Four Events to Attend If You Love Dogs

I love dogs and my heart beats dog®. I even trademarked that last part and had it tattooed on my arm for keeps. If you love dogs and have ever remotely entertained the notion of working in the pet industry, there are four events taking place in the first half of 2016 that you should consider attending. Three of the four are pet welcoming, so consider that as a bonus.

As a long-time pet writer and blogger, I am often asked how I got started and/or how someone can get involved in pet writing, blogging, or perhaps helping pets in need. There is something for everyone who loves dogs, and one or more of these four events is definitely for you! Here we go:

Dog Writer’s Association of America Seminar and Luncheon: New York City: 02/14/16

Give yourself some love and for a very affordable fee of $125, spend an afternoon in New York City high atop the famous Hotel Penn. Join me along with three other stellar speakers that morning for a series of seminars to help you learn how to be a productive (paid!) writer in the 21st century. The first session kicks off with me at 9 am and then continues through until noon. Following an hour of editor appointments, the annual DWAA Banquet and Awards Presentation will take place.

Who Should Attend: Anyone who is interested in learning more about breaking into the diverse and expanding world of dog writing and pet blogging.

Fee: $125 until 02/06/16 and then the price jumps to $160 at the door.

Non Members Allowed? Yes.

Pets Welcome? Not at this event but Hotel Penn is pet friendly in the rooms.

Dress: Business casual is fine.

More Info:

Seminar Sessions: DWAA Annual Event in New York City

Carol Bryant (Me): The Ins and Outs of Blogging

Ranny Green: Being creative with one’s abilities in today’s tight freelancing market.

Mara Bovsun: How to use meetups and media to promote projects and as a way to gather information on specific topics.

Larry and Charlene Woodward: Explaining the difference between working with a niche publisher and with a publisher who focuses on material for the mass market, as well as giving tips on how to develop an audience and turn into an in-demand author.

Here is our interview with Good News for Pets about the DWAA Conference.

Wigglebutts Uncorked: Brotherhood Winery: Washingtonville, New York: 04/16/16

Fidose of Reality has upped the bark on our 2016 gala fundraiser to benefit NYC Second Chance Rescue.  This rescue group was selected as the benefactor of our 2016 red carpet event, Wigglebutts Uncorked, which is a pet-welcoming event for well-behaved dogs. Wigglebutts Uncorked takes place at The Grand Monarque Hall on the grounds of America’s oldest winery, Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, New York, on April 16, 2016, with an after party on April 17^th at a nearby pet-friendly winery!

Who Should Attend: Anyone who loves to have fun, dress up, and go places with or without their dog!

Pets Welcome: Absolutely!

Dress: Dress up: Slacks to dresses to gowns to suits

Cost: $125 per ticket and that includes open bar, meal, swag bags, and more.

More Details: Wigglebutts Uncorked 2016 Details

 

Fido’s Festival

Fidose of Reality is an official media sponsor of Fido’s Festival USA® , a national dog festival, taking place June 4^th and 5^th at the Burlington Country Fairgrounds in Columbus, New Jersey.

SUPERMUTTS” is the theme of this year’s weekend-long celebration of the family dog, which will feature canine superhero-inspired contests, activities, speakers and entertainment for the entire family. The 2016 Festival will also include an assortment of contests, expert guest speakers and fun activities for dogs and their human companion.

A community of doggie-focused vendors will also be on hand to showcase their various canine products and services in the worlds of dog grooming, health and nutrition, fashion, training, photography, vacationing and much more. Attendees can meet new dogs or puppies from the many local rescues and shelters in attendance and apply to bring a new best friend home. We will have a dog lovers merchandise booth, too!

Fido’s Festival USA® will be held rain or shine and group discount hotel rates are available at several local pet-friendly hotels.

Fee: Advance tickets are only $8 for a one-day pass and $15 for a weekend pass. All dogs and children under 12 years old are admitted free.

For more information and to purchase advance tickets, please visit http://www.FidosFestivalUSA.com.

BlogPaws Social Media and Pet Blogging Conference

If you are like me and have a passion for pets in general, you’ve probably thought about how to take a passion for pets and somehow turn it into profit.

Pet bloggers are making an impacton the pet industry. Brands realize the power of a well-written and visually appealing blog post by an authoritative source.  Anyone can tell you that blogging is lucrative. Anyone can tell you that if you stick with blogging long enough, you will succeed. Anyone can tell you that you can make a ton of money blogging. So can you make money pet blogging? Well……

Working for it and not wishing for it are two completely different aspects and I am not just anyone. I am working for “it” (pet blogging), too. And yes, you can make money pet blogging: It all depends on:

1. How you do it – as defined by your blogging business plan;
2. If you are willing to put the time into achieving (A);

and

What your idea of “making money” is;

I walked into a conference in 2010 with the notion of figuring out my next career step in life. I walked out a changed woman. Though there are hundreds, if not more, conferences that a person can attend these days, there is none that has ever had the profound impact on my life like BlogPaws.

BlogPaws yearly conferences bring together hundreds of pet bloggers, pet enthusiasts, shelters, rescues, and the brands who serve them, for social media education, networking, and promoting worldwide change for pets in need. This means if you like pets in some capacity: Whether that’s on a traditional blog or a microblog, like Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter, etc., this is the conference for you. Lifestyle bloggers attend the conference because brands understand that families come in all shapes and forms: From traditional mom and dad to two dads to single moms raising a dog and everything in between.

Where and When: BlogPaws Conference 2016 takes place June 23-25^th in Phoenix, Arizona at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass and Spa Resort.

Pets Welcome? Yes.

More Info: BlogPaws 2016 Conference

QUESTION: Do you ever attend pet-friendly events? Might I see you at any of the above?

Disclosure: I work for BlogPaws as the Marketing and Social Media Manager but I would recommend attending the BlogPaws Conference as I have for 7 straight conferences because it is so amazingly worth it!