The crux of the matter is that EBs are getting to be a common occurrence in the blogosphere. Can't anymore count the number of EBs I attended ever since I went to the first Pinoyblog Christmas party in December 2004. There are those precious times when I meet with my close online friends  and the rest were spent covering the EBs for this column, such as Blogparteeh '07 and the BlogCon.

As I found out, EBs can be an enlightening thing. Sometimes, a blogger's online persona does not match his/her actual personality. It always pays though not to judge a book (blogger) by the cover. And a blogger has to remember that a one does not go to an EB to be shy or sulk in a corner, you're there to network, make friends, gain new links and be noticed.. otherwise, what's an EB for?? Here's my unofficial EB etiquette guide for bloggers:

1. Dress to kill but always dress the part. One thing I've learned, Pinoy bloggers are most comfortable in their jeans and tees. But a tee with a statement (the URL of your blog, perhaps) takes you a notch higher. Pierre always comes in a jester's outfit because that's what his blog title says ( Jester-In-Exile).. cool huh?

2. Wear a pleasant attitude, wear a smile. You are no longer brooding in front of your computer dude!

3. Know what to expect, but don't expect too much. For example, the invite said there will be free donuts but the delivery truck got stuck in traffic along EDSA. Ergo, it pays to munch on something before leaving home, otherwise you might not be able to wear…. see No. 2 

4. Prepare and flash those business cards. Because even though you had a thousand hits yesterday, don't presume that everyone will know you from Eve. And bloggers who mean well always check the URLs of peeps who attended the EBent.

5. Circulate, circulate. Don't just limit yourself to one table or group, at the risk of being branded elitist, snobbish or clique-ish. Nuff said.

6. Keep your tactfulness intact. You may think someone is horizontally/ vertically challenged but never ever utter " I never thought you're so short/fat in person!!"… because that, my dear, is better relegated to your mental recycle bin. Ouch!

7. Avoid the merry mix-up. Don't pretend you know Blog A when you're actually referring to Blog B… otherwise Blogger A might get confused.

8. Show some sense but don't be a show-off. Remember that you're talking to fellow geeks who know as much you do, or even more. Unless of course you can do rare things like bending spoons and disappearing in a trunk like Harry Houdini..go ahead then, show it!

9. By now most people know that bloggers are fond of taking photographs at these events. But for Chrissakes, ditch pressing the shutter button when someone is trying to befriend you or talk to you. Disengage from the dear camera for a while.

10. Don't monopolize the conversation or talk about yourself, or your blog, all the time. Otherwise you'd get to be known as the Boring Blogger from Bermuda.

11. Go easy on the food and booze. You don't want to eat too much and suffer from stomach discomfort…you don't want to drink too much and do things which will land you on blog headlines the next day.

Other suggestions from the bloggers:

12. Be careful not to ask personal questions such as age, status and salary, especially if you have just met a fellow blogger for the first time. This might offend him/her. (Keysi Nunez)

13. "Don't bring up a rant or entry . if you want to talk about it, just comment on the entry but not during the meetup." (Noemi L. Dado)

(For comments and inquiries, email annalyn.jusay@gmail.com)