Sunday, October 9, 2011
Create a Better Networking Atmosphere for Business Events
To get a free copy of my eight page essay on "How to Create an Atmosphere for Better Networking" email me at thom (at) thomsinger.com.
Have A Great Day.
thom singer
Saturday, October 8, 2011
TEDx Austin 2012 Coming February 11th to the Austin Music Hall
I am a big fan of TED. I keep a series of new TED Talks loaded on my iPad so I can watch them when I have that rare 18 minutes of downtime.Two years ago I attended the first TEDx Austin event. It was well done. The scoop on the 2011 event is that it was even better (I was speaking at a conference in Atlanta that same day, and since the transporter is the one piece of Star Trek technology not yet released, I could not be at both events). They say "third time is a charm", so my guess is that the next TEDx Austin will be spectacular!
The local organizers of TEDx Austin have announced that the date for the next extravaganza is February 11, 2012. The time is now to apply for a ticket, as the event always sells out. Yes, you have to be "selected" to attend. I am not on the committee so I cannot tell you what they seek, but they strive to have a diverse audience of thinkers who represent all of Austin.
The theme is "Beyond Measure", and the event will live up to the theme. Hop onto the TEDx Austin website and fill out your application.
Have A Great Day.
thom singer
Seeking Innovative Brainstorming Partners
In December of last year I reached out to people via social media in search of a few "Brainstorming Partners" to assist me in my goal setting and action plan for 2011. I know that as I grow my business I need innovative people around me. The idea, which I blogged about, was to have lunch with some folks who were not those closest to me, and then help each other see the blind spots and spur fresh ideas.
I ended up meeting with four people. In all cases they helped me -- A LOT. I hope I also had a positive impact on their year. One of the people has become a friend who I talk with regularly, and all are business professionals for whom I have great respect. The meetings lead to direct and indirect business. 2011 has been the best year of my career, and I can target my innovate brainstorming partners as a partial catalyst for the boost.
Come December I will do these types of meetings all over again as I set my 2012 plans. The only difference is I will do more of them (if four was good, ten might be better). But why wait?
As we go into fourth quarter I am heavily focused on innovation. The media attention on what made Steve Jobs great, coupled with having just read the book "Innovate You" (by Jeff DeGraff) and my own hunger to find to succeed, are inspiring me to instigate new ideas.
I am looking to chat with others who have this same desire. We can meet for lunch or coffee if they live locally, or via Skype if they are remote. And this is not just about my business, as I love to brainstorm about how others can succeed (and I do come up with some good ideas from time to time!). I find we can all see the opening for others, while we miss the simple ideas for ourselves.
Are you whom I seek? Let me know - thom (at) thomsinger.com
Have A Great Day.
thom singer
I ended up meeting with four people. In all cases they helped me -- A LOT. I hope I also had a positive impact on their year. One of the people has become a friend who I talk with regularly, and all are business professionals for whom I have great respect. The meetings lead to direct and indirect business. 2011 has been the best year of my career, and I can target my innovate brainstorming partners as a partial catalyst for the boost.
Come December I will do these types of meetings all over again as I set my 2012 plans. The only difference is I will do more of them (if four was good, ten might be better). But why wait?
As we go into fourth quarter I am heavily focused on innovation. The media attention on what made Steve Jobs great, coupled with having just read the book "Innovate You" (by Jeff DeGraff) and my own hunger to find to succeed, are inspiring me to instigate new ideas.
I am looking to chat with others who have this same desire. We can meet for lunch or coffee if they live locally, or via Skype if they are remote. And this is not just about my business, as I love to brainstorm about how others can succeed (and I do come up with some good ideas from time to time!). I find we can all see the opening for others, while we miss the simple ideas for ourselves.
Are you whom I seek? Let me know - thom (at) thomsinger.com
Have A Great Day.
thom singer
Friday, October 7, 2011
Optimistic About Austin - Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast
The Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast Series kicked-off the new season with a sold-out event on the main stage of the Long Center. Over 200 Austin area professionals attended this informative and interactive panel discussion, "ATXpansion: Central Texas Grows Toward the Future".
KXAN's Robert Hadlock was the moderator.
