Stuck in an Elevator
This weekend BlissDom was filled with amazing experiences – seeing my friends in person, learning from panelists, listening to amazing musicians like Chris Mann and even a developing a few new friendships. Of all the things that happened this weekend though, the craziest had to be getting stuck in the elevator at The Hotel Preston with 12 other bloggers for almost 40 minutes!
The thirteen of us were taking the elevator from the LL when after a few moments, it just stopped (talk about a good way to kill your buzz from dinner….).
We tried calling the front desk using the phone in the elevator, but in the end it was social media that saved us. Almost instantly we all began reaching out via twitter (#Elevator) to our friends and contacts. Someone Googled and found the number for the front desk. It was amazing. What had brought us all together in the first place – social media – would end up being the same tool that would save us!
After calling the desk and tweeting to friends, we noticed a placard on the wall…. SHIT:
We killed time trying to distract each other and calm those among us who were not comfortable in tight/close spaces. Here we were – some of us complete strangers – coming together to get each other through the situation. In the end, we dubbed ourselves - the Elevator 13 (according to Twitter, the Hotel staff named us the Elevator People…..).
The group included:
Jennifer, Play Groups Are No Place for Children
Victoria, Vdog + Little Man
Heather – The Spohrs Are Multiplying
* Heather’s Post
Heather – The Queen of Shake Shake
* Heather’s Post
Emily – DesignHer Momma
* Emily’s Post
Amy – Amy in Ohio
* Amy’s Post
Hebba – JeepGirl17
* Hebba’s post
Me – Mommy Bits
Ali – Blessed Treehouse
Sandy – Organize with Sandy
* Sandy’s Post
Jenny – Mommin It Up
* Jenny’s Post
Dawn – Kaiser Alex
* Dawn’s Post
Cortney – Once A Month Mom
Sandy happened to have her Flip and shot video while we were waiting for the elevator repair man. I’ll try and add a link to it once she posts it / shares it as well as to other posts on the situation. This is one conference event I’ll definitely remember for a long time to come!
Why does the crazy stuff always happen to me???
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I'm Shannan. I'm a Mom, wife, career gal & technology geek from Cincinnati, Ohio. The lone woman in a house full of men, I blog about life in Cincinnati, my family and things of interest to me as a wife, mother, woman and tech junkie. 
2.8.09 at 9:04 pm
Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) comments:
I saw your Tweets a few minutes before you were freed. Glad you all made it out safely and had a sense of humor about it… at least as much as can be expected in the situation.
Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba)´s last blog post… “Are you the one with the horns?”
2.8.09 at 9:06 pm
Dawn comments:
If only we would have had the booze WITH us. We could have all passed the bottle and taken a drink each time we tried to talk to the front desk.
Dawn´s last blog post… And the winner is . . .
2.8.09 at 9:08 pm
Andrea @ Mommy Snacks.net comments:
OK, that was HILARIOUS kinda…!!! I was really happy when you got out though!
Andrea @ Mommy Snacks.net´s last blog post… Catch Ya Later!! I’ll be at Blissdom!!!
2.8.09 at 9:30 pm
kathi comments:
I told you elevators were shifty lol hope you all went potty first.
kathi´s last blog post… NetSmartz
2.8.09 at 9:38 pm
ShannanB comments:
Rebecca – I think you have to have a sense of humor about this kind of stuff – thankfully we were freed pretty quickly. Dawn – I have now vowed that I will always keep a mini bottle of vodka and a juice box in my purse for just this very type of situation….. Andrea – You crack me up. Kathi – You were RIGHT, lol!
2.8.09 at 10:23 pm
Amazing Greis... comments:
WOW! What an experience. Can’t wait to meet you in person at Blogher in July.
Amazing Greis…´s last blog post… Weigh-In Wednesday Week 4
2.8.09 at 10:24 pm
Cortney Loyd comments:
Shannon – You’re too funny. At least we figured out we didn’t exceed the 2500 lb weight limit.
