We've all spent too much time at conferences filling time when we wanted to be challenged, enlightened, or at least entertained. Jeremy Wright calls for a little activism by conference attendees, and some better practices by conference organizers.
His suggestions include:
- Create an open room for attendees to host a 30-minute session on a subject of their choosing
- Replace panel discussions with interviews or interrogations
- When a panel is required, rely on audience questions, and keep the responses brief
- Provide wi-fi and an online chat room for feedback about the conference; adjust the sessions on-the-fly based on the feedback
- Plan networking sessions and events for people who don't arrive with their own group to hang out with
- Consider covering some expenses for conference presenters
Wright also links to a Stowe Boyd posting titled Death to All Panel Sessions.
Conference organizers have to remember that their customers make a large investment to attend (time away from work, travel, fees, accommodations), and they don't have a lot of options once they arrive. Either the conference proves to be valuable to them, or they are out of luck. Anything that can make a conference more welcoming, accommodating and valuable to the customer is worth trying.
Networking is traditionally something that is left to the conference-goers. I like Wright's idea of making networking an integral part of the conference experience.
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