Panelists were:
Jesus Garza, Executive VP and COO, Seton Family of Hospitals
Senator Kirk Watson
William Powers, President, The University of Texas at Austin
Everyone agrees that Austin is a great place to live, but our fine city is not without challenges. Affordable healthcare, improved education, traffic and transit solutions, environmental quality, crime reduction and improved race relations are all top priorities for all who live in Central Texas.
Take on traffic
The top issue (according to a live audience poll) is the traffic congestion that continues to plague the city. The panel agreed. For decades this has been a major problem facing our fast growing community. As the city grows to the east, we still do not have the infrastructure in place to keep up with the growth. We spend too much time in our local government bickering over things that do not fix the issues. Our community needs to stop spending so much time focusing on what political party people belong to in local elections and other conversations (National party affiliation divides the electorate, but the issues of the national parties are of little importance to local need to solve problems). Party membership should not be the leading factor in local issues!
As the state continues to slash budgets for roads local governments must pick up the slack. Texas is doing better than many places in the country, but much of this is because of the investment in infrastructure that was made by our parents and grandparents. We must continue to build for the future. If the state will not do it, they at least need to "get out of they way" and let the local officials create solutions. We must be forward thinking and entrepreneurial in making decisions for making Austin better in the long run.
Planning as a region is key. We need to remove the competition between different jurisdictions and work together. Money is an issue, and we need to get used to the reality that there will be less investment from the state. While people do not like the option of Toll Roads, we cannot keep hoping for answers without finding solutions to raise the money needed to build the roads.
A new medical school
The panel also discussed the pending addition of a world-class medical school to be built in Austin. The benefits of this project are increased quality healthcare, expanded options for care, an economic boost and more (and better) higher-education in the area.
Much like MCC brought with it an economic expansion in high tech thirty years ago, the medical school will have an unparalleled impact on the future of Austin. All agreed that at few times in a community is there a moment in history where a single decision can make such a difference on the future. The pieces are already in place to launch the program, and we MUST get this done, as it will have a positive impact for everyone.
The whole community must become aware of what the medical school means to Austin beyond the addition of more healthcare options throughout our region; it will also ignite economic development, create high-quality jobs, spur the start up and relocation of bio-tech companies, etc.... This is more than a large, beige building with the world "Medical School" on the wall. Senator Watson added that this project will have lasting impact and is a source of pride for the community. He encouraged people to call his office to learn more and to add their name to a growing list of people who can find ways to be involved.
The future looks bright
All the panelist were optimistic about Austin. When Scarborough's Department Store closed in downtown during the 1980s people debated if the downtown would ever recover. Today Austin has a vibrant downtown that is the envy of most cities. The need to complete MoPac was heavily debated in our community, and today nobody could imagine the city without this important road. Austin has always found a way to rebound and tackle the tough issues.
People must become educated about the issues. They need to know more than the casual observations and be able to talk to both sides. We need to leave the political banter behind-- Stop talking and get things done! This is not the time for politicians to be talking in "sound-bites". The issues are too important.
The Engage Breakfast Series always brings thoughtful conversations, and this meeting was a great example of why Leadership Austin continues to be one of the most important organizations in Austin.
If you would like to learn more about the issues discussed, KXAN will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on October 26th from 7PM to 8PM. Go to kxan.com for more information.
The next Engage Breakfast will be on November 1st. More information on the Leadership Austin website.
Have A Great Day.
thom singer
Friday Praise Project - Allstate: The CapCity Agency - James Fitzgerald
If you read my post yesterday you know that I am sadly noticing how easy it is for people to quickly become upset with their vendors. In our society we expect perfection from everyone, and too many people are fast to criticize and slow to praise. I am guilty of this.. and so are so many others.
Yesterday my sister-in-law was pleasantly surprised when a customer service department from a large company called her on the phone instead of sending a cold email in response to an inquiry. She was shocked (in a good way). And yet good service happens every day... and I think it is time we all stand up and praise.
I want to start a movement to praise those who do good work. I'll start.
I met my insurance broker this week. He inherited me several years ago when he purchased another agency, but we have never met in person. He called to set up a "Policy Review" and spent time with me explaining all aspects of my home and auto policies. At the end of our conversation I knew I was in good hands :-).