Cortney Loyd´s last blog post… Sorry, Oh So Sorry – Grocery List Update
2.8.09 at 10:31 pm
Bonnie Sayers comments:
I saw the tweets. I carry a portable fan around and this is another example of why I will continue to do so.
A few months ago my 13 yr old and I were in Barnes + Noble first thing in the morning. Soon after having one book picked out we were ready to head up to third floor for kids section when the lights went out. There was screaming coming from upstairs, someone who worked there said it was some teenagers in the elevator and probably stuck.
Turned out to be a Mom and her two kids, one in stroller. The little boy was frantic as was the Mother. We were told we couild still shop so we went to 3rd floor. Found two girls working there laughing at the family in the elevator. I was so upset over the way their employees handleed the situation. We went to Borders around the corner and I saw a city truck and flagged him down but he said that mall facility – an outdoor one had their own personnel. Forty minutes is long time. I would have used my asthma inhaler for sure.
Bonnie Sayers´s last blog post… Advice sought for teenager wth autism who has cat obsession
2.8.09 at 10:32 pm
Jessica Maurice comments:
So glad ya’ll got out ok. It was great that ya’ll were tweeting it.
Jessica Maurice´s last blog post… Apple: Pass
2.8.09 at 10:33 pm
Julia @ Hooked on Houses comments:
Oh, my gosh, Shannan! That’s crazy! I saw the tweets about it after you had already been freed, so I was no help at all, I’m afraid. That’s quite a group of women you had in the elevator with you. I bet it wasn’t boring!
So glad to meet you this weekend. Hope to see you and the other Cincy-area bloggers again soon!
Julia @ Hooked on Houses´s last blog post… Home-a-Rama House #5: Nantucket-Style Living
2.8.09 at 10:43 pm
Andi comments:
I just sung Stuck in an Elevator in my best Steven Tyler voice as I read your post. Anyway, a great example of social media at use in a much need time! Glad everyone made it out!
Andi´s last blog post… Free Stuff: Samples and Coupons [2009]
2.8.09 at 10:43 pm
Jenny from Mommin' It Up! comments:
Shannan! It was SO CRAZY! I have a bit of claustrophobia since I got stuck in an elevator when i was in high school…this time with you guys was MUCH longer but at least it was with better company. Just want to give Dawn from Kaiser Alex a big shout out for helping to calm me down after I started to freak. The BLISSDOM 13 is forever bonded!!
Jenny from Mommin’ It Up!´s last blog post… Weekly Winners: Emily & Jenny at BlissDom ‘09 Edition
2.8.09 at 10:51 pm
Sarah comments:
Is it wrong that I half wish I had been a part of this bonding experience?
(The other half of me was PETRIFIED this would happen to me… Those small, slow elevators and people just kept PILING in. YIIIIIIIIKES).
Sarah´s last blog post… Thursday Ten: Smells Like Power Chords
2.8.09 at 10:56 pm
ShannanB comments:
Sarah – you crack me up! I felt the same way about the elevators. I’d been on several times with more than 13 people.
Jenny – It was crazy and I was worried about you. Am glad we got out as soon as we did.
2.9.09 at 12:37 am
Mary@Everyday Baby Steps comments:
I suppose it was probably a great bonding experience, but remind me not to ride the elevator with you at BlogHer! Elevators should really hold more than 7 people. So glad everyone was okay.
Mary@Everyday Baby Steps´s last blog post… I’ll Show You My Home, You Show Me Yours
2.9.09 at 4:28 pm
Sarah comments:
I get a little claustrophobic in my bathroom, can’t imagine an elevator!
Sarah´s last blog post… Mastery of Skills: Naps and Stuck-up.
2.9.09 at 11:05 pm
Luanne comments:
Shannan, I am so sorry that happened. I feel bad becuase I was the idiot that would tell people to squeeze in all weekend. When Jenny called me while you all were in there I couldn’t believe it! I hear the hotel staff were all threre when you came out to make sure you were ok & apologize….whateve.
