Q: What is BAcon. Is this an exclusive event? Is there any fee associated with attending the conference (e.g., admission fee, transportation fee, etc..)

A: BoardingArea has always been committed to helping bloggers with their skill set. While we have publications such as newsletters and learning tools, we also sponsor occasional blogger conferences developed around the interests and eduction of our bloggers.

In June 2012, several BoardingArea bloggers met for dinner in New York City after a full day of BlogWorld activities (BoardingArea has a long history in sponsoring its bloggers to such educational events as BlogWorld/NMX/New Media Expo). The conversation was so stimulating and the company so delightful that many of the bloggers met again after the Chicago Seminars in October 2012. At both dinners, everyone marveled at the sheer amount of quality information learned during the days’ sessions. And more than a few floated the idea of a BoardingArea blogger “retreat” – a sort of mini-conference with hyper-relevant sessions and fun social events.

Dreaming up good ideas is one thing; turning good ideas into great ideas and making them reality is another altogether. The enthusiasm was contagious, and before long it had infected many of the other BoardingArea bloggers, the House of Miles staff, and me as well. With the foundation set, the first ever BoardingArea blogger conference – BAcon – took place in 2013 in Colorado Springs, CO—home of the House of Miles. After a successful first BAcon, we decided to continue the conference schedule in the city of sin—Las Vegas. Then came our own invasion of the Capital city—Washington, DC. Still thinking big we went small with several mini-BAcon's in Colorado Springs. All BAcon's have been well attended and in Las Vegas we had nearly 70 bloggers in attendance.

Here's a link to one of our five BAcon conferences, this one held in Las Vegas.

These conferences are designed to help bloggers grow their skill set as evidence by the agendas. We provide stipends to each blogger to attend as we do invest in each blogger. This stipend can be used to offset any travel expenses, though our bloggers tend to use miles and points for that. There are no fees for the conference itself and we cover all meals, entertainment, etc. As for exclusive ... while the conference is first and foremost an educational and social event for the bloggers of BoardingArea, it is also open to a small number of other bloggers who we feel would use the value of this conference to inspire and improve their own blogging skills. As such, we ask our bloggers to nominate external bloggers for this recommendation. This represents our giveback to the fraternity of bloggers.