My agent? James Fitzgerald from The CapCity Agency (Allstate in Austin, Texas).
****I will begin praising people and companies each Friday on the Some Assembly Required Blog.
Yesterday my sister-in-law was pleasantly surprised when a customer service department from a large company called her on the phone instead of sending a cold email in response to an inquiry. She was shocked (in a good way). And yet good service happens every day... and I think it is time we all stand up and praise.
I want to start a movement to praise those who do good work. I'll start.
I met my insurance broker this week. He inherited me several years ago when he purchased another agency, but we have never met in person. He called to set up a "Policy Review" and spent time with me explaining all aspects of my home and auto policies. At the end of our conversation I knew I was in good hands :-).
My agent? James Fitzgerald from The CapCity Agency (Allstate in Austin, Texas).
****I will begin praising people and companies each Friday on the Some Assembly Required Blog.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
People (and Companies) Have Flaws - Have Understanding and Be Forgiving
Are you one who can forgive others for mistakes, mis-communications, and other mishaps after the situation is resolved? Or do you hang onto the ill feelings forever?
I am not talking about intentional acts where the there is an attempt to screw you over or inflict harm, but instead those little things that happen when you deal with other human beings. People have flaws and I believe we find more success when we have understanding and forgiveness in our soul.
We have begun to expect perfection from everyone (except, it seems, from ourselves). I found myself really pissed-off at the shoe sales people at Nordstroms last week when I took my daughter to by a pair of Sperry's. They were packed on a Sunday afternoon and it took nearly 25 minutes for anyone to help us. I did not vocalize my displeasure and I was not a jerk to anyone who worked at the store (but I did vent on Twitter). Their system of who got service failed, as more than once a person walked in and got attention quickly, but this failure was meant to treat me poorly. They were just overly busy (**What recession??? expensive shoes were being sold left and right!).
In the end, my kid got the footwear she desired, and our life was not harmed by the extra time inside the department store. Nobody intended to make us wait so long, and everyone extended an apology once we made contact.
John Moore wrote about this in a 2007 blog post. His point in the article holds true today: "We are setting ourselves up for disappointment by expecting businesses to flawlessly deliver every single time". He goes on to talk about a major problem that JetBlue faced when a series of cancelled flights and thousands of stranded customers triggered a major backlash. JetBlue recovered, but was it realistic for customers to expect perfection? (Read John's post... it is insightful).
I talked to a person recently who said she holds grudges in such situations and wants to see the offending party suffer when they let her down. She pulls business and tells the world when someone sucks. The more she talked, the more I realized that we run into mishaps all the time, and she must spend a lot of time wishing ill-will. I wondered if she had kids and if she had the same policy when they disappointed her in some way?
We live in crazy busy times, and sometimes people drop the ball (I have failed people, but I do things to try to remedy the situation, say I am sorry, and then I cannot worry about their stink-eye if they send it my way). If we understand that not all problems are intentional and take a deep breath we can continue to build long-term and mutually beneficial relationships. If I had stormed out of Nordstroms and vowed not to return, I would never again have the best Oxford button-down shirts on the market (I am very fond of their shirts).
How about you? What do you think?
thom singer
I am not talking about intentional acts where the there is an attempt to screw you over or inflict harm, but instead those little things that happen when you deal with other human beings. People have flaws and I believe we find more success when we have understanding and forgiveness in our soul.
We have begun to expect perfection from everyone (except, it seems, from ourselves). I found myself really pissed-off at the shoe sales people at Nordstroms last week when I took my daughter to by a pair of Sperry's. They were packed on a Sunday afternoon and it took nearly 25 minutes for anyone to help us. I did not vocalize my displeasure and I was not a jerk to anyone who worked at the store (but I did vent on Twitter). Their system of who got service failed, as more than once a person walked in and got attention quickly, but this failure was meant to treat me poorly. They were just overly busy (**What recession??? expensive shoes were being sold left and right!).
In the end, my kid got the footwear she desired, and our life was not harmed by the extra time inside the department store. Nobody intended to make us wait so long, and everyone extended an apology once we made contact.
