I have not been to every notable crime writing conference. Malice Domestic is yet a blank spot on my dance card. However, I've been to at least a couple of each of the biggies, middles, and smalls, and enjoyed them each for different reasons.
Recently, I was scheduled for an NYC event for podcasting with around 700 attendees (podcasting is internet posting or blogging of audio and/or video). I couldn't make it, so thank goodness the tech geeks Wiki'd the schedule and podcasted some of the sessions! Anyway, after the dust and discarded name badges settled, the Podcamp NYC organizer posted what I thought was great advice to remember for any mass event of this type. His hot tips for getting the most out of the experience are these:
1) If there are people you MUST meet/talk with at a conference, find them first.
2) Realize you can't control your environment.
*I'd add the caveat that if a polite mention can get something easily fixed, it's worth trying for everyone's benefit. But if it's a "design flaw" in the set-up or program materials, etc. try to ignore it as well as you can.
3) Know how not to interrupt a conversation.
4) Know how to get enough of a conversation going that you can continue it after the conference.
5) Realize you're going to end up in situations/conversations you didn't plan for and that's okay.
Follow this link for more detail and John Havens' sensible elaborations. And to Meredith A. and Laura K., hope you're having a wonderful time!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Views You Can Use at Conferences
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1 comments:
Clare,
This is a great post and a terrific link. It's so important to remember that there is so much to learn and so many people involved in each event that it isn't just about ME. I do know what a conference is, but pod casting is new to me and I feel a bit more familiar now. Altho' you almost lost me at "Wiki'd the schedule." Thank you. Terrie
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