You are holding the second annual BAM—Bloggers At Midlife—conference for women next month. How did you come to organize BAM?
My business partners and I saw a need for a conference focused on women over forty and fifty. I attend a lot of blog conferences, and very often the brands and sessions are targeted to younger women. It’s nice to go to an event and know all the sponsors value where you are at in life.
How did last year’s BAM launch go?
Despite an epic ice storm, we had an amazing first event in Nashville. Our community came together in person, many for the first time. We’d had small dinners and some of us had met at other events like BlogHer, but this time it was just for our demographic.
We were thrilled to have trended nationally on Twitter with such a small, but powerful group of women. Last year’s event was the beginning of many friendships and a few business relationships!
Food Network Star Martie Duncan, sponsored by Stouffer’s
Tell us more about this year’s conference.
We are having a two-day event focused on the business of blogging, getting published, and social media. We are really pleased with the expert speakers we were able to attract—we had fifty excellent speaking proposals to choose from.
We’re very excited to have MJ Tam of Chicagonista, Nancy Loo from Chicago’s WGN, and Debba Hautert from Girlfriendology speak on creating video content.
Also, the top travel bloggers from TheGypsyNester are speaking on how to incorporate travel writing on your blog.
Phil Hollows, Founder and CEO of FeedBlitz, will be presenting as well. I saw him in speak last year on why it’s vital for bloggers and authors to build an email list. His presentation is amazing and loaded with so many takeaways attendees can implement right away to start building their email list.
We’ll be at the beautiful JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Summerlin, Nevada, on April 15-16 (no ice storms!). We hope attendees will enjoy the relaxing, luxurious setting. We have a fabulous disco party planned for Friday night, so attendees should bring their boogie shoes!
For those signed up, or those interested in attending, what tips do you have to help them get the most out of this conference?
Women always worry about what to wear. It’s important to be comfortable and relaxed. Our style columnist, Pam Lutrell, wrote a great post on what to wear on Midlife Boulevard.
My personal best tip is to wear comfortable shoes, bring business cards, and don’t miss a thing. Every event is an opportunity for learning and making personal connections.
How can someone learn more?
Please check out BloggersAtMidlife.com for more details. Also, feel free to contact me at anne@midlifeboulevard.com if there’s anything I can do to help!
Contact Anne Parris at anne@midlifeboulevard.com
Blogs: Midlife Boulevard and Not A Supermom
Twitter: @annejparris
Anne Parris is Managing Partner for both Midlife Boulevard and BAM Events. She handles the brand work, advertisement, and community projects for Midlife Boulevard. Anne lives on the east coast (she considers herself D.C.-adjacent) with her husband and way too many children. She’s in the market for another small dog as long as her cat approves first.
I will be there and I cannot wait.
It’s my first BAM 🙂
Me too!
Hi Helene! I will be attending BAM as well this year and am really looking forward to connecting with all the other women I’ve met here online. Thanks for this little window into the experience. ~Kathy
Just looked like too much fun last year, had to make the trip this year!
I’m so looking forward to the conference and to connect with all the ladies we’ve met in our Facebook group as well.
Seems like such an amazing group of talented women. We rock!
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Anne, Sharon and all the organizers of BAM and founders of MLB are fabulous! I will not be able to make it again this year but I am sending prizes! It is a wonderful group of women and I loved reading about last year’s event and look forward to have a vicarious visit again this year.
Prizes? I’m in! Thanks Haralee. We’ll miss you!
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i so want to go to one of these one day.
I hope you can! I feel so lucky to be going this year.
I enjoyed the conference so much last year and still am in mourning over having to miss this year. I’m sure it will be just as fantastic!!!
Would have been fun to meet up. Maybe next time!
Helene, so glad you interviewed Anne about BAM! I’m excited to see her again and also meet you in person for the first time and grab a BIG HUG!
Yes we’ll finally be able to connect in person! A great big hug sounds amazing!
So looking forward to this and meeting many people who I follow!
I know me too!!
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