John Moore wrote about this in a 2007 blog post. His point in the article holds true today: "We are setting ourselves up for disappointment by expecting businesses to flawlessly deliver every single time". He goes on to talk about a major problem that JetBlue faced when a series of cancelled flights and thousands of stranded customers triggered a major backlash. JetBlue recovered, but was it realistic for customers to expect perfection? (Read John's post... it is insightful).
I talked to a person recently who said she holds grudges in such situations and wants to see the offending party suffer when they let her down. She pulls business and tells the world when someone sucks. The more she talked, the more I realized that we run into mishaps all the time, and she must spend a lot of time wishing ill-will. I wondered if she had kids and if she had the same policy when they disappointed her in some way?
We live in crazy busy times, and sometimes people drop the ball (I have failed people, but I do things to try to remedy the situation, say I am sorry, and then I cannot worry about their stink-eye if they send it my way). If we understand that not all problems are intentional and take a deep breath we can continue to build long-term and mutually beneficial relationships. If I had stormed out of Nordstroms and vowed not to return, I would never again have the best Oxford button-down shirts on the market (I am very fond of their shirts).
How about you? What do you think?
thom singer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Oh, The People You Will Meet at a Conference!
I speak at business meetings and I am known as "The Conference Catalyst". I have delivered nearly 300 professional-level presentations in my career and have attended thousands of events over two decades. I have seen it all. Every event is unique, but the people you meet are the fascinating part of going to conferences.
This blog post was inspired by "thought leader extraordinaire" (and one of Australia's top public speakers), Matt Church. Several months ago we were together at an event and were talking about the meetings industry.
He immediately understood my concept of "The Conference Catalyst", and he gave me several insightful ideas to help promote the program, but soon we were joking about all the people you meet at conferences besides a "catalyst". He is really funny and his jokes lead me to writing this post. I have been collecting ideas on "ists" ever since that conversation. (What other "ists" are present at events that can you add?).
(The Conference Catalyst is my program that sets the tone for a business event, - turning average conversations in the hallways of conferences into impactful networking and the creation of long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that lead to more business. Gatherings from 200 to 4000 can be transformed when the culture is centered around connections. Does your conference have a catalyst?) .
Here are other interesting personalities that often show up at a conference:
The Conference Pacifist - This person does not want to witness or participate in conflict, controversy, or hands-on activities. Anything that makes them uneasy causes them to flee the conference and seek diplomatic immunity in their hotel room.
The Conference Socialist - Wants all the power at a conference to be distributed. They do not like it when keynotes receive more attention than breakouts. They can't stand that there are VIP activities. These people love the new trend of the "Un-Conference".
The Conference Masochist - Finds joy listening to speakers who are not prepared, monotone, and have awful PowerPoint. The talks most of us find painful are their favorite. Unfortunately they have plenty of joy, as too many events highlight speakers who may or may not have good content but are totally lacking in public speaking skills.
The Conference Narcissist - They cannot stop delivering their elevator pitch - even when nobody is listening. They enhance the story of their life and "hold court" rather than looking to make any real connections. They lead with their business card and are sure that people will go home and remember their one-sided conversation. If this person is a featured speaker you can expect a 60 minute commercial to by their product, service or coaching program.
The Conference Apologist - Is the speaker who starts his or her talk by telling the audience several times that they are not a good public speaker, but instead someone who will simply share their ideas or experience. They hope to lower the expectations for their speech, but their apologizing reaches the point that nobody cares to pay attention (who signs up to listen to someone who admits they suck?).
The Conference Obstructionist - The long time attendee or board member who crushes every new idea that is proposed to enhance the conference experience or introduce new trends and technologies. They argue against new concepts because they are not "the way it has always been done". These people hate change and will work hard to ensure that their event organizers are not allowed to experiment.
The Conference Colonist - Attends their organization's national convention and then brings the best ideas home and implements them at their local chapter. They spread the best parts of what they saw to new audiences, and help expand best-practices.
The Conference Educationalist - Attends the conference only for the educational opportunities. They take pages of notes and never miss a keynote or breakout session. However, they avoid all the meals, happy hours, breaks and anything fun. They get good information, but miss out on meeting new people. When these people are on the committee to plan events they undercut the importance of the human experience.
