Wednesday 21 August 2013

#Altbloggers UK Event Ideas!

As the #altbloggers tag was born/raised from the grave last month, it was only a matter of time before the topic of a meet-up was raised. I think it would be a fantastic opportunity to meet all our fellow alternative bloggers at the same time, personalising a meet-up to our own tastes.



Blogger meets often alienate our unconventional ideas, and if any of you have gone to a blogger meet already, you may have found yourselves swarmed by insanely tanned girls exuding femininity and enthusiasm, wearing more pink than Barbie, thumbs-up posed for the cameras and sipping bright cocktails. While we're not always like that, it would be great to have a meeting environment that caters to us. 

As such, I would love to hear from you - what would you like to see from an #altbloggers event? What kind of brands would you like to see represented, for instance some indie brands?

I assume the one thing that's already a given, and that's when it shouldn't take place. Let's face it, bloggers wearing black don't cope well in the summer. How many of you have been forced to pull on shorts against your will this year? 

Sadly, I'm aware that #altbloggers reaches out to bloggers across the Channel and the pond, but I'm afraid I could only organise something within my reach here in the UK. However feel free to set up your own altbloggers events in your own territories - nobody lays claim to the hashtag or the right to establish events, so it's really up to you how you meet up in your own realms!

My first thoughts on the matter would be to meet in London around Halloween 2014 - the most central and accessible location at the most agreeable time of the year for most of us. Ideally, we'd all get dressed up and be weird together in public. But as that's a long way away, it's open to discussion, debate, pillow fights, you name it. Also I think it's good to plan more than a year ahead so everyone has a clear space in their diary, and perhaps giving those who need to travel (like myself) enough time to prepare for the cost of the journey.

And on top of all that, I don't want to be the only one organising the whole shebang. Not least because I'm an awful planner and things rarely work out the way I intend them to, but because #altbloggers doesn't belong to me, nor anyone. The one thing I've never understood about #bbloggers is that it belongs to individuals who organise the chats, who actively forbid link exchanges and off-topic conversations during chat times. It almost feels dictated, like we can't just talk about what we feel like talking about at a time when other bloggers are online to respond. So for this reason, #altbloggers is determined to work for everyone, not the other way around. If you have any ideas, suggestions, useful contacts, or simply enough spare time to help us organise the meet-up, please stand up.

In the meantime, feel free to put this #altbloggers button on your blog and link back to the Twitter hashtag!

#Altbloggers

What are your thoughts on the #altbloggers event?

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10 comments:

  1. Love the idea, but think people would probably have plans or Halloween? So maybe not on Halloween night itself I guess. I don't really care for freebies, personally think it'd just be fun to hang. There'll probably be others who feel differently though. I don't mind meeting in summery times either tbh, I mean most people would be off so it might be easier than rather than term time anyway, so could maybe do a smaller impromptu thing then? Who knows.

    I do think though that there might not be enough people who are aware of altbloggers. I'm not sure how big the following is either, so we should somehow get it spreading around more somehow.

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  2. I love the idea, but as a Scottish blogger on a limited budget, now juggling a zero-hour contract and full-time study, I have never managed to even get to Whitby for Halloween (something I've always wanted to do) - London is even further away, more expensive and difficult to arrange. :( I'm probably going to have to sit this one out.

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  3. This sounds like a really good idea, I'd be happy just meeting up and hanging out, but I suppose indie or alt brands would be good (I've never actually been to a meet up before!) London seems like the easiest place to get to tbh and if there were a few of us I'm sure we could find somewhere to stop. If everyone is 18+ perhaps going for a night out to facedown or anthem etc could be fun.
    I'm stupidly organised so I wouldn't mind helping out, but I'm not going to lie, I wouldn't know where to start!

    xo

    The Shelley Diaries

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  4. I think that's a great idea. I've been to a couple of Blogger meetups so far and I couldn't help but feel that other people were rather perplexed by me! Isn't Halloween on a Friday next year though? It might be easier to meet on the day after instead because of work/study commitments and whatnot. I could definitely make it next year though since it would give me time to start saving up! I think making a Facebook event (or something of the same sort would be a good idea so we can figure out how many people are coming? I also don't know the first thing about brand representation I'm afraid! Maybe we should go for a casual meet up first and see how it goes?

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    1. *(or something of the same sort) I should know better than to post comments on my phone!

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  5. So excited for this to happen! As I've said before, I'm definitely up for helping with organising. Having worked in events and PR this is right up my street :)

    It might be an idea to set up something to see who is interested?

    Jade xx

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  6. Faaaab idea! I just wish London wasn't so far away for me :( x

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  7. I love the idea, count me in! As it's quite far away, perhaps if we get it going on the #altbloggers tag we could do some smaller, localised alt blogger meets in some cities if there's enough interest? Just a little idea! :) But I'm definitely up for the big one! x

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  8. I think localised events are a great idea, like Milly said, maybe one for each area eg south west?

    As for brands, how about Sugarpill and Lime Crime? I'm sure there are more slightly 'different' brands I don't know about and would love to discover. :)

    I'd love to be able to make the London one. :)

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