IndiBlogger Events - A first

I was welcomed into the Indiblogger community for almost year and yet I wasn't able to attend any of the meets or events that took place.  I was either out of town was too late to book a seat.  Until one day I saw an e-mail invitation for a Sunsilk sponsored film screening - Real FM a short film by Anurag Basu. The event was on a Friday evening and the invitation was sent just couple of days prior to the event. I was excited and wondered if I was going to make it to the event or if I it was going to be full already.  I followed the link and there were seats available! I was so excited I think a little 'Yay!' escaped through my lips :D  It was a working day and I work UK hours usually i.e. IST 1.30 pm - 10.30 pm mostly.  It was short notice and I wasn't sure if my boss would approve the flexi work day request.  Since I wasn't able to ever attend the events due to some or the other reasons I really wasn't sure I'd make it.  But I did, the boss agreed even though it was one day notice.  I know some might think I get excited too easily but I thought that getting to attend any of these events was jinxed.  

Finally it was the Friday and I left work and reached the venue. I did not know anybody and was going alone.  I was excited till the time I got, there then I saw all these people some of them in groups, quiet a few looked like college students.  I wondered what I was there for, I had no expectations and I wanted to attend an event.  The people at the registration desk very warm and welcoming that felt nice. I signed in. The setup was that of a mini red carpet.  The e-mail did say it was screening of a short film red carpet style.  There were movie posters put up and they had a small stall for pop-corns, another section with a RJ console setup and there were photographers clicking photo! People were posing with the props - the console, microphone and headsets, some solo while some in groups.  (FB Link to the photos) I got one clicked too.  We were surprised when they printed those photos and gave it to us - oh and all of it was free! :) I wasn't the only person to go there alone.  I met another personal blogger and we got talking and turned out we had a few things in common and she seemed very nice and funny. I made a new friend.

Then the doors opened for the movie screening. Before the movie the IndiBlogger co-ordinators had fun questions where some people won moolah, or surprise gifts.  I had no luck, we were sitting in the first row and the person asking questions just totally overlooked us! Lesson learned - don't sit on the first row.

The short film was quiet heartwarming and fun.  It was a story of 4 girls - friends who get stuck in a situation and manage to save the day.  Initially I thought it was predictable but as the story built up it made us hope that they succeed - even though you know that is how it ends and they save the day. What I loved most about the movie were the songs.  They did complete justice to being a film about a FM station and all the songs were really nice. At the end of it all it was a wholesome first blogger event experience.  We were all expected to head home and blog about the event the story while not quite giving the story away.  The movie was going to be aired on MTV that Sunday.  

There was also a blogger meet held on Sunday - a second event but a first official 'Indiblogger Meet' for me.  That was a brunch event. When I reached for the event this time some faces were familiar.  The registration desk people and also my new blogger friend I had met. It felt a little familiar this time and yet there were sooo many more people that I did not know. The meet was for a Kotak Bank event promoting JiFi (pronounced jiffy and not like wi-fi) Link to photos This was a slightly bigger event, more people and had celebrity guests - Author Chetan Bhagat was there to talk about why we should have an account with Kotak Mahindra Bank.  This was a noon party and they even had cocktails being served I was surprised how people could consume alcohol at noon. Guess if it's free anytime is good. At this event it seemed a lot like these events are about free food (drinks sometimes) and a reason to blog. It made me write something after ages. :)  After attending two events and making new acquaintances I feel more responsible to write :D hehe.