Comments on: Is Social The New Conference Black & Are Attendee Lists The New Allure? http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/ Helping improve your annual meetings, conferences & education Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Conferences as Social Media Glue « “an illustrative account” http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-4785 Conferences as Social Media Glue « “an illustrative account” Tue, 11 May 2010 08:23:48 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-4785 [...] one’s list of participants. A visible and public list of participants can be a big driver of [...] [...] one’s list of participants. A visible and public list of participants can be a big driver of [...]

]]> By: ‘Here’s To Hello’ – Attending Conferences Because Of Attendee Lists | Young Australian Skeptics http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-4697 ‘Here’s To Hello’ – Attending Conferences Because Of Attendee Lists | Young Australian Skeptics Tue, 04 May 2010 10:25:37 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-4697 [...] his reflections that always seem to be one step ahead of the main) who sent me the following link: Is Social The New Conference Black & Are Attendee Lists The New Allure? I’ve recently read blogs, Facebook updates and tweets of colleagues that have waited until one to [...] [...] his reflections that always seem to be one step ahead of the main) who sent me the following link: Is Social The New Conference Black & Are Attendee Lists The New Allure? I’ve recently read blogs, Facebook updates and tweets of colleagues that have waited until one to [...]

]]> By: Moving from Above-the-Workflow Events to In-the-Workflow Events – Knowledge Flows: Thinking, Deciding, Learning http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-2793 Moving from Above-the-Workflow Events to In-the-Workflow Events – Knowledge Flows: Thinking, Deciding, Learning Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:09:04 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-2793 [...] of the typical event’s thought leader value proposition is evident in some recent blogs (See Is Social The New Conference Black & Are Attendee Lists the New Allure? or Why I Travel to Conferences Last Minute) in which the authors state that their decision about [...] [...] of the typical event’s thought leader value proposition is evident in some recent blogs (See Is Social The New Conference Black & Are Attendee Lists the New Allure? or Why I Travel to Conferences Last Minute) in which the authors state that their decision about [...]

]]> By: Jeff Hurt http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-816 Jeff Hurt Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:54:23 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-816 @Steffan Great points! I also think you bring some interesting thoughts for all meeting and conference organizers about last minute registration incentives. Meeting & event professionals, he gives some good advice we should heed! @Steffan

Great points! I also think you bring some interesting thoughts for all meeting and conference organizers about last minute registration incentives. Meeting & event professionals, he gives some good advice we should heed!

]]> By: Steffan Antonas http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Steffan Antonas Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:06:49 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-762 Thanks for sharing Jason Keith's post. I agree with him. The value in conferences is only as good as the people you meet and the relationships you build. I attend conferences like Web 2.0 (this year in SF) and ETech. It's one thing if you'll be attending for business (and someone else is picking up the tab)...it's entirely another to shell out 500 to 1000 bucks of your own money to attend. It's always about people and relationships first. That said, I almost always wait until a few weeks before because there are almost always monetary incentives that get kicked around for last minute registration (not very last minute, but a few weeks out) as the conference owners try to boost numbers. I've bought early and gotten burned too many times. lol. People learn when they pay full price and then the lazy get in for a discount after them. ;-) Thanks for sharing Jason Keith’s post. I agree with him. The value in conferences is only as good as the people you meet and the relationships you build. I attend conferences like Web 2.0 (this year in SF) and ETech. It’s one thing if you’ll be attending for business (and someone else is picking up the tab)…it’s entirely another to shell out 500 to 1000 bucks of your own money to attend. It’s always about people and relationships first.

That said, I almost always wait until a few weeks before because there are almost always monetary incentives that get kicked around for last minute registration (not very last minute, but a few weeks out) as the conference owners try to boost numbers. I’ve bought early and gotten burned too many times. lol. People learn when they pay full price and then the lazy get in for a discount after them. ;-)

]]> By: Dave Lutz http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Dave Lutz Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:15:31 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-670 Jeff, I attend for both reasons, but more for networking. What I do find though is that I make some of my best new connections, by attending education classes. If it is an interactive session, I tend to gain respect for the comments and questions coming from the audience and/or presenters. Growing and maintaining professional relationships is everything to my business. While attending TS2 a couple weeks ago, my best new connections were made on 1) a bus ride and 2) in roundtable discussions. Bottom line, when quality people are attending, education tends to be better to meet the needs of those participants. You need the audience to help raise the bar. Jeff, I attend for both reasons, but more for networking. What I do find though is that I make some of my best new connections, by attending education classes. If it is an interactive session, I tend to gain respect for the comments and questions coming from the audience and/or presenters. Growing and maintaining professional relationships is everything to my business.

