As the Nathan head made its way around WordCamp US, mixed reactions of shock, love, ignorance, confusion, anxiety, fear and words that defy us, were had by all.
The post Nathan’s Head Meanders Around WordCamp US 2023 appeared first on BobWP.
Tag: WordCamps
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WordCamp US 2023, Another Fantastic WP Memory
Well, it was inevitable that I should post a recap of WordPress US. I am writing this after returning to my home and office in Porto on Monday morning, this being Thursday of the same week. And I’ll tell you, I am just starting to get over my exhaustion.
The Trip to WCUS
Flying back to the states, I loved the way over. No overnight experiences for me, and leaving at 7:30 am Porto time, arriving in National Harbor 7:30 pm EDT. Of course, during the flight I started with breakfast, then a drink and lunch and segued into dinner at some point which ended with a snack. Lot’s of food and can’t honestly remember when I ate what.
I did meet a few friends when I landed, but by then I was pretty much half asleep. It was nice seeing my good friend Mark Westguard right off the bat.
The first day in National Harbor
Unlike my other WordPressers who were already there, the next day I was not part of the Community Summit nor did I have the desire to be a tourist in Washington DC. The latter did not tempt me with the heat or the sights.
So I spent the day hanging around the hotel/convention center to make life easy. Now the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is enormous. And I mean freakin’ huge. It kind of reminded me of those large cruise ships, although I have never been on one. It’s set up quite well. You never really need to leave and everything is overpriced. But hey, that’s America, right?
The morning I spent wandering around the grounds, inside and out.
The other part of the day Mark and myself just did this and that. Lunchtime we went and had some drinks and nachos. After that we just roamed around the hotel and Mark was obviously delighted to find his logo with all the sponsors on the entryway to the conference center.
Then we had Casey join us, Mark’s better half, and dinner time where at even more food.
So after a day of local exploring, drinks and food, we did what any normal WordCamper would do. We went to a party, WP-Includes Summer Fest.
Contributor Day
The next day was Contributor Day. And guess what? It was amazing. So much so that I didn’t take one photo as I was busy listening and interjecting every once in awhile. But I did snag the group photo from that day just to share the all the groovy WordPressers who were part of that day. By the way, photo credit goes to Shusei Toda.
WordCamp US, the Event
As with most WordCamps, I find myself so busy connecting with old and new friends, and just being a happy WordCamper that I never take as many photos as planned. But, I do the best I can do.
Of course, I cannot go without thanking my sponsors, A2 Hosting, Avalara, Hostinger, GoDaddy, Jetpack and Weglot. Oh, and yes, WooCommerce!
Do the Woo, a Pseudo Sponsor
And then this happened. My friends over at Multicolab were not able to use their sponsor booth. Anil Gupta was able to attend, but he had problems with getting his team over to the US. So his table sat unattended and barren.
I had a chat with Anil as he is a good friend of mine, and also a past sponsor of Do the Woo. Long story short, I took over the booth and used it for the DTW hq at WordCamp US. So I had the opportunity to be able to do some podcasting as well as meet many of our listeners.
Here is Anil sharing some thoughts on WordCamp.
Here is my makeshift booth.
And some of our podcast guests.
And a very special podcast. Three WordPressers from the Spain WordPress community did a show, and they did it all in Spanish. What fun!
As it so happened during contributor day, also at the event I didn’t get as many photos as I would have wanted. Was just too busy enjoying IRL conversations. But here are just a few more friends that I caught.
What’s a Flagship WordCamp without Nathan’s head
Now for those of you who know Nathan, you get it. For those that don’t, well I will add a mysterious moment to your life. A good friend and fellow podcaster of mine, Nathan’s head often shows up in the weirdest spots, or simply frightening people here and there. And the second day started out with just that.
The After Social
As with tradition of WordCamp US, the social at the end of the second day was at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Quite the impressive museum. Now I am not a huge fan of museums. I could also say that it was mostly bones, stuffed or recreated animals, rocks and overpriced jewelry, but nonetheless it was quite breathtaking.
A lot of people had a great time and it was also filled with conversation, laughter and yummy desserts with old and new friends.
And what is a museum visit without posing as a museum exhibit.
Of course my friend Miriam had to catch as I ventured into the fossil display where I discovered an old acquaintance, Joe the Tyrannosaurus. As I gently touch the bones of his neck on display, I pondered our prehistoric life together.