The Conference Receptionist - Attends all the happy hours, dinners, coffee breaks, etc... but never seems to be able to sit through an entire keynote or breakout session. These people meet everyone they can on a superficial level, but are never a true part of the overall conference society as they are not engaged in the shared learning experience. The receptions and parties are only part of the conference!
The Conference Aromatherapist - The person in the audience wearing too much cologne or perfume. Need I say more?
The Conference Capitalist - Finds a way sign an new client or gets a new job offer while attending a conference. This person naturally can make money grow on trees, regardless of their actual involvement with the event. They do this without being pushy or obnoxious, but instead they can create opportunities in any situation. They do not need to be a vendor or sponsor to do business while at the event.
The Conference Accompanist - The person who attends the event with their co-worker, spouse, or friend and then never leaves their side the whole time.
The Conference Hobbyist - Makes a hobby out of attending events. They can be found at all types of conventions, conferences, trade shows and seminars. They love the atmosphere. They network and learn, but never seem to cultivate any long-term relationships or turn their participation into real business opportunities.
The Conference Protectionist - Often the same as the Conference Obstructionist, but under the guise of preserving traditions. They want to keep the meeting the same as it always has been, and do not care about attracting new attendees.
The Conference Mixologist - The bartender.
The Conference Communist - Part of the "Power Clique" that is usually made up of board members and former board members. They ride rough-shot over the professionals who plan the event, complain about everything, and do not make other people feel welcome. They profess the need of the greater good of the conference community, but hang out in the VIP Hospitality Suite rather than mingling with the regular folk. The real purpose of the conference to these people is as an annual reunion with their buddies.
The Conference Photojournalist - Has their camera or SmartPhone and is constantly taking pictures of everyone they meet and posting the photos to Facebook and Flickr. Many have mixed emotions about the Conference Photojournalist, both loving and hating them at the same time. They don't want to be photographed, but then later get very excited to view all the cool pics.
The Conference Localist - They live in the city where the conference is held and keep leaving the venue to go to their office or home. They miss out on being part of the mini-society that is created at an event, but they save on the expense of a hotel room.
The Conference Plagiarist - The speaker who has no new ideas, but instead only takes the stories from other people's presentations without giving credit. They share no personal experiences, and yet take the jokes and other intellectual property from books and presentations of others and use them as their own.
The Conference Verbalist - Has an opinion about every thing that is said from the stage during the keynotes and breakout sessions. They are the first one to the microphone during Q&A - but never ask a question. Then keep harping on their point of view during every break to anyone who will listen.
The Conference Perfectionist - This person wants every single detail at the conference to come off without a hitch. Wonderful trait in a hard working meeting professional -- annoying trait in an attendee.
The Conference Regionalist - The attendee who is from the area who knows where to find all the best bars and restaurants. When visiting a new city it is great to know someone from the region if you want to experience the wonderful (and sometimes off the beaten path) gems in a city.
The Conference Chauvinist - The man, often from a traditionally male-dominated industry, who calls all the women executives "honey", "sweetie", etc....
The Conference Projectionist - The audio visual team (we all need to honor, praise and respect the AV professionals, as they are the unsung heroes of successful conferences!).
The Conference Rallyist- Person who leads the charge to ensure that anyone and everyone has a good experience, (even if the agenda is "same old / same old" and mundane). This person improves the situation by rallying the troops to keep having fun even after the scheduled happy hour ends. They can often be found organizing a last minute groups to go to a local restaurant, club, sporting event, etc... (Pair them with The Conference Regionalist and you have some good times!)
The Conference Therapist - That person at the hotel bar late at night who everyone seems to want to talk with. They listen and always have some good advice. The doctor is in!
The Conference Royalist - The person who stalks the celebrity speakers and industry experts thinking that shaking their hand is the purpose of their trip to the meeting. They worship those with fame, and ignore all their peers. They are so excited to meet the celebrities and stand in line for an hour just to say hello. They find personal accomplishment from having been in the same room as greatness. However, they miss the reality that real power is sitting next to them (it is the other attendees!)
The Conference Motorist - The attendee rented a car.
