Hello all,
We’ve been working hard at putting together the most informative agenda for this year’s IFBC. Please note that this is a working agenda and is subject to change! We’d love to hear your input, so please feel free to leave a comment!
Speakers: We are currently in the process of solidifying speakers for each session. If you are interested, please go to the bottom of this post for details on submitting a speaker proposal.
Friday, August 27
Location: Hotel Monaco
Early Registration: 4:30 – 7pm (Note: We highly recommend picking up your badge and goody bag during this period!)
Evening Party: 5:30-9pm
- Great food, wine and more!
Saturday, August 28
See Transportation schedule for AM & PM shuttle times.
Registration/Check-In/Breakfast: 8:00am
Optional Activity – Network With Your Fellow Attendees : 8:30am -9:15am
Welcome Address: 9:30 – 10am
Session 1: 10am-11:15am
Technology: SEO/Traffic and Creating Buzz (Panelists TBD)
- Understanding ad networks
- Affiliate programs
- Direct ad sales/paid endorsements
Session 2: 11:30am-12:45pm
Writing: Writing With All Five Senses (Taught by Kathleen Flinn, writing teacher and best-selling author, “The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry.” This session is based on Kathleen’s sold-out course that she teaches at Richard Hugo House in Seattle.
- Most writers rely too heavily on visuals, and food writers are notorious for using cliches. The goal in this session is to get people to recognize both of these issues, then stretch their writing beyond that. This is an interactive session where the instructor will give each person a food item (such as a lemon) and guided through a series of writing exercises.
Lunch: 1pm – 3pm
Food and Wine Live Blogging Lunch (Chefs and Winemakers TBD)
- An interactive lunch where bloggers will taste, review, blog and/or Tweet about food and wine pairings from top chefs and winemakers. Each chef and winemaker will briefly give an explanation about their food/wine and answer questions, giving bloggers the opportunity to record their learnings. Stations will be set up allowing chefs, winemakers and conference participants the opportunity to interact in smaller group settings.
Session 3: 3pm – 4:15 pm
Writing/Technology: Law & Ethics (Panelists TBD)
- The new FTC laws & blogger disclosure
- Recipes and copyright law
- Etiquette
Session 4: 4:30pm – 5:30pm (Panelists TBD)
Technology: Monetization, Ad Networks & Affiliate Programs
- Understanding ad networks
- Affiliate programs
- Direct ad sales/paid endorsements
Optional Activity – 5:45-6:45: The “Unconference” Session
- An unconference is a participant-driven session where you will be able to discuss a variety of topics not covered in the set agenda. Attendees will break into groups and will have the opportunity to freely float between group discussions as they see fit.
Dinner: 7:00pm – 9:00pm – Open to all attendees!
Winemakers Dinner with Keynote Speaker (all TBD)
Sunday, August 29
See Transportation schedule for AM and PM shuttle times.
Optional Activity – Early Bird Meet the Editors: 8:00am-9:00am (Space is limited)
- Small round tables where attendees will have the opportunity to talk with magazine and book editors in small groups of no more than 10. The editors will switch tablestwice giving attendees a different view into the worlds of magazine and book publishing. An intimate precursor to this afternoon’s session.
Breakfast: 9am
Session 5: 9:30-10:45am (Panelists TBD)
Food: From the Source: Passionate Purveyors & Producers (Panelists TBD)
Session 6: 11:00am-12:15am (Panelists TBD)
Food Photography: Digital Photography
- Top photographers will give lessons on creating the perfect shot, how to edit, tricks to use at home, and more.
Lunch: 12:30 – 2:30
Food & Wine Hall
Optional Interactive Lunch Activity: Technology Scavenger Hunt
- A small set of fun tasks will be given for attendees to complete during the 2-hour lunch. This is a great way for attendees to practice what they’ve learned so far and to connect with the chefs and winemakers.
Session 7: 2:45 -4:00pm (Panelists TBD)
Writing: Pitch to Publish
- Editors will give insight into what they are looking for in a story, trends in publishing, and what they are discussing behind the scenes when selecting stories to feature. They’ll help you with creating your “elevator pitch” and how to get your story into print.
Closing remarks: 4:00 – 4:15pm
Closing Party: 4:30 – 6pm
Micro-distilled Spirits/Cocktail party
Optional Dinner: 7pm-9pm (Location & Speaker TBD). Space is limited. Transportation is not provided.
**Interested in being a speaker for one of these panels? Please click the “Speakers” link Conference Information for more details.**