We had the first Northern Planning summit at The Showroom in Sheffield last night. I got there first and sat down with a coffee to do a bit of work. Strange nervous feeling at this point, I sort of know these people, but I've never met them before.
James arrived next. We swapped notes on the places we work and the unconventional ways we got into planning. Then in walked the famous Rob Mortimer soaked by the rain.
Some people like going to the cinema for a first date, that way there are no awkward silences and you then have something to talk about after. It was a bit like that for us - thanks to shared experiences from blogging, the conversation was easy to start and it only really stopped when the bar staff wanted to go home.
Amongst other things, we covered the advantages of baldness for planners, the lunacy of Rob not having a planning job yet, the merits of being open in blogs v keeping things back, the value of doing what's right now v planning models, the brilliance of 80's music, the lack of good researchers up north and advantages of using pictures and analagy over words. Also, I think James recorded me likening good creative briefing to Ronnie Corbett telling a joke, and Rob's views on the strange success of Magners. Rob also played the orginal version of that track on the Sony Bravia ad - magic. We had to move rooms when the live music came on (hope the performer wasn't offended) and ended up talking over a candle lit table and enjoying personal waitress service (the girl has probably heard of Rob).
I thoroughly enjoyed their company. We'll be doing it again soon. 
It must show the merits of our discussion that it carried on til after the bar staff were packing up!
I also learnt that Leffre is pretty powerful in large amounts...
Was a great evening though, lots of interesting debate over a few drinks; hard to top that as a general activity!
Probably heard of me, ha!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 03, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Must watch that evil Leffe stuff in future, my head hurts. MUST do this often, in fact, everybody should have a drink with Rob Mortimer at least once and watch the female bar staff turn to putty in his hands.
Posted by: Andrew | August 03, 2006 at 01:29 PM
Mmm..it's funny meeting strangers isn't it.
Posted by: Colman | August 03, 2006 at 02:24 PM
I suppose that's what quite good about blogging - you get to meeet quite a few people without having to worry about chronic shyness. It's very wierd when you do meet them - and people oddly seem to reflect the personality of their writing....
Are people a bit scared when they meet you?
Posted by: Andrew | August 03, 2006 at 02:43 PM
The Northern Planning Summit should certainly become a regular event.
It is funny, but then again everyone i've met in the last few weeks (yourself included Paul) has been really good to meet and speak to.
Apart from being soaking wet, and getting covered in Leffre whilst watching some extreme gesticulation hit a glass...it was great.
I don't know where on earth you got that comment about the female bar staff from though! Maybe I don't wanna know...
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 03, 2006 at 03:20 PM
i think you're onto something with the 'advantages of baldness'
is it that a bald person looks more intellectual?
Posted by: Scamp | August 03, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Do I write in a scary way?
Russell and I chatted and recorded some thoughts about blogging meetings earlier in the week, following a chat about something else, I'll post it if it's any good; but basically we were agreeing with you - it's weird, but in a good way.
Posted by: Colman | August 03, 2006 at 04:16 PM
Paul- you do seem a bit hard, but also very funny, and I'd love to see that post
Rob - didn't the waitress only bring our drinks to the table if you ordered them?
Scamp - being bald does seem to give the impression of being cleverer than you are. The only good thing about going bald young is that older people listen to you more;-0)
Posted by: Andrew | August 03, 2006 at 04:21 PM
I met Rob on Friday and he didn't look scared.
Posted by: Colman | August 03, 2006 at 04:36 PM
...or amused.
Posted by: Colman | August 03, 2006 at 04:36 PM
You certainly come across as being much more dry/biting in your wit Paul. Not that that is a bad thing, just different to the other people I met in London (and here)!
I think the baldness thing does imply more authority with older people. It also (as someone mentioned a while ago) makes you less arrogant and vain!
Andrew: Did she? I thought she did it when James ordered them as well!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 03, 2006 at 04:39 PM
As in Queen Victoria? Or did I just miss a punchline somewhere?!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 03, 2006 at 04:39 PM
That's me 'dry and biting' -typical client.
Posted by: Colman | August 03, 2006 at 04:53 PM
Haha!
OH NO...
I just looked up "famous rob" on google, and i'm only bloody No1!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 03, 2006 at 04:54 PM
That's delicious! The famous Rob Mortimer, famous for being famous. I think you've made my day (and she must have mistaken James for you;-))
Paul - dry and biting sounds about right. Maybe I'll find out if I ever get to a Russell coffee morning. That's another fella who seems to write like he is.
Posted by: Andrew | August 03, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Rob, you should rename your blog immediately.
Andrew, I think everyone gives away many clues as to what they are like in the way the write, and in particular the way they blog.
Posted by: Colman | August 03, 2006 at 06:55 PM
I'm interested in 'blogging as you are'is that covered in your chat with Russell?
Posted by: Andrew | August 04, 2006 at 10:28 AM
Hmm, Famous Rob's Ad Pit?
Sounds too tacky!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | August 04, 2006 at 10:37 AM
Think Rob's become an "It Man".
I remember very little from the event so I'll try and get that recording into some sort of suitable format to expose publicly and jog my memory.
Posted by: James B | August 04, 2006 at 05:47 PM