The Conference Rhythmist - The one attendee you think should NOT be on the dance floor, but who instead has "the moves". They dance all night with everyone. When the band or DJ stops, they want to get a group to go out dancing (see Conference Rallyist).
The Conference Revolutionist - A meeting professional who bravely pushes their company or association to try new things to transform their event into an "industry happening". These fearless people often face risk by pushing their CEO or Executive Director to take a chance on what might seem like a weird new idea. They rarely get the credit or recognition deserved for the impact they have on the overall meeting. They are not scared to fail, as they have confidence in their instincts and experience. They know that to make an omelet you must break a few eggs, and they are excited by the challenge of helping re-shape a new area of business and professional meetings.
Oh, the people you will meet at a conference!
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
This blog post was inspired by "thought leader extraordinaire" (and one of Australia's top public speakers), Matt Church. Several months ago we were together at an event and were talking about the meetings industry.
He immediately understood my concept of "The Conference Catalyst", and he gave me several insightful ideas to help promote the program, but soon we were joking about all the people you meet at conferences besides a "catalyst". He is really funny and his jokes lead me to writing this post. I have been collecting ideas on "ists" ever since that conversation. (What other "ists" are present at events that can you add?).
(The Conference Catalyst is my program that sets the tone for a business event, - turning average conversations in the hallways of conferences into impactful networking and the creation of long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that lead to more business. Gatherings from 200 to 4000 can be transformed when the culture is centered around connections. Does your conference have a catalyst?) .
Here are other interesting personalities that often show up at a conference:
The Conference Pacifist - This person does not want to witness or participate in conflict, controversy, or hands-on activities. Anything that makes them uneasy causes them to flee the conference and seek diplomatic immunity in their hotel room.
The Conference Socialist - Wants all the power at a conference to be distributed. They do not like it when keynotes receive more attention than breakouts. They can't stand that there are VIP activities. These people love the new trend of the "Un-Conference".
The Conference Masochist - Finds joy listening to speakers who are not prepared, monotone, and have awful PowerPoint. The talks most of us find painful are their favorite. Unfortunately they have plenty of joy, as too many events highlight speakers who may or may not have good content but are totally lacking in public speaking skills.
The Conference Narcissist - They cannot stop delivering their elevator pitch - even when nobody is listening. They enhance the story of their life and "hold court" rather than looking to make any real connections. They lead with their business card and are sure that people will go home and remember their one-sided conversation. If this person is a featured speaker you can expect a 60 minute commercial to by their product, service or coaching program.
The Conference Apologist - Is the speaker who starts his or her talk by telling the audience several times that they are not a good public speaker, but instead someone who will simply share their ideas or experience. They hope to lower the expectations for their speech, but their apologizing reaches the point that nobody cares to pay attention (who signs up to listen to someone who admits they suck?).
The Conference Obstructionist - The long time attendee or board member who crushes every new idea that is proposed to enhance the conference experience or introduce new trends and technologies. They argue against new concepts because they are not "the way it has always been done". These people hate change and will work hard to ensure that their event organizers are not allowed to experiment.
The Conference Colonist - Attends their organization's national convention and then brings the best ideas home and implements them at their local chapter. They spread the best parts of what they saw to new audiences, and help expand best-practices.
The Conference Educationalist - Attends the conference only for the educational opportunities. They take pages of notes and never miss a keynote or breakout session. However, they avoid all the meals, happy hours, breaks and anything fun. They get good information, but miss out on meeting new people. When these people are on the committee to plan events they undercut the importance of the human experience.
The Conference Receptionist - Attends all the happy hours, dinners, coffee breaks, etc... but never seems to be able to sit through an entire keynote or breakout session. These people meet everyone they can on a superficial level, but are never a true part of the overall conference society as they are not engaged in the shared learning experience. The receptions and parties are only part of the conference!
The Conference Aromatherapist - The person in the audience wearing too much cologne or perfume. Need I say more?
The Conference Capitalist - Finds a way sign an new client or gets a new job offer while attending a conference. This person naturally can make money grow on trees, regardless of their actual involvement with the event. They do this without being pushy or obnoxious, but instead they can create opportunities in any situation. They do not need to be a vendor or sponsor to do business while at the event.