It’s Why I Do What I Do
In a nutshell, I do WordPress because of the community. And events like WordCampUS is like a moment of pure oxygen. So much laughter, conversation, hugs, food and drinks with old and new friends. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And I leave you with one last photo. As I was flying home, something outside my window reminded me of that museum. Can you guess what that is?
Hope to see you at WordCamp Asia in 2024.
The post WordCamp US 2023, Another Fantastic WP Memory appeared first on BobWP.
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Will You Be at WordCamp US?
Just a little less than a month and it will be WCUS time!
If you are going to be there, let’s connect. I’m flying back across the pond to see all my WordPressers stateside. And there is nothing I like better than a good WordCamp.
I can be found in the hallway chats and the sponsor area. I may be doing some podcasting for Do the Woo, but if so, you will see me there either doing that or just plain WordCamping.
I would suggest we set up a time to make sure we see each other, but I don’t do that. Scheduling ones time at a WordCamp is not a pleasant thing to do. Too much pressure on both sides of the table. If it’s meant to be, we will find each other.
I will also be at contributor day so there’s that opportunity as well. Likely you will find me hanging mostly with the “community team”.
What else? Who knows. That’s what makes WordCamps so much damn fun.
The post Will You Be at WordCamp US? appeared first on BobWP.
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Will You Be at WordCamp US?
Just a little less than a month and it will be WCUS time!
If you are going to be there, let’s connect. I’m flying back across the pond to see all my WordPressers stateside. And there is nothing I like better than a good WordCamp.
I can be found in the hallway chats and the sponsor area. I may be doing some podcasting for Do the Woo, but if so, you will see me there either doing that or just plain WordCamping.
I would suggest we set up a time to make sure we see each other, but I don’t do that. Scheduling ones time at a WordCamp is not a pleasant thing to do. Too much pressure on both sides of the table. If it’s meant to be, we will find each other.
I will also be at contributor day so there’s that opportunity as well. Likely you will find me hanging mostly with the “community team”.
What else? Who knows. That’s what makes WordCamps so much damn fun.
The post Will You Be at WordCamp US? appeared first on BobWP.
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WordCamp Europe 2023. Amazing.
If I could put every experience I had, every conversation, and every laugh or hug here in this post, I would. But it would be a very long post and, of course, I would have discovered something I missed, or several things, thus even a longer post.
This was my second WordCamp Europe, but my first living here in Porto, Portugal. That fact alone, and the love I am getting from the community here, would be worth a post in itself.
The Community
It’s never surprising when I hear from anyone talk their experience at a WordCamp, community and people are always in there, often being what they loved most. And for me there is never an exception. New friends. Connecting with old friends. And so much laughter, and yes, food.
The Sponsors and the Venue
The venue was fantastic. Although I must admit at first it was a bit overwhelming as the sponsors winded around different parts and hallways. Some of the small biz sponsors were concerned being off the beaten path, but that changed quickly, at least for the ones I talked to.
Fact is I started going around to the booths, meeting people, saying hi to others and stopping for so many hugs and conversations, it took me 3 hours just to do that. On the second day, I spent an hour easily just with the Small Biz sponsors.
Now I talk to a lot of WordPress businesses and I know there are always questions about sponsoring WordCamps and the value behind it. So I am going to share a great post from my friend Katie Keith from Barn2 Plugins, where she shares their first experience sponsoring. If you ever had questions about sponsoring, make sure and read it.
If you missed any of the sessions, or were not able to make it, you can find all of them here from the livestream.
As I said, there is a lot more I am still digesting and it will also settle in my brain just in time for WCUS. But I do want to thank the organizing team, the volunteers for their hard work in making it so amazing. And of course, the sponsors who make it possible.
I leave you with this. Some great WordPress peeps. (and a few taken by others, plus my mug occasionally).
The post WordCamp Europe 2023. Amazing. appeared first on BobWP.
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WordCamp Europe 2023. Amazing.
If I could put every experience I had, every conversation, and every laugh or hug here in this post, I would. But it would be a very long post and, of course, I would have discovered something I missed, or several things, thus even a longer post.
This was my second WordCamp Europe, but my first living here in Porto, Portugal. That fact alone, and the love I am getting from the community here, would be worth a post in itself.
