I was really hoping my first blog would be about Michelle Obama’s talk but unfortunately life took over and I had to miss it. That’s the thing about having the annual conference in your home town, you can’t really get away. However I was able to start the festivities with two great vendor parties. Actually my conference started yesterday at the Book Buzz at the New Orleans public library. I was glad to hear the publishers’ book talks about the new fall books coming out. It’s also easier to tell a vendor what’s wrong with their product when you’re sharing blue crab beignets. The peripheral events around the annual conference are great ways to reconnect with old friends, meet new colleagues, and bond with your coworkers while also schmoozing with publishers and vendors.
My consolation prize for missing Michelle was that I got to meet Trombone Shorty, New Orleans’ favorite son, at the opening of the exhibits. I can tell this is going to be a great conference.
If you are reading this and you are also attending the conference please don’t say to the locals “You must be used to the humidity.” We are not.