Blogging is my business, my only business.
It may sound "good" but it's not entirely true. But yesterday I went to the Tachlis event, where I was exposed to more ideas about the internet and how to promote my blogs.
Some of the attendees were the same as were at the International Jewish Bloggers Convention, but it was very different.
It was more geared to people who utilize the internet, or should utilize the internet, for promoting their npo's or businesses or causes. We bloggers were there more to fill the chairs. I discovered that David Abitbol of Jewlicious is actually some sort of marketing consultant, not just a more successful blogger and community organizer than I am. Ahuva Berger is also a consultant. And Aharon Horwitz of Presetense is also a consultant, since all of them get paid to give advice, marketing their knowledge. In actuality, you can say that these professional consultants were giving us advice for a rock bottom price and some kosher nosh in an exotic venue.
I was hoping for more "details," instructions, but even though all sorts of other internet "social networking" were mentioned, clear definitions and "how-to's" were ignored, especially since most participants were part of that virtual world.
For me, some of the enthusiasm for hundreds and thousands of "friends" on twitter, facebook etc seemed naive or peculiar. Even though I've established relationships and friendships via my blogs, f2f is still a more import part of my life. I just can't imagine schlepping around a laptop, constantly searching for the best air-born wireless internet to check in.
A good thing was hearing of a new profession, very tempting if I can find a job in it, professional commercial blogging to promote buzz for a company.
Honestly, it was an interesting evening, and I was happy to meet Rivkah again. And again I got a ride home with Hadassa Levy, who lives nearby whose parents I knew when we were teens. Yes, small world. My mother is a friend of her grandmother, too.
The organizers called it a "panel," but it was just a series of speakers with question/answer time. Each speaker used that PowerPoint on screen technique, but most used it badly, basically having their presentation on the screen and reading from the laptop or notes. Actually, David used it best, in that he had a few pictures illustrating his themes, rather than displaying his words. He apologized for not being as prepared as he would like, saying that an organizer of an event should never double as speaker. I'm glad that he did speak, since he was most interesting for my needs. I do understand his point, since when I led the NCSY Israel Folk Dance group, 1969-70, I also found it better not to be one of the dancers. That saved the day, when I had a dancer sick the day of the performance and was able to fill-in, miraculously, though I had never danced the dance before I was on stage.
The Tachlis 2 Point Oh! was held in the Old City, davka, at an Armenian pub's outdoor area, but kosher food was brought in.
Yes, I did learn things, and I'm not sorry I attended. And stay tuned for the pictures I took of our old neighborhood in the Old City of Jerusalem.