The Community
It’s never surprising when I hear from anyone talk their experience at a WordCamp, community and people are always in there, often being what they loved most. And for me there is never an exception. New friends. Connecting with old friends. And so much laughter, and yes, food.
The Sponsors and the Venue
The venue was fantastic. Although I must admit at first it was a bit overwhelming as the sponsors winded around different parts and hallways. Some of the small biz sponsors were concerned being off the beaten path, but that changed quickly, at least for the ones I talked to.
Fact is I started going around to the booths, meeting people, saying hi to others and stopping for so many hugs and conversations, it took me 3 hours just to do that. On the second day, I spent an hour easily just with the Small Biz sponsors.
Now I talk to a lot of WordPress businesses and I know there are always questions about sponsoring WordCamps and the value behind it. So I am going to share a great post from my friend Katie Keith from Barn2 Plugins, where she shares their first experience sponsoring. If you ever had questions about sponsoring, make sure and read it.
If you missed any of the sessions, or were not able to make it, you can find all of them here from the livestream.
As I said, there is a lot more I am still digesting and it will also settle in my brain just in time for WCUS. But I do want to thank the organizing team, the volunteers for their hard work in making it so amazing. And of course, the sponsors who make it possible.
I leave you with this. Some great WordPress peeps. (and a few taken by others, plus my mug occasionally).
The post WordCamp Europe 2023. Amazing. appeared first on BobWP.
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20 Years. That’s a Lot of Community
In May I was fortunate to speak at WordCamp Lisboa about community. It had been awhile since I’ve spoken at a WordCamp, but I had a lot of fun.
The post 20 Years. That’s a Lot of Community appeared first on BobWP.
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20 Years. That’s a Lot of Community
In May I was fortunate to speak at WordCamp Lisboa about community. It had been awhile since I’ve spoken at a WordCamp, but I had a lot of fun.
If you are interested in my elaboration of the future of the community, listen to this show over on Do the Woo.
The post 20 Years. That’s a Lot of Community appeared first on BobWP.
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16 Years Later, My WordPress Story
Oddly, I’m not sure where to begin except the beginning. And if I was to write a post to publish on the 20th anniversary of WordPress, it’s gotta be done here on BobWP.
Also, there lies the fact that I just returned from WordCamp Lisboa where I gave a talk on 20 Years of WordPress community. So it’s a bit on my mind.
George Clooney was named People’s sexiest man alive and I discovered WordPress
These two events have nothing more in common than it was the same year, 2016. I can’t say I think George deserved it, but I had other things on my mind. In fact two things.
First this was the year I became a bit intrigued with blogging. Nothing that had me gasping at the thought of writing posts, but simply a curiosity. At the same time I was trying to step into the world of web design as we had been running a marketing and design company for 13 years. And as much as building a site thrilled me, which was equal to having my hand smashed in a door, I figured there had to be a better way than html and flash.
Time drifted by. Judy had started a blog on Typepad and didn’t give a crap where it was. She just wanted to write. As I eased into the next year, WordPress slipped into my consciousness more and more. It seemed apparent that this thing called WordPress was going to become part of my life one way or another. Seriously though, I didn’t have a clue to what extent.
For the next few years, up to 2010, bit and pieces fell together. I found a theme on a fairly new site called iThemes. The concept of these seemed to be luring me into creating a site for our business that didn’t look like shit. And that’s exactly what WordPress and the Corporate theme from iThemes did for me. Without any freaking code!
The BobWP brand rises out of the ruins of ancient web design
Now I am avoiding going through my 16 years of WordPress history, simply for the reason that I cannot afford to lose you through my years of pivots, twists and turns. It may make you dizzy and I don’t want you vomiting before I wrap this up.
But 2010 was the pivotal moment in my WordPress Story. Why? Well, I had been doing some blogging workshops the two years prior to that year. I was getting my feel for where I need to go with WordPress. I was starting to explore the community more and more from that day in 2006. And I liked what I saw.
So the time came to make the transition from our marketing and design firm, Cat’s Eye Marketing, to something that would let me do my WordPressy thing, whatever that meant and wherever it led.
I got rid of all our our “print” clients or the last few that we were hanging onto. Mentally I told myself I’m going all in on WordPress. Design, training and whatever else would come my way. And it was time to rebrand. Not the business, per se, but myself. I was going to be the brand. So after some contemplation, possible consumption of alcohol and severe mumbling to myself, I came up with BobWP.
