My NABJ Convention Recap....

Quite frankly, I wasn’t really expecting much from Indianapolis so I can’t really say I was disappointed. Indianapolis (and even Detroit…I know some people don’t want to hear this) would have a hell of a time trying to follow Atlanta and being the predecessor for Vegas. I’m a diehard NABJ fan and I go every year that I can afford it regardless of the city.

Many people don’t see it that way. We had about 4,300 or so attendees in Atlanta and only about 2,400 attendees in Indianapolis. I think most people felt it necessary to save their pennies and live it up large for Vegas. If the hotel rate is reasonable, I’m predicting at least 5,000 for Vegas maybe even 5,500.

I’ve never been to Vegas and I will want to see as much of the city as possible while I’m at the 2007 convention.

O.K….now for the juicy stuff…because I know this is why you read the blog.

a) I didn’t realize that Indianapolis has so many homeless people. I mean there was a homeless person every half block in the downtown area. I will give the Indianapolis homeless people a little credit because they weren’t as aggressive as their counterparts in Atlanta. The Atlanta homeless people would follow you down the street and touch you if they thought you were lying or just being rude to them. Indianapolis homeless people took whatever you could give them.



b) So, I’m told that the NABJ Sports Task Force had the best party all week in Indianapolis. The NABJ Sports Task Force teamed up with Big Headed Boxers and produced the Hoosier Jam at the Blu Lounge. There was no cover charge and everyone had to be at least 21. Let’s just say there were a lot of people, myself included, that were not early risers on Friday morning. Also, there are some scandalous pictures floating around…but you will not find me in any of them.

c) I didn’t make the Spirit in the Words event this year. It is held on the Wednesday night of the convention every year. My favorite host… Shari Headley wasn’t there…that’s probably why I didn’t attend. Also, I’m told the format was changed this year….from a contest of NABJ members competing for prize money to poet Nikki Giovanni just reciting her stuff. No disrespect to Nikki Giovanni…but my open memo to the Chrysler Group, which has been the outstanding sponsor of this event for a long time, BRING SHARI HEADLEY back for Vegas. I’ve bragged to folks on how the Spirit in the Words Contest was the best event at the NABJ convention each year…please do not let me down in Vegas in 2007.

d) I got a chance to preview Idlewild at the NABJ convention on Saturday. The movie Gridiron Gang was also shown. I choose Idlewild because I’m a fan of Outkast and Terrence Howard but I’m told there was a decent crowd for the other movie too. I thought Idlewild was funny and I will go see it again when it is released on August 25th. I’ll have to hear more feedback from Gridiron Gang before I spend money to see it in the theater.