Events Can Change The World

When people gather together at a live event they share ideas.  That is when the good stuff happens.

A conference, trade show, convention or other meetings are built around venues, agendas, speakers, and information.... but the real power happens in the "Hallway Conversations" that spontaneously occur between attendees.  While content matters, the content alone is not enough to create memorable experiences.

When planning a conference, sponsoring the event, or delivering a keynote speech, all of us who work in the meeting industry must remember that our work efforts can help connect people and thus we have a material impact on their life, career, company, industry or the whole world.

Does this sounds like a lot of responsibility?  It can be.  Connecting people brings with it opportunity. Many people are longing to find the right people with whom they can create their own path toward success. But we now have so much "noise" in our society, that developing real relationships seems to be getting more difficult.  The internet, social media, smart phone and other tools are creating distractions that are limiting the ability to notice those seated next to us.

Meetings are often undervalued and stereo-typically misunderstood. Too many meetings are designed so similarly that we cannot see the differences when looking at the online agendas.  We easily forget that each conference is unique because of the different mix of people who attend, not who is the keynote speaker.  Even two events in the same industry are not the same.  The value is not in the content, but instead it is those seated in the chairs. The power of meetings is in the people... and it is people who can change the world.

As you plan your next event, do not champion the celebrities or industry gurus who populate the stage. Speakers are important, as they set the tone for the whole event (a crappy speaker can suck the energy out of your conference so fast it can never recover).  But do not mistake those on stage to be the stars of your show.  The spotlight must be on the participants, and in today's highly competitive meetings business you have to discover ways to let the audience know they are the ones that matter.  Partner with the keynote and breakout speakers to empower the crowd to build upon what they hear from those presenting and take it to the next level.  

Encourage people to not let the lessons of your conference to end with the final good-byes, but to take the messages forward and have impact on the future.  It can happen!  Your conference can change the world.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections.  http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

Successful Events Are About More Than Flawless Execution

The Minnesota Chapter of Meeting Professionals International hosted a full day of learning called iConnect.  I had the honor of being the kick-off keynote and the "Conference Catalyst", but also was able to sit in on several educational breakout sessions.

Doug Chorpenning from the Wet Paint Group hosted an interesting discussion called "Don't Put Your Event Before Your Brand".

His talk was thought provoking, as it pointed out that logistics are not enough for planners. Below is a mix of his shared ideas combined with my own two cents:

Event participants expect more for the conferences they attend than just flawless execution.  They want an experience.  

Logistics are a commodity, but we had to do everything we can to de-commoditize events.  Everyone involved in the creation and delivery of events needs to be part of creating the story, long before they show up on site.  Everything from the venue to the design of the invitation to the online registration system is part of the ambiance. (This couples with my belief that speakers are more than vendors hired to fill a slot, but instead partners in all aspects of the event!).

Those who are truly creative create things out of nothing, and planners need to always be thinking creatively, not simply building upon the same old / same old template.  Listening to clients and being willing to invest in the right people, vendors, and materials is paramount to success.  Yes, it can cost more money, but you cannot "Free" yourself into "Amazing".  To create a "happening" you have to do things the audience does not expect.  

Take a look at what people and companies in other industries are doing and seek ways to bring their use of creative technology into your event.  Only looking at other conferences for inspiration brings about more of the "Cookie Cutter" events.

Social Media no longer seems "new", but the truth is that it is less than ten years old.  Discovering new ways to use these tools is still possible.  The key is to remember that the most successful social media platforms are all visually based: Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, etc....  Be sure you materials are appealing to look at, and create compelling content that goes beyond the verbal and written if you want to reach the heart of your audience.

Be willing to try new things, and understand that it is okay if not everything works.  Without risk there is little reward.  People are forgiving when they know you are blazing new trails with their best interests as your motivation.  You must be willing to experiment.

Tie your blog and other social media tools to the posts of your speakers, vendors, attendees, etc... Make it a community, not simply a way of you to push your message.  Encourage all those who are partners to promote your event before, during and after the actual dates.

Remembering to put the experience of attendees at the forefront of all that you do in planning events is the way to getting out of the logistics mode and breaking out into the creative vista that we all crave to be a part.  

The best planners I know have the right mix of detail orientation and big picture dreaming (You cannot be a successful event planner without an eye for detail!), but if you only cared about the logistics, your event might be blah (and nobody is seeking to attend blah!).

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections. http://www.conferencecatalyst.com