Did you make it to Traverse 15? After last year’s event in Newcastle, organisers brought the conference south, with a gathering in Kingston. Trips 100 Commissioning Editor Kirstie Pelling checked it out…
In the chilly spring air, I join a couple of hundred people who are gathered looking at the sky. It’s not the eclipse; that was last month. Between two 70’s style university buildings a shape forms and everyone starts to wave and chat. We may be the sector of society with technology at our fingertips, but everyone still gets excited by a drone. Especially when it is swooping down to take a group picture. Selfies are abandoned as the bloggers smile for the camera.
This is Traverse 15. A gathering of 230 attendees, including 180 bloggers, in Kingston, South West London. An increasingly happy gathering as the day goes on – the final session involves a Q&A where conference delegates tweet their drink orders to the bar staff in increasingly imaginative ways. According to one tweet there is a hot man in seat 8D but I am too busy ordering a #traversebeer to notice.
Sharing the knowledge
But Traverse isn’t all about socialising. Its purpose is sharing knowledge. “We try to change it a little bit every year to keep it fresh,” says Paul Dow, who organises the conference with fellow blogger Michael Ball, “But we always focus on what people can do with their own blogs. We try to keep it about learning and practical development. I think the other conferences tend to lean towards talks and keynote speeches and we didn’t want to do that. We wanted to give it value by focussing on classes and workshops.”
As well as group sessions, some of the more expert bloggers give ‘pro bar’ sessions as the day progresses. These are short one-on-one appointments by a selection of speakers and bloggers. “We feel that in the past conferences have put speakers on pedestals. We want everyone to be on the same level really,” Paul adds.
To some extent this is true, although some experts are leaders in their field, and some others come directly from social media platforms themselves. Pinterest UK brings a workbook and a handful of anecdotes and insider stories. Greg Brand shares video tips while broadcasting the session live on the Internet, mostly to a man called Gunther. Lonely Planet sends travel writer Isabella Noble to sharpen people’s skills, and Kash Bhattacharya from Budget Traveller sets the room a challenge of pitching for an Austrian press trip. In real life. Although by Twitter, if you see what I mean.
The newbie’s conference
If ever there was a conference for the newbie this is probably it. It is intimate and small compared to the more established giants like World Travel Market and TBEX. It is affordable, with early bird discounts and funded socialising. And afterwards there’s the chance to join one of ten different trips and practice skills, without any pressure of delivering to a client or tourist board.
“We do get a lot of new people attending,” says Paul. “If you’ve just started blogging it is the easiest way to pick up skills and move up a level. It’s a lot of information in one go but probably the easiest place to start.” And you also get to meet some of the stalwarts of the blogging world “Yes, some of the more experienced people come to meet up with everyone again. And we also get the guys in between who just come to see if they can learn anything new.”
A laid back success
Co-organiser Michael has roped his mum in to help serve the drinks which adds to the family vibe. Paul throws out an invitation to their next BlogStock – ‘the world’s first blogging festival’ in September that is literally a blog camp in a field at Elstree. “Come and meet us. Throw yourself in at the deep end and meet new people. Catch up with lots of cool travel related brands and other brands as well.” He heads off to clear up the stands before the evening’s closing event at Kingston Student’s Union. Meanwhile Michael says he’s pleased Traverse 15 has been such a huge success with no negative comments from bloggers, industry, speakers or sponsors.
At the evening social, a bunch of delegates are absorbed in a three hour game of beer pong while others play pool and hang out. Because that’s how they roll at Traverse.