Mmmmmmm. It was short and sweet. And the domain was available, go figure. But would people get it? Would someone that doesn’t know what I do, and doesn’t know WordPress find it to be puzzling? Would people say my business is Bobwup?
Honestly, those concerns and questions did not weigh heavily on me. Nor did the fact that I was tying myself into a personal brand, that, well, would likely die with me. I bought the domain, and made it happen.
And you may know the rest, the rest is history.
I’m a WordPresser at heart
I really do love the community. And at this point I’m here to stay. Right now I’m doing what motivates me the most. Connecting people. Raising voices. And meetings some of the coolest people I have ever known, both in these last 16 years and moving forward.
So as much as I find it kind of weird singing Happy Birthday to my dashboard, my computer or any part of the software, or thinking that WordPress could be my grandchild, I will say this.
Happy 20th Anniversary, WordPress Community
The post 16 Years Later, My WordPress Story appeared first on BobWP.
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16 Years Later, My WordPress Origin Story
As I celebrate my own birthday today, many more than 20, I am reflecting on the years WordPress has been there for me. Oddly, I’m not sure where to begin except the beginning. And if I was to write a post to publish on the 20th anniversary of WordPress, it’s gotta be done here on BobWP.
Also, there lies the fact that I just returned from WordCamp Lisboa where I gave a talk on 20 Years of WordPress community. So it’s a bit on my mind.
George Clooney was named People’s sexiest man alive and I discovered WordPress
These two events have nothing more in common than it was the same year, 2016. I can’t say I think George deserved it, but I had other things on my mind. In fact two things.
First this was the year I became a bit intrigued with blogging. Nothing that had me gasping at the thought of writing posts, but simply a curiosity. At the same time I was trying to step into the world of web design as we had been running a marketing and design company for 13 years. And as much as building a site thrilled me, which was equal to having my hand smashed in a door, I figured there had to be a better way than html and flash.
Time drifted by. Judy had started a blog on Typepad and didn’t give a crap where it was. She just wanted to write. As I eased into the next year, WordPress slipped into my consciousness more and more. It seemed apparent that this thing called WordPress was going to become part of my life one way or another. Seriously though, I didn’t have a clue to what extent.
For the next few years, up to 2010, bit and pieces fell together. I found a theme on a fairly new site called iThemes. The concept of these seemed to be luring me into creating a site for our business that didn’t look like shit. And that’s exactly what WordPress and the Corporate theme from iThemes did for me. Without any freaking code!
The BobWP brand rises out of the ruins of ancient web design
Now I am avoiding going through my 16 years of WordPress history, simply for the reason that I cannot afford to lose you through my years of pivots, twists and turns. It may make you dizzy and I don’t want you vomiting before I wrap this up.
But 2010 was the pivotal moment in my WordPress Story. Why? Well, I had been doing some blogging workshops the two years prior to that year. I was getting my feel for where I need to go with WordPress. I was starting to explore the community more and more from that day in 2006. And I liked what I saw.
So the time came to make the transition from our marketing and design firm, Cat’s Eye Marketing, to something that would let me do my WordPressy thing, whatever that meant and wherever it led.
I got rid of all our our “print” clients or the last few that we were hanging onto. Mentally I told myself I’m going all in on WordPress. Design, training and whatever else would come my way. And it was time to rebrand. Not the business, per se, but myself. I was going to be the brand. So after some contemplation, possible consumption of alcohol and severe mumbling to myself, I came up with BobWP.
Mmmmmmm. It was short and sweet. And the domain was available, go figure. But would people get it? Would someone that doesn’t know what I do, and doesn’t know WordPress find it to be puzzling? Would people say my business is Bobwup?
Honestly, those concerns and questions did not weigh heavily on me. Nor did the fact that I was tying myself into a personal brand, that, well, would likely die with me. I bought the domain, and made it happen.
And you may know the rest, the rest is history.
I’m a WordPresser at heart
I really do love the community. And at this point I’m here to stay. Right now I’m doing what motivates me the most. Connecting people. Raising voices. And meetings some of the coolest people I have ever known, both in these last 16 years and moving forward.
So as much as I find it kind of weird singing Happy Birthday to my dashboard, my computer or any part of the software, or thinking that WordPress could be my grandchild, I will say this.
Happy 20th Anniversary, WordPress Community
The post 16 Years Later, My WordPress Origin Story appeared first on BobWP.