Because I needed something to talk about at BlogHer Business

Edited to add new information. Scroll down.

As some of you may know, Johnson & Johnson is throwing an all-expenses paid blogger junket featuring spa services pampering and celebrity photo-ops in the beginning of April. About a month ago, some of mah blog sistahs started emailing me asking if I was going. The answer? No. I wasn't invited.

I had already solidified my plans to speak at BlogHer Biz and I knew the dates overlapped. Plus, I don't have a baby anymore so I didn't think much of it.

Until last week when I got three different emails from three different people (over the course of 2 days) asking if I'd like to attend Johnson's Baby Camp.

Then after a day or so went by and I hadn't responded, I got another email telling me that I had better hurry up and RSVP since the camp was filling up.

So finally, after working out all the childcare and travel logistics (Johnson's would have done well to have their camp on a weekend when their target audience didn't have to arrange childcare), I decided that I would be able to go after all, but would have to skip part of the camp to attend BlogHer Biz. I RSVP'd yes and was contacted by someone who said they'd help make all the necessary arrangements.

Then today, I was disinvited to Johnson's Camp with this to-the-point email.

Unfortunately, we can only accomodate those who registered to arrive and leave within the parameters of Johnson's Camp Baby.

In other words, because I'm going to BlogHer, I'm SOL.

I totally get it. They are shelling out tons of money and a blogger mama who can enjoy the full pampering treatment deserves to go in my place. Trust me, I'm not crushed, I'm laughing. And I'm delighted that someone more deserving (and less mouthy?) will be able to go.

Edited on 3/21 to add: Stop the presses! A mommy blogger (of color) emailed me today to tell me that when she declined, the J&J folks asked her if she could come even if it was just for "part of the event." This means what they told me about why I couldn't come isn't true. Not professional, J&J.

Those of you that are going, I have a little side project for you: I'd love to know how many bloggers of color attend Johnson's Baby Camp. Will one of you email me Twitter when you get there so I can have those stats for my Blogher Biz talk? (Or, if you are a blogger of color, let me know if you were invited.) Just curious.

Edited to add: I'm now hearing that people are being disinvited for a host of other reasons (one being: no slung babies allowed. Or breastfeeding babies.  Yes, at Johnson & Johnson. The baby company.) I fear this is another PR nightmare-in-the-making. Have you been disinvited? Comment away!

Sites linking to this post:

Mom-101 (Though to clarify, my feelings aren't "hurt" for being disinvited. I'm merely pointing out the lack of professionalism in this whole ordeal.)
Queen of Spain (a MUST READ esp. for PR people)
Moms Connected
Fake Plastic Noodles
Scobleizer
Maryamie/Maryam Scoble
Pop! PR Jots
Susan Getgood/Marketing Roadmaps
Flamingo House Happenings
Eye on Blogs (cbs5.com)
Contest for Moms
Media Orchard
Confessions of an It Girl
Loralee's Looney Tunes

Comments

[Her Bad Mother]

This really sucks - you'd think that they'd be sensitive to other obligations that mom-bloggers might have (not least, um, MOMMY obligations. I know the other story of which - I assume - you speak.

There'll definitely be some critical feedback on this.

[QueenofSpain, Erin Kotecki Vest]

I wasn't invited. Insert a WTF here, ;)

However the 'hair braiding' and 'girl talk' and 'Sassy & Sexy Mom Trends" is rather um...what's the word here...insulting?

[Dana]

I'm going and I'm nervous. Once while in the Bahamas my husband and I made a mistake and wound up in some high-pressure time-share sales pitch and we were both freaking out. I hope this doesn't have the same aesthetic, so to speak. I also hope that there's hooch.

[MammaLoves]

I ended up getting invited at the last minute and received the hurry up and reply email within two hours of the invitation.

I considered going to hang out with other bloggers, but I didn't feel like taking two paid vacation days for it.

I have to say Graco has such a good job of connecting with the mommyblogger community. Perhaps J&J could take some cues from them.

I can't wait to hear about the feedback we get from attendees.

[Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You]

I wasn't invited, but I'm not part of that ... upper echelon of Mom Bloggers, so I'm not surprised. I AM surprised, however, that they'd do something so obnoxious as to disinvite you. Have fun at BlogHerBiz though :)

[Stefania/CityMama]

MammaLoves, I agree about Graco. Thanks to the efforts of people like Lindsay Lebresco of Graco and Paull Young of Converseon, they have managed to build such goodwill in the blogosphere towards their company/corporate practices. They don't need to--they mostly preach to the choir in my case since my kids have been in contact with some Graco product or another since infanthood--but they do and that shows me that they truly care about their clientele. And that counts for a lot. (Plus, their corporate blog is really a great read!)

