Interview with:corinne chandler [athensliving]
BLOGGING
 | What is your blog address? What subjects do you deal with? You can find my site at http://www.athensliving.net. It's not really a 'traditional' blog as I make short videos about Athens, Greece. Instead of focusing on all the current negative aspects of life in Greece (economic crisis, strikes, unemployment, riots etc.) I look at the cities rich cultural present and talk to artists, visit shows and museums and try catch interesting events and happenings. I update the site every week or so with a new six to eight minute video. |
| What was it that made you create your blog? On what date did you start it? I created the site because I was a bit fed up with all the boring, similar web sites that exist about Athens all describing the same areas, same restaurants, same museums and ancient sites. I couldn't find one site that offered something different and I thought that using video, and focusing on cultural events and slightly more off the beaten track areas would be a more interesting way to present the city. So in October 2009 I bought myself a domain name and started Athens Living. |
| How many visits a day do you get? What type of comments do you receive? After only a year and a half, I don't get that many visits a day. Probably the average is around a hundred and fifty but it can be more. I get very kind comments, most people seem to appreciate the effort and enjoy the subject matter. |
| How has 'having a blog' contributed to your life? Athens Living has really contributed to my life. I've met and interviewed so many wonderful people who I would never have come into contact with otherwise. It's also made me see Athens in a better light and I appreciate the city so much more now than I used to. |
| Have you created relationships with other bloggers or readers of your blog? Not really, although some bloggers and site members are much friendlier and more open than others. |
| How often do you post? Does regular posting of your blog require a lot of effort on your part? As I said, I try to post a new video every week or two. I don't always manage it and I've been incredibly lazy over the summer! |
| Does blogging bring in income for you? Can one make a living from posting? I would LOVE to able to say it brought me an income, but so far I haven't earned a penny, even though I do have google ads on my site. To my great disappointment, I suppose no-one is clicking on them. |
| How do you promote your blog? Well, I promote my blog by always answering any questions sent me and through facebook and twitter. I wonder if whohub will bring me any new viewers? |
| How would you define your readers? Have you got a faithful audience? I do have a reasonably faithful audience because I have a 'membership' and 'subscribe' option on my site through which I know the 400 or so subscribers and around 150 members do come back to see new videos. |
| Have you ever received gifts for blogging about your opinion of products or services? What do you think of bloggers who do that? No, I've never received gifts for an opinion but I'm not opposed to the idea! Should I enter my address below??? |
| How do you see your blog evolving in the future? I would like to eventually expand into separate sites, each with the Athens Living format but focusing on separate aspects of the existing Athens Living site i.e. Athens Living People, Athens Living Food, Athens Living Places etc etc. |
| What advice would you give to someone who wishes to begin a blog? Stick with it! |
PERSONALITY
| Which actor would you like to be? The talent of Meryl Streep/Helen Mirren mixed with the looks of Eva Mendes, the brains of Orson Welles and the wit of Ricky Gervaise. Does that count? |
| If you were sent to a deserted island, which book, CD and film would you take with you? I would absolutely HATE to be sent to a deserted island, it would be almost my ultimate nightmare situation. To be stranded away from 'civilization', with no companionship, no city, no input of any kind except the three parameters set by this question would surely be hell on earth (or island). However, if this frighteningly apocalyptic question needs an answer then it would be the complete works of Shakespeare/Dickens/Trollope (or any incredibly prolific author-anyone that has an anthology of works!), The best of David Bowie to listen to, and "Groundhog Day" because it's a great movie and I think I would relate to it even more after a day or two on the island! |
| In moments of tension, what techniques work in calming the mind? I always suffered badly from stage fright, and found that imagining the stage was filled with warm, calming sunshine really helped to calm the nerves. Also, breathing in and out while counting "one, two. three, four, five". If all else failed, a shot of vodka! |
| A simple pleasure that for you is quite big or important. Spending time with my dog, Louis. |
| How do you respond to telemarketing calls? I always tell them I just purchased the product, and it's FANTASTIC! |
| Are you an ex-smoker? How did you quit? Through pure fear |
| It is 5 pm on a typical Sunday: what are you doing? Skypeing my mother in France. |
| Something in which you are completely incompetent. Maths, Algebra and Chemistry. Also, any knowledge of how things work. |
| You have nine wins in a row in a game of roulette: do you continue because you are on a good run, or abandon the game because statistically, it is your turn to lose? I would be so amazed that I had a lucky streak, I hope I would have the good sense to leave the table. |
| What toy gave you the best moments of your childhood? Imagination |
| What was your favourite primary/secondary school teacher like? Thin. tweedy and reedy, and she taught music. Somehow, she managed to impart some sort of knowledge... sight-reading, musical appreciation, choral singing, very basic violin.... I think this was quite a feat considering the musically inept bunch of self obsessed morons she was faced with and I often think of her now. Maybe because I have since forgotten how to read music it all seems more challenging than it really was, but I would still like to say "thank you for your bravery and your vision" to Miss Tuck! |
| Is there any superstition that makes you change your behaviour? I've adopted the Greek habit of spitting three times when admiring something. This is REALLY weird, and I can't understand how it stuck with me. It's not so much a production of spit, but a kind of "phtew phtew phtew" sound. Attractive, huh? |
| Does knowing someone's zodiac sign help you to better understand that person? I'm sorry, I find Zodiac signs a complete bore. Sometimes I pretend to be interested but that just shows how duplicitous I can be. Deep down I think it has just about as much truth in it as any sweeping generalisation. |
| Please list something you have not yet done, but that you would definitely like to do someday. Fly a plane |
| A bad habit you have overcome. Quitting smoking, it's one of the things I'm proud of achieving although I feel that when you're a smoker, you're always going to be a smoker somewhere deep down. |
| A word or expression that you detest. OMG LOL and the "like" button on facebook. Again, that's pretty duplicitous because I use the "like" button on facebook. |
| Which animal do you prefer for company? Dogs and cats and intelligent humans, I'm not an intrepid explorer type. |
| What do you imagine yourself doing for your retirement? Sitting with my feet up in an idyllic setting whilst being entertained by the bold and the beautiful. |
| If you were to return reincarnated, which real-life person would you like to be? Lord Vishnu, so I come back ten times... does it really have to be a real person? |
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corinne chandler
athens greece
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