The Conference Accompanist - The person who attends the event with their co-worker, spouse, or friend and then never leaves their side the whole time.
The Conference Hobbyist - Makes a hobby out of attending events. They can be found at all types of conventions, conferences, trade shows and seminars. They love the atmosphere. They network and learn, but never seem to cultivate any long-term relationships or turn their participation into real business opportunities.
The Conference Protectionist - Often the same as the Conference Obstructionist, but under the guise of preserving traditions. They want to keep the meeting the same as it always has been, and do not care about attracting new attendees.
The Conference Mixologist - The bartender.
The Conference Communist - Part of the "Power Clique" that is usually made up of board members and former board members. They ride rough-shot over the professionals who plan the event, complain about everything, and do not make other people feel welcome. They profess the need of the greater good of the conference community, but hang out in the VIP Hospitality Suite rather than mingling with the regular folk. The real purpose of the conference to these people is as an annual reunion with their buddies.
The Conference Photojournalist - Has their camera or SmartPhone and is constantly taking pictures of everyone they meet and posting the photos to Facebook and Flickr. Many have mixed emotions about the Conference Photojournalist, both loving and hating them at the same time. They don't want to be photographed, but then later get very excited to view all the cool pics.
The Conference Localist - They live in the city where the conference is held and keep leaving the venue to go to their office or home. They miss out on being part of the mini-society that is created at an event, but they save on the expense of a hotel room.
The Conference Plagiarist - The speaker who has no new ideas, but instead only takes the stories from other people's presentations without giving credit. They share no personal experiences, and yet take the jokes and other intellectual property from books and presentations of others and use them as their own.
The Conference Verbalist - Has an opinion about every thing that is said from the stage during the keynotes and breakout sessions. They are the first one to the microphone during Q&A - but never ask a question. Then keep harping on their point of view during every break to anyone who will listen.
The Conference Perfectionist - This person wants every single detail at the conference to come off without a hitch. Wonderful trait in a hard working meeting professional -- annoying trait in an attendee.
The Conference Regionalist - The attendee who is from the area who knows where to find all the best bars and restaurants. When visiting a new city it is great to know someone from the region if you want to experience the wonderful (and sometimes off the beaten path) gems in a city.
The Conference Chauvinist - The man, often from a traditionally male-dominated industry, who calls all the women executives "honey", "sweetie", etc....
The Conference Projectionist - The audio visual team (we all need to honor, praise and respect the AV professionals, as they are the unsung heroes of successful conferences!).
The Conference Rallyist- Person who leads the charge to ensure that anyone and everyone has a good experience, (even if the agenda is "same old / same old" and mundane). This person improves the situation by rallying the troops to keep having fun even after the scheduled happy hour ends. They can often be found organizing a last minute groups to go to a local restaurant, club, sporting event, etc... (Pair them with The Conference Regionalist and you have some good times!)
The Conference Therapist - That person at the hotel bar late at night who everyone seems to want to talk with. They listen and always have some good advice. The doctor is in!
The Conference Royalist - The person who stalks the celebrity speakers and industry experts thinking that shaking their hand is the purpose of their trip to the meeting. They worship those with fame, and ignore all their peers. They are so excited to meet the celebrities and stand in line for an hour just to say hello. They find personal accomplishment from having been in the same room as greatness. However, they miss the reality that real power is sitting next to them (it is the other attendees!)
The Conference Motorist - The attendee rented a car.
The Conference Rhythmist - The one attendee you think should NOT be on the dance floor, but who instead has "the moves". They dance all night with everyone. When the band or DJ stops, they want to get a group to go out dancing (see Conference Rallyist).
The Conference Revolutionist - A meeting professional who bravely pushes their company or association to try new things to transform their event into an "industry happening". These fearless people often face risk by pushing their CEO or Executive Director to take a chance on what might seem like a weird new idea. They rarely get the credit or recognition deserved for the impact they have on the overall meeting. They are not scared to fail, as they have confidence in their instincts and experience. They know that to make an omelet you must break a few eggs, and they are excited by the challenge of helping re-shape a new area of business and professional meetings.
Oh, the people you will meet at a conference!
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
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