Top 5 tips for preparing for Eat.Drink.Blog. Or any food bloggers conference

Only four sleeps until I get on a plane to Adelaide for Eat.Drink.Blog, the annual conference for Australian food bloggers. AND I CAN'T WAIT!

This will be my third food bloggers conference and I would like to say I've learned from the first two. Which I have.

But perhaps one of the most important things I've learned is to be a bit organised before I go. And to find out who will be there and get to know a bit about them.

This was highlighted to me at the first conference I went to - BlogHerFood 2010 in San Francisco - after a delightful conversation with the absolutely charming Dorie Greenspan. Except I had no idea who she was. Until later. Much later. When I got back to Australia later. I may have even bragged about my baking ability. I'm blushing just thinking about it. She was very gracious. And no doubt stifling a few giggles during our chat.

So my #1 tip before you go to a food bloggers conference is check out who else is going! For Eat.Drink.Blog. you can find this out here. Check out their blogs, write a few comments, say hi via twitter [using #edb2012 so others can follow along] or on facebook.

Tip #2 - pack appropriately - don't forget to take a camera, phone, necessary charging devices, business cards (or installing the app Bump on your iPhone). I have been known to pack, and carry, every electronic device I own. All I plan to take to Eat.Drink.Blog is my iPhone, a small point and shoot camera [although I am so in love with instagram/hipstamatic/pixlromatic and the camera feature on my new iPhone I may not even bother with my real camera], my iPad, and a small notebook and pen. Gone are the days of lugging my laptop around at conferences. Especially as at BlogHerFood I think I was also carrying about 8kg of conference loot around! [thank you sponsors!]

Don't forget to pack comfy clothes - we will be eating. A lot!

Tip #3 - be willing to talk to people and get to know them. Work out how to describe yourself and your blog with confidence - have a bit of an "elevator pitch" so you can describe your blog in about 10-15 seconds. A food bloggers conference is not the time to be shy! Dig out your inner extrovert and say hi to people - even if you have no idea who they are! Also be willing to try new things - including new foods. One of the social events at BlogHerFood was sponsored by the American Pork Board - I tried [all in the name of research of course!] bacon ice-cream, chocolate coated bacon, chocolate bacon martini, amazing pork belly  and more...

Still not sure about Bakon Vodka...

How beautiful are these slices of golden beetroot? 

Tip #4 - familiarise yourself with the program and work out what sessions you want to go to - especially if there are concurrent sessions. Especially familiarise yourself with the food bits. Don't eat too much for lunch, or too many cakes at afternoon tea, if there is a massive dinner planned [yep, learned this one from experience...]

The FABULOUS food styling session at EDB 2011

 Tip #5 - be well rested! Something I preach but don't practice. I was severely jetlagged at BlogHerFood [not a great idea]. I also suspect I'll be quite sleep deprived at Eat.Drink.Blog as my final uni assignment is due the day before. And it's barely started. And yes, I should be writing it now, instead of writing this post!

Conference treats - soooo yum!

Are you going to Eat.Drink.Blog? What are you most excited about? What do you want to learn from it? The whole program looks absolutely fantastic - a massive thanks to the whole organising team, and of course to the wonderful sponsors without whom this just wouldn't happen. Special thanks to the gold sponsors, the South Australian Government and the SA Tourist Commission.

Eat. Drink. Blog. What I'm looking forward to...

Only 5 sleeps until Eat. Drink. Blog. The Australian Food and Drink Blogger's Conference.

AND. I. CANNOT. WAIT. !!!!

I have wanted to go to another food blogger's conference ever since I went to BlogHer Food in San Francisco last October {I also want to go again when it is on in Seattle in June 2012 - anyone want to sponsor me?}. I had SUCH A BLAST! I think the best part was getting to talk to a heap of other bloggers and learn what they love, what their blogs are about and, of course, getting lots of advice on how to be a better blogger. I came home so inspired!

But...

after a year filled with life, love and drama, that inspiration is waning a bit.

So I was SO EXCITED to be told I had a spot at Eat. Drink. Blog.

This is what I'm looking forward to the most:

• actually getting there. Shouldn't be a problem. I now have flights booked with Qantas AND Virgin. Yes, I panic booked Virgin flights on Sunday. 
• meeting bloggers who to date I've only been chatting to on blogs or on twitter 
• being inspired by the amazing line up of speakers 
• learning more about food styling and food photography - two areas I am aware that I lack a few {ok, a lot} of skills in
• meeting Jules from Stonesoup - her blog is one of my favourites despite my having no idea how to cook with only 5 ingredients... and her photography is just gorgeous
• meeting Valerie Khoo who I sometimes talk to on twitter, because we have many mutual friends. And because I want to be a better writer. 

Mostly though, I'm looking forward to being inspired again. To get my blogging - and my food - mojo back. It's been hiding for a while and I miss it. 

As I sit here writing this, an email pops into my inbox from the organisers of Eat. Drink. Blog. With more information. And a list of attendees. I'm off now to check out some more blogs. And to say hi to a few new-to-me food bloggers on twitter. 

Only 5 sleeps to go. Not that I'm counting. 

Are you going to Eat. Drink. Blog.? What are you looking forward to?