Got to Get in There
So I have been trying to get to live my life in a way that I will be happy with what I do. One way I am doing that is trying to do what I love for a living. I love writing, reading, cooking, baking, photography, painting, makeup, fashion, party planning and a few other creative things; I have been trying to incorporate all of these things together. The heart of it all is creative creations and ways to help others. This is why I have this blog. So when I found out about this Techmunch event, I decided I needed to get in there somehow to get to be able to achieve my goals in life. So I volunteered at Techmunch.
Volunteer
I decided to volunteer at Techmunch because I love working and I would get in for free (relatively free because I worked hard) but I would get to take advantage of all that the event had to offer. I would say that volunteering for events is a good way to learn, grow in your skill, maybe get free things and network. Networking is a great way to broaden your circle. You also learn from those that you meet. So why not volunteer when you can benefit so much? It also helped me get back into a work mentality and environment.
Nerves almost ruined this for me
I was nervous, to say the least, about working the event and being around a lot of people. Networking is something out of my comfort zone. Even putting this blog out there for the world to see is way out of my comfort zone because, while I love writing, I don’t know if I do it very well. My writing is mostly for me. I haven’t gone to school for it, I have not taken classes or courses for writing and I have rarely gotten anything published so I don’t know if I have any real talent but I love doing it. I love creating stories and poems. So this is one way to combine my loves together. Why not do this for a living? So I hope my blog takes off but if not, I don’t mind my small audience. I love that anyone thinks this blog is worth their time because time is precious. So I decided to jump right in and actually volunteer. I did not know what I had to offer people but I figure trying is a good way to find out.
Say No to Nerves
My nerves almost got me to not even go but I already committed to it, I did not want to let anyone that was counting on me down. It would not have been very responsible nor smart especially if that got around that i just did not show up to an event that I signed up for. If anyone were to find out about that, well I would not be taken seriously nor would my word mean anything. I mustered up the courage to go and I did not regret it.
What is Techmunch?
Techmunch is a food blogger conference/convention. I don’t even remember how I found out about it but I knew I wanted to go to it. I looked up the ticket prices and knew I could not afford to go to it but I saw that there was a volunteer button so I checked it and thought i could do that get it the event. Anytime you hear about a conference/convention you know that it will be full of valuable information and connections. You also get to meet great people. New ideas and inspiration are also a plus from these type of events.
Tell me more
Techmunch, established since 2010, is a pro-content creator, food conference. It was launched by Bakespace.com founder Babette Pepaj and she hosts the event herself. She actually made this event for those new to the food community and those already in the food game to share their knowledge with the rest of the community. This conference features speakers that have experience in different aspects of the food community which includes social media apps. This conference was great to go to because there were so many different perspectives and experiences that were shared. So many different people from different walks of life were present and I am sure it is true for other Techmunch conferences. Since I got to work Babette, as she was my boss for the day, I got to see that she does care about what kind of event she puts outs on with the quality of Speakers and businesses present for the conference.
YES, there is coffee….
I got thirsty while helping setup so I decided to check what “our” fridge had in stock. I saw soda, water, juice and the drink that I had been missing (because I am not fond too much of The Kid’s coffee especially with almond milk) COFFEE. I love coffee so much but I am a bit of a coffee snob so not just any ol’ will do. Especially my love is for love espresso. I found, in the refrigerator, cold brew from Califia Farms,
Triple Shot and it was so good. Delicious with the right amount of espresso and with ALMOND MILK. I was still on the vegan diet and had not been having much of any coffee from my favorite places don’t use almond milk. Besides the fact that I was on a vegan diet, we are on a very tight budget so that means no Starbucks. We also don’t have our awesome coffee toys with us to make delicious coffee. So I had quite a few of Califia Farm’s cold brew at Techmunch.
Let’s Take A Selfie
I wandered over to the Canon table with all their cameras and just admired it all. I have been wondering what camera I would buy for my blog and other projects that I am working on. The Brand ambassadors were so helpful and very kind. We got to take selfies with their camera, get it printed and then had a coffee artist, BaristArt, put your face on a cappuccino. I loved how mine came out. The detail and thought that were put it, it was awesome. Particularly one detail that was added made it quite awesome, my lipstick color. I had on a NYX Cosmicmetals lipcream in Electromagnetic which one of my favorite lip colors. I loved that he incorporated it in the actual art.
WholeFoods actually catered the event and I was pleasantly surprised with the variety. Not only did they have our lunch but they had some yummy desserts. They also had someone decorating cakes at the event and it was so entertaining plus she did a great job. Check out her Instagram @gateausbeforebros and see her cake creations. They had some vegan cakes that I got to taste and they were so good.
WholeFoods has a legitimate bakery not like other supermarkets that put out disgusting, old and hard cakes. WholeFoods like to put out as natural as possible pastries, they are also very aesthetically pleasing.
#More Sponsors
The rest of Techmunch’s sponsors were Vegan Divas, True Made Foods, Pearl River Pastry, Four & Twenty Blackbirds and Four Roses Bourbon. Vegan Divas was a part of the dessert bar and I really enjoyed their tiny doughnuts.
I was so happy that there were vegan options present at the Techmunch and were enjoyable not just an afterthought. True made Foods is a sauce company that focuses on making sauces as natural as possible, mainly using vegetables and cane sugar. I got to sample all three of their sauces: Vegetable Ketchup, Vegetable BBQ Sauce and Veracha Vegetable Sriracha. They were all very good but I took home my two favorites which were the ketchup and bbq sauce. The Kid likes ketchup like theirs so I had to take that home for him. I think more places, such as restaurants, should carry their sauces because it would definitely compliment their food.
SORRY
I did not try the other brands that were present because I was on my vegan diet at the time (I was not too happy that the event fell around the same time as my diet) Also, I did not try the bourbon because I am not a bourbon fan plus I didn’t eat much and that would have been terrible for everyone if i had bourbon on an empty stomach. SO you are welcome, everyone. I, did, however snag a pen from Four Roses and that was great. It is pretty and writes very smoothly. I LOVE pens, I have so many. I collect them. HINT, HINT, if anyone wants to get me a present, pens are a good way to go, also fun socks…and Starbucks giftcards.
Make up is helpful
I had a great time volunteering at Techmunch. I worked hard, networked some (not my strongest attribute), I learned to so much and I scored free stuff. Actually, I wore my greenish lip cream from NYX cosmetics which The Kid actually suggested I wear. I was feeling a bit nervous because I didn’t know how I would be perceived at an event like this. At the same time, I also wanted to put out the best representation of myself. It was actually a conversation starter. People would come up to compliment the color, to commend me for wearing it. Then turned into talking about my blog. I was so happy about that because I got to meet interesting and nice people. Some had nice shoes and great fashion sense.
Unofficial Photographer
I, also, became the event’s unofficial photographer for the event.
Somebody saw me take a picture of a fellow blogger and then she asked me to take one of her. Soon enough I had a small line form. They loved my photography “skills” and I felt useful. It was fun and felt natural. Even the actual event photographer complimented my pictures and use of lighting. Feels good to be appreciated, in a world where even your own family can be unkind or not supportive. When even the people that call themselves your “friends” just want to see you fail. I truly enjoyed volunteering at Techmunch and hope to volunteer when they return to NYC again. It was a wonderful experience. Try something new. Get out of your comfort zone every so often.