While attending TS2 a couple weeks ago, my best new connections were made on 1) a bus ride and 2) in roundtable discussions.

Bottom line, when quality people are attending, education tends to be better to meet the needs of those participants. You need the audience to help raise the bar.

]]> By: Jeffrey Cufaude http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-650 Jeffrey Cufaude Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:14:18 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-650 I think this I really a case of different strokes for different folks at different times. I attend some events primary for the content and some primarily for the community. That community can be tied to social networking, but it also has other sources. One other twist on waiting to register until you know who is attending is people's desires to be in conversations with individuals they truly consider peers with similar demographics, experiences, and issues and not just other people who happen to belong to the same organization. I think this I really a case of different strokes for different folks at different times. I attend some events primary for the content and some primarily for the community. That community can be tied to social networking, but it also has other sources.

One other twist on waiting to register until you know who is attending is people’s desires to be in conversations with individuals they truly consider peers with similar demographics, experiences, and issues and not just other people who happen to belong to the same organization.

]]> By: Jeff Hurt http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-648 Jeff Hurt Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:07:03 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-648 @Sue I'm a content guy myself yet I'm feeling the lure more and more from my online social commuities to attend events. I like the mix the two, learning and my online social network for peer learning at its best! @Sue

I’m a content guy myself yet I’m feeling the lure more and more from my online social commuities to attend events. I like the mix the two, learning and my online social network for peer learning at its best!

]]> By: Jeff Hurt http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Jeff Hurt Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:05:59 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-647 @Maddie Thanks Maddie for the comments. Yes, I'm one of your fans/friends that when I see you attending a conference, I want to be there to hang out with you and your posse too! Sometime soon! Thanks for stopping by. @Maddie

Thanks Maddie for the comments. Yes, I’m one of your fans/friends that when I see you attending a conference, I want to be there to hang out with you and your posse too! Sometime soon!

Thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: Maddie Grant http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/07/30/is-social-the-new-conference-black-are-attendee-lists-the-new-allure/comment-page-1/#comment-645 Maddie Grant Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:08:36 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=745#comment-645 Online communities and relationships have a huge impact on whether people attend a conference or not, in my opinion, particularly when it's a 50/50, "meh" decision (as opposed to extreme pro or con decision making factors like an amazing keynoter (pro) or serious budget issues (con)). While I personally tend to be one of those super organized people who registers to get the early bird discount (if I'm not attending at the speaker rate), I know for a fact that I've persuaded several online friends and colleagues who are not in my local area at many different times to come to something because I tell them how much I'd love to hang out with them there. I also know the power of a truly social community like YAP (www.yapstar.org) for the same thing - our dance parties are legendary in the association space (here's the one we're hosting for #ASAE09 - http://yapstar.org/calendar/event/2009/8/17/127187) and several people have said they attended a conference because they wanted to come and see their friends at the YAP party. And if they support their association and learn something along the way, all the better! :) Online communities and relationships have a huge impact on whether people attend a conference or not, in my opinion, particularly when it’s a 50/50, “meh” decision (as opposed to extreme pro or con decision making factors like an amazing keynoter (pro) or serious budget issues (con)). While I personally tend to be one of those super organized people who registers to get the early bird discount (if I’m not attending at the speaker rate), I know for a fact that I’ve persuaded several online friends and colleagues who are not in my local area at many different times to come to something because I tell them how much I’d love to hang out with them there. I also know the power of a truly social community like YAP (www.yapstar.org) for the same thing – our dance parties are legendary in the association space (here’s the one we’re hosting for #ASAE09 – http://yapstar.org/calendar/event/2009/8/17/127187) and several people have said they attended a conference because they wanted to come and see their friends at the YAP party. And if they support their association and learn something along the way, all the better! :)

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