Can’t wait to see you again!
2.9.09 at 11:32 pm
Julie comments:
OMG Shannon. I don’t even know what to think. How horrible!
2.10.09 at 8:03 am
Jamie comments:
I still can’t believe that happened (and didn’t happen to ME) and I’m so glad everyone came out of there OK and with nothing but stories to share! (and no really horrific experiences although? I think I would have started to panic!)
2.10.09 at 2:06 pm
Heather, Queen of Shake Shake comments:
Do you think we should have a reunion in the elevator at next year’s conference?
Personally, I know I’ll be staying on the 1 or 2nd floor, so I won’t need to use the elevator.
2.10.09 at 4:31 pm
To Think Is To Create comments:
You poor things! So glad you’re ok.
2.10.09 at 6:07 pm
Steven Hoida comments:
Dear Shannan,
I believe we may have already spoken by phone but felt it equally important to respond to your blog regarding your experience at the Hotel Preston this weekend (I plan to post this same note to the other hotel guests’ blogs that were involved in the incident as well). We are passionate about our guests and know you have many choices when traveling to Nashville thus please accept my personal apology specific to the elevator incident.
I understand from your blog post that you were unable to get an immediate response from the hotel team. We had our Manager on duty at the time working hand in hand with the elevator engineer to insure he moved swiftly in getting all passengers out of the lift. Unfortunately this caused our Manager not to be present when the guests exited to personally insure their well being. I can share with you with confidence we have never had an elevator delay occur when the maximum number of people did not exceed 7 people per elevator and it is unfortunate the capacity posting in the elevator was not read by our patrons.
As a result of this incident and to insure we do not have guests faced with this situation in the future we are scheduling follow up training with our internal management and staff in coordination with the elevator company to improve upon our timeliness in the rare case this ever occurs again.
I also agree with the suggestion to install additional signage outside of the elevators on the lobby and lower lobby level to complement the maximum capacity of 7 patrons that is already posted inside the cabs. We have begun working with our sign company to implement signs in these locations.
My belief is that this situation would not have occurred had it been clearer to our hotel guests.
As a gesture of goodwill on the hotel’s behalf I have taken the liberty of adjusting $50 + tax off of each of the 13 guests’ hotel bill who was impacted by the elevator delay.
In addition, I will personally provide to each of the 13 guests a special rate on a future stay with us and include complimentary breakfast to demonstrate our usual exemplary service from our team and insure a flawless future visit.
I appreciate your patronage at the Preston during the Blissdom ’09 conference and look forward to seeing you in the future.
Please feel free to contact me directly to further discuss your experience – my e-mail – steve@hotelpreston.com and I remain at your service.
Sincerely,
Steven Hoida
General Manager
Hotel Preston
2.10.09 at 6:30 pm
VDog comments:
What a birthday present, eh?
VDog´s last blog post… Love Is…In Your Bedroom
2.10.09 at 10:43 pm
LB Moore comments:
I was on Twitter when it happened and felt awful for you guys! I had to use my inhaler and I wasnt even there! I was so relieved when I knew all of you were ok.
LB Moore´s last blog post… Organic Grocery Deals: Buying Green On A Budget
2.13.09 at 8:10 pm
Daisy comments:
Only at a blogging conference — would a story about an elevator stoppage include links for everyone who was there!
Daisy´s last blog post… It’s Lincoln’s 200th, but I’m not that old.
1.26.10 at 11:24 pm
hailey comments:
If I was stuck in an elevator with Steven Tyler I would take my phone out go, to my music, and find the song Love In An Elevator and put it on repeat. And act like its nothing, and then when he finally gets nervous and starts getting awkwoard. I will say hi to him and then I’d do what I’ve always wanted to do to Steven Tyler. Kiss him on the cheek or the lips what ever he lets me do. And i would enjoy every second of being stuck in an elevator with Steven Tyler.