Comments on: Isn’t There a Better Way to Run Conferences?

By: mark oehlert

mark oehlert — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:08:56 +0000

Great post Brother Henderson. So have you seen Academicearth.org? This site has not just video lectures but videos of entire classes, including the questions from the class (currently I am working my way through a Game Theory class at Stanford). You also get the reading lists and copies of the exams. So it got me wondering, I love/d college…all the ones I went to. But if I can get all this from this site then aside form the actual degree, what is at the heart of that resident university experience?

Seems a bit similar to this question. It’s that old equation of what is your value versus your activity right? I think a lot of conference organizers will tell you their value are the sessions but the attendees will tell you its the random or even planned encounters outside sessions. That disconnect is an opportunity and a danger and NO that Chinese symbol does NOT mean both those things-look it up.

The ones in danger are those organizers who refuse to create experiences that work off and expand their value. People will grow more and more skeptical of conferences that seem closed off and who continue to focus on the person on the stage instead of the people in the audience.

I think in addition to the opportunity presented to those that do expand on the chances for f2f encounters, etc. I think there is an additional opportunity for those organizers who choose to offer content outside their domain. I mean, I go to a LOT of conferences focused on the learning/training industry but I go to Game Developers Conference and I see sessions on human cognition and memory and user motivation and I want them to come to the learning conferences. Let’s not just encourage random, serendipitous f2f encounters between attendees but also among THOUGHTS. Right?

So, yeah, there is a different way. There is always a different way. It just takes courage.

By: Steven Howard

Steven Howard — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:30:25 +0000

Scott – alright, I will post ’cause we’re Chi Phi brothers. As I shared on our call, valuable conferences, regardless of their location and format, are those where there’s an exchange of ideas, where relevant content and info are discussed, debated, shared. The most valuable are those where PRACTIONERS come together and talk about best practices and emerging trends, and also are open about the landmines and “gotchas” – so newbies can avoid repeating mistakes. The most valuable conferences then are those where anyone can surround themselves with mentors, coaches – those with experience – from whom we can learn. I think that those conferences & meeting that short-change discussion, that limit opportunities to interact with panelists and speakers, etc. are the LEAST valuable.

By: Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:51:02 +0000

Great to have your comment, Barb, especially on the heels of your conference in San Francisco.

I’ve been to a wide variety of conferences this year. The stark difference between the interconnectivity of SXSWi one week and the Association of Fundraising Professional two weeks later made me realize where the majority of people were, not where those of us swimming in online media are. I went from 95% people with open laptops to 95% of people not. In both instances, great things came from the personal interactions, but for SXSW those interactions included people around the world.

You remind me of a phone conversation I had with Steven Howard (@stmhoward) yesterday. He called me in response to this post (he claims blogophobia for not typing his comment here, but I think he just missed the sound of my voice).

His point was that he seeks out conferences that practitioners attend – he goes to meet people presenting or attending who don’t spend their energy pontificating on the web, but instead are actually doing things he wants to do.

By: Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:37:21 +0000

Your comment made me realize how similar the conference industry is to the music industry. With information flowing free, how can the creators of that information (or at least those who host the events where the content is created) make money from. Just as I can easily get my favorite music for free or virtually free, I’ll be able to get the information I seek from conferences or events that I can’t attend or choose not to.

In both instances, there will always be a market of people who value the in-person experience – whether that be seeing Dave Matthews Band live or going to Austin for SXSWi.

By: Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:32:05 +0000

Your philosophy of attending all types of events is the reason we met a couple weeks ago. I like your approach of putting yourself where the waves will be good for surfing.

By: Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:30:11 +0000

Glad to have your thoughts and insights, especially given your long career in organizing events and conferences. Your point is well made about the intangibles that in-person meetings bring. The serendipity of riding the elevator or sitting down at a break next to the keynote speaker is just as important as the new personal relationships you can develop from those sitting around you.

By: Barb Gibson

Barb Gibson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:05:18 +0000

It all sounds good, Scott, if you’re in the business of social media and everyone you need to meet or have anything to learn from is as connected and savvy as you. But that’s still a pretty small percentage of the population. Although the recent IABC World Conference in San Francisco was relatively well-tweeted by a few dozen people and probably followed by a few dozen more, it couldn’t begin to replace the experience of being there. We still need opportunities for face-to-face connections, for learning, sharing, networking and plain old fun. That said, we should keep experimenting and evolving the models, and make the very most of all the tools available, so your post is really useful for helping us question and think about what we’re doing. Thanks for that!

Barb (@barb_g)

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:37:50 +0000

Spot on Scotty!

The sole purpose of a conference is to share information of common interest and value among as many people as possible. However, the final part has a very real asterisk next to it for the vast majority of conference organizers, still in 2009.

They limit (intentionally or not) the information to those who are able to afford the conference registration fees, airfare, lodging, and travel expenses. Their influence and voice are then limited to a select few, usually those that are already ‘sold’. They fail to create new constituents, cross-sector allies, and industry innovation. They essentially fail.

By embracing web communication tools, conferences are opened to a truly unlimited audience. The information can be seen and heard by a once unimaginable number of people, by both the ‘choir’ and new converts. Not only is information disseminated to a broader audience, it becomes and stays alive. Information on a PowerPoint or photocopied gets tucked away and eventually thrown away. Information through e-channels stays dynamic and customizable, thus increasing the value…that’s what people will pay for!

By: matt ceniceros @mattceni

matt ceniceros @mattceni — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:52:12 +0000

You had me at “taverns.” What I find most interesting about these social tools is the ability to make valuable connections well before the conference(s) take place. The introductions, the roles and responsibilities and value-prop is already taken care of, so when the face-to-face does happen, the relationships built are way more sustainable.

A good case in point my relationship with you, Scott. The Hunger Pledge that you so masterfully engineered before SXSW09 was very intriguing to me on many levels. We talked via Twitter and web, and so when I met you it was not a “nice to meet you, tell me what you do…rather it was dude, how are you doing on the drive, what’s the status, I see Indiana is leading the charge, etc.,”

Social tools no matter if they are the ones listed or anyothers will just continue to enhance these personal connections.

Great post. Nice food for thought.

By: Tyler Poling

Tyler Poling — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:40:22 +0000

Great post Scott. Very interesting and insightful. While I am not able to attend many of these conferences I still have the sense of being there and being involved due to the online social outlets that are available. Still, being there in person and connecting with individuals you have met through Twitter and other outlets is in my opinion, invaluable.

@tylerpoling