What these companies are missing is that personal relationships count. I am a total "people person." I love socializing/chatting etc. both online and off. Appeal to me as a person and that goes a long way. Treat me like a commodity (or like you see dollar bills when you look at me) and I'm gone.

[Michele]

I was invited, but declined because I'm going to BlogHer in July - and that will just about cap my vacation days (have to save them in case the kids get sick.) So, I was invited, but I declined.

[Mom101]

Why do I keep thinking of the Real Simple BlogHer party?

[rachel]

That is absolutely ridiculous. I'm still a newbie blogger, so I didn't get an invite, but I'll be very interested to hear what happens with this.

[becky]

No invite, but I'm not well known, either.

It'll be interesting to hear about the diversity (or lack of) in the group. I'd love to know what the other people were disinvited for.

[Suburban Oblivion]

Apparently I'm chopped liver, because I never even got an invite. :P

[Susan Getgood]

There is a disturbing level of brand arrogance in this whole thing -- starting with the hurry up, slots are going fast for you to agree to come listen to us talk about our products -- to the disinvitation.

Mom 101 and I are doing an "improve this pitch" panel at BlogHer Biz. Wouldn't be surprised if we perhaps mention this as something that could stand a little. :-)

[To Think Is To Create]

Not invited, but so hearing you on the "dollar signs" stuff. You'd think they'd understand that the whole point of grassroots marketing is..um...the grassroots' opinion.

[Stefania/CityMama]

Dawn and Rachel, we are all moms who blog. As far as I am concerned we are all in this together...and we are all "target market" as far as companies like J&J are concerned. We all control the purse strings...we have the potential to influence more than just the people who read our blogs...we are girl scout troop leaders, active in the PTA, we go to church or to sports activities or to book groups or to neighborhood association meetings...we have the potential to reach all kinds of people.

[David Wescott]

I am SO glad I had nothing to do with this.

Sorry I can't go to BlogHer and watch you present. (I have childbirth classes with my wife. woot!) But I hope every flack reading this goes and actually pays attention to you.

[cat/bad kitty]

OMG, these people are fools to mess with The CityMama. FOOLS.

They won't know what hit 'em.

[xiaolinmama]

I got the invite, but wondered how and why since my babies are no longer BABIES. Hmmm....
I had to decline due to work and lack of time (but it did sound like a fun excuse to hang with the girls). I got a weird auto response that didn't even ask why or if they were going to keep me on the list. It felt kinda yucky!

[Victoria]

All this (not the J & J thing, but the communication y'all have with each other) makes me a tad jealous. My girls are 13 and 8, and if there was a mommyblogger community as such when they were little (I started blogging in 2004ish, but it wasn't all that focused on parenting), I was oblivious to it.

But I really could have used it. Can I please send this discussion (and so many others here) back in time to Victoria, relatively isolated mama ca. 1994-2003, and tell that girl there's some righteously cool mamas out there? (wistful sigh)

[Chicky Chicky Baby]

I'm going but I admit I'm a little nervous about the whole thing. But I'll go with an open mind and hope for the best.

I am a little concerned about the lack of rhyme or reason involved in the invites, though. It doesn't make much sense.

[Christina]

I somehow got one of the invites - still not sure how - and I'm going. At the very least, it's a great chance to hang out with a group of women I love and respect.

I'm a little sad some of my favorite bloggers didn't get invites - how did they decide who should come? (And I want to know more about others who were disinvited - what happened?)

I'll admit to being a little nervous, too, because the activities seemed a little...fluffy? I mean, hair braiding? I'm all for wine and having a solid, honest discussion about products, but some of the girly stuff just isn't me.

I'm still hoping it'll be good, though, and I will have my trusty internet connection and Twitter to voice it all.

[Crunchy Domestic Goddess]

i wasn't invited either, but then again i tend to be anti corporations like johnson & johnson. perhaps they knew that? ;)
can't believe they uninvited you. classless.

[Busy Mom]

The same thing happened to me after I told them I had to wait to make plans after my husband got back in the country (he was out of town), and, they said that was OK.

[Busy Mom]

Oh, and I've never heard squat from Graco.

[Busy Mom]

I meant that I was declined after they told me I could come, not that I had to go outside the parameters of the conference.

I'll shut up now.

[Stefania/CityMama]

Busy Mom: GASP! What the fuck (pardon my french) do they expect? I had to check to see if I could get childcare...arrange for hubs to take an extra day off work...check to see if I could change my ticket that I already had...and once I did all that, I get disinvited. Way to be "family friendly," Johnson & Johnson.