Geeklawyer is following up on Ruthie’s idea of a blawging conference. We thought it would be interesting for the small pool of UK bloggers to meet and exchange tips views and ideas; and perhaps also those lawyers and firms interested by the topic might find illumination on the pros & cons of this form of publicity.
In all likelihood the conference will be small short informal & in Central London.
The exact format location subject matter etc. are being worked on now, but Geeklawyer would appreciate some feedback via comments or email to evaluate the level of potential interest.
I think it might be helpful if you could canvass some tentative dates and speakers. I note that Charon has already offered to give a talk. I’m happy to give a talk. I think it would be helpful to know what people want to get out of such a conference: is it just networking really or do they want talks?
I do believe some conferences have taken place in America so it might be helpful to find out what their format was.
It’s too early to give even speculative dates until venues & speakers can be pencilled in. I agree about expectations & hence the post. I think it important to emphasise that it will inevitably be fairly informal.
We’re already getting some positive feedback which is astonishing given that its new years day and I’d expect you all to be out drinking. Please keep your e mails coming as it gives me grounds to kick Geeklawyers arse to try and get this conference off the ground.
I rather like the idea of you kicking Geeklawyer’s arse on purely aesthetic and politico-ethical grounds (He is man enough to take it and respond accordingly) — but… I must keep to my resolution not to comment on such matters on your blog.
I worked for much of the day — but had to escape and have a couple of glasses of Rioja.
I am happy to assist and contribute to the ‘conference’ — but, I fear, as I am a blawger, rathan a law blogger or serious commentator on the law — that my contribution may well be fairly valueless.
I take heart from Boris Johnson’s remarks in The Independent yesterday (or was it today) that he liked to use humour to ‘sneak in a serious point.’ he has a point.
Whatever happened to The Times blog? — they seem to have packed it in. Perhaps it was too successful and people stopped reading the newspaper?
I’d love to come. I’m awfully new to this blawging thing, so a bit reluctant to offer to actually speak or anything (what would I say?), but I’m not exactly a shrinking violet so you can be sure I’d contribute.
I’m all in favour of us getting together, if only to plead in person for the abolition of the clumsy, ugly and unnecessary term “blawg” in favour of the crisp, clean, simple “blog”. Also, I may be able to offer a Central London venue for anything up to 40 of us, if that’s any help.
Hmmmm bom bom
Hmmmm bom bom
Bow wow chickin’ tikka
(think Ferris Bulers Day Off)
Corporate Blawg suggests we should meet for a curry in Brick Lane (- there’s the link).
Informal is a must — there could be an agenda for discussing certain issues round the table with a pint of boozery in hand, but speeches (other than welcoming) will only be of interest to Corporate Blawg if the speaker is accompanied by 3 dancing girls and an inflatable paddling pool full of mud.
(p.s. Jeremy you will not win: join the blawgers, there is only blawging, the future is the blawg)
Will gladly attend any London venue with sufficient liquid refreshment.
Will the anonymous blawgers have paper bags over their heads?
Nick: rest assured there will be as much water as you wish
I rather like Corporate Blawgs idea of a curry. I had intended some form of post event reception, and as a mega curry chef of no little repute the idea of Brick Lane Curry appeals more than somewhat, though I would make it very much an addition.
As for paper bags, hmmm, I’m not over inclined to reveal myself. I may use Ruthie as a front at the event and remain lurking.
Are barbarians allowed? What about Americans with 380 year old British DNA ?
And wacky Canadians with incriminating photographs of Geeklawyer?
Oh, the stories I could tell, of Geeklawyer’s misadventures in the wilds of Lithuania.
Mary: shhhh!
Informal is good. I will be without a paper bag on my head, but you may all meet unexpected accidents shortly afterwards.
At the risk of crashing the party, I would be up for an informal meet. Our site has been running for a little while and it’s not going too badly (don’t click if you’re not interested in private international law!)
Essential ingredients would, of course, be some wet stuff (alcoholic, preferably), and some solid stuff (curry sounds good, although I’m up for almost anything). Dancing girls and mud (which would probably have to be ordered in especiallly for the event — it’s not just any old soil from someone’s back garden, you know…) would be interesting, but I’m assuming the cost would be prohibitive. I suppose we could cast around for sponsorship for said extras.
I’ve promised Geeklawyer I will attend in my pink leathers. I hope that this will mitigate the absence of bikini clad mudwrestling models.
Definitely up for a curry afterwards.
Jeremy: thanks for the offer of the venue, doubtless G will be in contact with you about it.
One or two of us would attend this conference. Good work Ruthie and Geeklawyer!
Sounds like an intriguing idea, although anonymity paranoia is a bit of an issue, even with Corporate Blawg’s sensible suggestions. Have checked the forum too, incidentally, but not sure where best to post and it looked like I needed to register for something. At the risk of sounding a bit earnest (moi?) I’m not too sure what the purpose of the event would be.
As to networking, my observations so far suggest that barristers only network with solicitors (B2S) rather than each other. And they do it a lot. At any conceivable opportunity. And quite a few non-opportunities too. There do seem to be a few solicitor bloggers out there as well, though.
B2B ‘networking’ seems to revolve principally around drink and/or sex.