! Thanks for sharing this with me!
Hi! This morning I’ve been searching for tips on Haven and found your blog. Great tips! I am going to Haven this year (2014) and it will be my first blog conference! I am nervous since I’ve never been to a blog conference before and will be going solo! But it sounds like Haven is a lot of fun! I love your business card tip! I have a pretty plain biz card, so I will have to think of something. I will also have to lighten up my mostly dark (no color) wardrobe!
Definitely wear what makes you feel most comfortable, if you like wearing dark colors then go for it!
I am attending this year for the first time and am BEYOND nervous! Ha! A silly question I had- how many business cards do you think you need. I still have time to order extras if need be. Did you bring copies of a “media kit” to hand out at all? Thanks so much! Eeek….I’m excited and terrified at the same time!
You will have SO much fun! I’ve attended almost every year since the first one. I did bring copies of a media kit one year, but honestly, it’s better to really connect with the brands as opposed to handing out the kit so I’ve stopped doing that. You’ll have a great time, let me know how it goes!!