I\u2019ve been to the last two business<\/em> conferences put on by The Collective, and got so much out of the experiences. (You can read all about them here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/event-the-collective-conference<\/a>, and here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/event-the-collective-conference-2018<\/a>.) So I\u2019m really looking forward to this<\/em> one from that company, which concentrates on the food industry.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin on Karen’s Restaurant Revue, with her co-star, Clarence, The Singing Dog. This pic doesn’t look like it has much to do with food, but the little baseball helmets they’re rocking had ice cream in them originally, and her shirt says “White Castle.” Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n As those of you who\u2019ve followed me from television to print know, I was mainly a restaurant critic on my TV show,\u00a0Karen\u2019s Restaurant Revue<\/em>, for many years. But, due to its popularity, I started getting invited to all kinds<\/em> of events, for which I\u2019ve been eternally grateful. And since I\u2019m never just a taker<\/em>, and always<\/em> try to give back, I discussed all my escapades on my show. And those<\/em> reviews made me also be considered a theatre, film, beauty, fashion, sports, and culture critic. Who’da thunk it?<\/p>\n All that led to this<\/em> e-zine, which features about four dozen topics, so restaurant reviewing has, sadly, moved down the ladder a bit. But it still has my heart. If I had my druthers, I\u2019d eat at every restaurant in the world! (And share it all with you guys, of course.) So I\u2019m eager to refresh my eatery knowledge at the Collective Foodie conference at the end of this month.<\/p>\n After having been regarded as one of the top Los Angeles restaurant influencers for so long back in the day, (before we were even referred<\/em> to as \u201cinfluencers,\u201d) it will be a pleasure to be to the recipient of the knowledge of others<\/em> who are now<\/em> at the forefront of the business! I\u2019ll enjoy being the student this time, and not the teacher.<\/p>\n Some of last year’s snacks. Photo courtesy of the Collective Foodie.<\/p><\/div>\n The organizers of the Collective Foodie tell me that this event will feature\u00a0\u201cover fifteen speakers, three keynotes, two panels, and three networking sessions.\u201d And, of course\u2014food<\/em>! Duh. My literal<\/em> appetite is whet to sample fare from different eateries there, and my figurative<\/em> one to discover just how much the culinary scene has changed since I was primarily a restaurant critic. I understand that we\u2019re going to learn about the latest innovations, especially where\u00a0digital<\/em>\u00a0marketing trends are concerned. That\u2019s a topic I\u2019m often confused about, so I can\u2019t wait for that enlightenment.<\/p>\n The topics at the conference will include how to monetize those foodie photos we all take, which is something I\u2019ve wondered about. At food fetes, my team and I take a few pix of a dish, which takes about a nano-second, and then we pass it on. And we often notice that the next guests take their photos, complete with lights and camera-holders, for five minutes<\/em>! Hopefully, I\u2019ll now learn how (and why!,) to do that, too!<\/p>\n Angel City Brewery–the venue for the Collective Foodie.<\/p><\/div>\n This is the conference\u2019s third<\/em> year, but it\u2019s only the first<\/em>\u00a0time that I\u2019ve heard of it. So now none of you<\/em> will have to miss out on it this time, either, because I\u2019m<\/em> giving you advance notice! I wouldn\u2019t want any of us to not be in the know ever again.<\/p>\n It all takes place at downtown LA\u2019s Angel City Brewery, which I\u2019ve never been to, so I\u2019m especially curious about it. And I have a feeling that means that lots of comped beer is involved, for you imbibers!<\/p>\n Unlike the Collective\u2019s business<\/em> conferences, which begin at the crack of dawn, (to me<\/em>, anyway,) this one begins at…Happy Hour, of course! I\u2019ll love having that much time to get ready! (And being fed right away!)<\/p>\n Later on, there\u2019s a \u201cTea & Bite Break,\u201d which I\u2019m hoping is akin to my absolute favorite repast, Afternoon Tea. (But it will be after 6PM at that point, which is two hours too late for official<\/em> afternoon tea, so I\u2019ll just be happy with whatever it is.)<\/p>\n Karen Salkin, honing her food-tasting skills for the 2019 Collective Foodie! Photo by Lisa Politz.<\/p><\/div>\n After more opportunities for knowledge, the evening will end with a Foodie Lounge. My mouth is watering for that part right now! And we will all get to mingle and discuss what we just learned.<\/p>\n And\u2014wait for it\u2014we all leave with foodie swag bags!<\/p>\n So, whether you\u2019re a food blogger, a \u201cfoodpreneur,\u201d a food expert, or just a plain old appreciative food consumer, (which aren\u2019t we all<\/em>?!,) the Collective Foodie is the event for you! What a fabulous way to close-out April!<\/p>\n For all<\/em> the deets, and to purchase tickets for yourselves, just click here: www.365dots.com\/the-collective-foodie<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COLLECTIVE FOODIE MINI-CONFERENCE PREVIEW As an INAM reader, I\u2019m sure that you\u2019re aware that I attend a lot of food-related events each year. So this Collective Foodie Mini-Conference on April 30th is right up my alley! And since just about everyone I know is also a foodie, I assume it will be up yours, as<\/p>\n![\"Screen](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-04-at-9.47.46-AM.png\")
<\/a>But this one may turn-out to be even better than most because it\u2019s not just a scarf-down-and-run experience\u2014it\u2019s a learning<\/em> one!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>