Deetz
The panel felt unorganized. I found out that the speakers were not given the questions and topics of the panel prior, so a lot of them are just talking on the spot. If they had some guidance before the panel, they would’ve been able to give much better answers. I met a girl there that just moved to Miami and she was interested in the beauty industry. For someone like her, it would’ve been cool for the speakers to have provided more specific and relevant information and insights.
Plus, you had to purchase a ticket online to enter the event, and no one actually checked for them. The ticket was about $15, so it didn’t bother me. However, the organizer of the event claimed that the proceeds will go to Nicaragua. I didn’t hear any mention of the status of the proceeds and neither did the speakers I spoke to afterwards. That’s a little unsettling because that was a huge selling point for the tickets, and all the bloggers on the panel are Nicaraguan.
Um….
After the blogger meet-up, I also found out that the owner and founder of Miami bloggers is not even a blogger… This bugs me a bit because if she’s not a blogger, how was she supposed to know what bloggers want and need? Miami already has a reputation of having a lot of stuck up people, so these poorly planned events don’t make it better. This was my first event for bloggers, and I don’t think I would attend another one hosted specifically by Miami Bloggers.
Most of the networking have done in the Miami blogosphere has been through Instagram. I happened to meet a few cool girls through there, and we like and comment on each other’s posts. That’s pretty rare because all of these bloggers want to make it big and just do blogging full-time. I understand their motivations, but I can’t sympathize with them because we all deserve a space in the blog and community.
I guess some perks of this blogger meet-up was the fact that we got some free champagne LOL, I was close to The Wharf and I made a new friend. If you want to know more about my experience at The Wharf, check out Jenn’s post. I also met another cool girl and followed her on Instagram as well. The rest of the bloggers didn’t really wanted to vibe with anyone or they just kind of acted like they were celebrities lol. I know that’s not entirely the fault of the company, but the environment they cultivated didn’t give a opportunity for more people to interact with each other.
An Alternative
If you’re looking for another organization that hosts a blogger meet-up, I suggest you follow SFL bloggers. My friend Jen that attended the event with me runs it with her best friend. Their events are more intimate, but you have a chance to really talk to everyone and build meaningful relationships.
Have you been to any Miami bloggers events? How did you feel about them and would you recommend them to a friend or another fellow blogger? What are things you expect an event to cater to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.
Thanks for reading! 
It might not be a bad idea to start a Mastermind group initially with 3-5 bloggers for inspiration, idea exchange, support, etc. You can meet up in Starbucks, Panera bread or else.
Yes, I have been to Miami bloggers events (for about a year) so this blog post really struck a cord with me. First of all, I have met the Miami Bloggers Owner personally as she attends all the events and often speaks at them. She IS a blogger. She has blogged for corporate companies since 2009 managing various blogs. So to say she’s not a blogger because she doesn’t meet your standard of a “blogger” (a personal blog) is very uneducated. A blogger is someone who blogs. And considering she has done it for 10 years, means she is more of a blogger than you and I combined.
I am a food blogger and have attended around 10 of these events and have met tons of bloggers in the community and it has helped grow my page substantially. I am sorry you had a bad experience at one, but I have never found girls to “act like they are celebrities” in fact, I have met some of my best friends at them (just like you met people there as well).
There were girls in swimsuits because it was swim week, which is why I wanted to come to the event: Swim week. Also, to say the proceeds didn’t go there is unfair considering you only talked to two people about it. If you wanted details and proof you should probably contact the owner of Miami Bloggers instead of spreading mis-information. It is a bit crazy that you posted a blog post to bash this community that has brought together many bloggers and formed many connections, just to promote your own friend’s blogger events. I personally feel offended by this considering it was your first event and 90% of what you posted was untrue its baffling. Please do your research before bashing people it makes your blog look unreliable.
Wow this post is really full of misinformation and very defamitory…. yikes. You don’t seem like someone who likes to double check facts. I don’t think you understand that you have just challenged the credibility of not only the founder …but large network of bloggers who work very hard and are proud to be a members. This was your first and only time! It’s okay not to like something… but geez! You shouldn’t go around making irresponsible claims like this!
Hi I have been to many Miami blogger events and you just seem like a hater that’s completely uninformed to the point where it’s almost laughable ? but here we are just because your ignorance has struck a chord as a long time member! The grop is actually called Miami bloggers and influencers. The founder is and influencer with a following over 10X yours. She is a blogger who is paid professionally to manage the social media and blogging of large corporations. Just because she doesn’t have a personal blog does not make her not a “blogger” please do research. You have insulted the community of Miami bloggers and influencers. This was your first event and rather than Tera he out to the founder ( who is a total sweetheart and would have addressed your concerns and may have just been another friend of yours ) you bashed her! With False INFORMATION! You insinuated that proceeds did not go to a real charity! Just because you did not make the most of your experience or enjoy your time doesn’t mean you should go this ugly, slanderous route. Grow up, girl.
Hey! So I agree with you 100%. I went to a Miami Bloggers event and I wasn’t very impressed.
It was at the wharf and when I got there they weren’t even set up and the area that was supposed to be “reserved” for us, random people were sitting there. Which made me question why I even bought a ticket. It was $10-$15 as well but still, it’s the principle. If I’m going to pay an entrance fee I better see someone checking it, you know?
The panel was awesome though, they really had some amazing influencers and they have great advice.
Except when they were talking, since the wharf is a loud outdoor area we could barely hear them, which is out of her control but the equipment she had for the influencers to speak was pretty bad too.
You’re right the woman who organizes it isn’t a blogger she’s a entrepreneur of some type and I actually spoke to her brother after the event and some of the advice he gave me was a little shady and pretentious, which gave me a bad vibe about the whole thing.
I made so many connections and friends which was pretty cool but that was the last time I went to one of their events.
These other people commenting are a trip though, lol. Just keep on blogging girl.
Okay so I’m typing this all over again because WordPress didn’t process my long comment!! Here we go:
All of these hate comments are just hilarious!! This post was about YOUR experience, how YOU felt, and you’re entitled to write about it! There’s nothing defamatory going on here. You had some very valid concerns. As a Nicaraguan myself, I have seen many people/charities talk about donations that will be given to people there or work that will be done, without ever giving specifics. That’s definitely not okay! There needs to be more transparency, especially if it was supposed to be such an important point of the event.
As for the panel, it’s definitely better to give out questions beforehand. I’ve been a part of panels and also facilitated them, and it’s just so much easier and less anxiety-inducing to know what is going to be discussed. It results in more coherent and relevant answers!
I can see how an event like this might be someone else’s cup of tea, but I would much prefer to be in a more intimate setting. Maybe I’m just not very “Miami”?
Keep doing your thing! I love hearing your opinions, and I’m glad that you’re not someone who would easily be caught up in the moment without thinking critically.
I’m definitely going to check out Jen’s group!
Leaving another comment to say that having a larger following doesn’t make you a better blogger 🙂 Sometimes those with the smallest followings can make a huge impact.