Plurk

50 responses to this plurk (Jump to bottom)

  • rockinprgirl
    as far as...? The few conferences I've attended, I've ended up participating in panel discussions.
  • rockinprgirl
    we tried to attend sessions that interested us, but I should note that they were all academia.
  • sonnygill
    As an attendee - what are some skills you've acquired, grown while going to your industry specific conferences/events.
  • sonnygill
    Whether it be breaking the barrier of reluctance to talk to other attendees or speakers, connecting b4 hand, etc.
  • sonnygill
    Just curious to get ppls takes on their personal experiences attending events and how they truly got the most out of it.
  • rockinprgirl
    the thing about it was that we mostly stuck to our own (PRSSA chapter), but we did interact with the other PRSSA chapter we were presenting
  • rockinprgirl
    with ... at the bar. I can't speak for any best practices actually, so I'm out.
  • sonnygill
    Gotcha - at the bar is always key ;-)
  • rockinprgirl
    haha, well I think people def. throw their inhibitions to the wind when there's libations abound. They forget their nerves. Trying to meet
  • rockinprgirl
    and talk with people can definitely be nervewracking. A truly social atmosphere is more comfortable than approaching someone before or after
  • Debra Simpson says
    I never go anywhere without my hand held digital recorder - can record sessions or do some podcasting - helps in meeting ppl
  • DebInAustin says
    I know you are already on top of it with the b-card thing (so many people forget to bring them!). I have one funny thing I always put my
  • DebInAustin says
    cards in my left pocket (of my blazer) shake hands with the right, pass the card with the left and put the received cards in my rt pocket
  • DebInAustin says
    a little thing, butkeeps things organized.
  • CallKathy says
    talk to everyone. share cards. Use a two sided bcard holder. yours in one side, other people's in the other side
  • DebInAustin says
    sorry, I got distracted by the phone. I always go back to my room and write notes on backs of all the cards. As much as I can remember
  • DebInAustin says
    about the person- birthday, dog's names, etc. And, I always follow up with a note or email after the conference.
  • DebInAustin says
    one of my guy friends always carried like 6 or 7 pens. Inevitably someone would need a pen and he could pass it to them and start a convo
  • DebInAustin says
    make sure you don't have any bathroom issues- that sounds silly, but in Japan I organized and managed our Govs trade mission. I went to the
  • DebInAustin says
    bathroom and my blazer pocket must have fallen open and a bunch of the cards I'd collected fell into the toilet- cards for the head of
  • DebInAustin says
    Mitsubishi, Sr. staff from the Foreign Ministry, VP from Sony, VP from Japan Air, Ambassador to the US...it was awful!
  • sonnygill
    Great points all! Deb, that's a great tip as far as carrying multiple pens with you. Good conversation starter.
  • sonnygill
    I think a good one is if its a multiple day event, have a meet up 'after hours' and in a more relaxed setting (a few drinks im sure)...
  • sonnygill
    help break the ice and make for more conversations the next day with that contact and then expand to his/her contacts and so forth.
  • MackCollier says
    Sonny use your Plurk/Twitter networks and see who else will be attending. Have biz cards ready & be ready to answer the 'what do you do?' ?
  • sonnygill
    Yea i gotta my quick pitch of 'what i do' ready :-)
  • Connie
    Attended new member reception at conf this weekend. Wii bowling at one end of room; Rockband at the other. Bar and buffet snacks.
  • Connie
    Lots of tables and chairs. Board members introducing themselves to new members. Games made it easier for newcomers to join in.
  • sonnygill
    Wow, thats a great setup Connie. Must've made it super easy for the new members.
  • AmberCadabra
    I loved that the SBMU folks did a social event FIRST before the conf. really started. Helped folks get acquainted and go into the next day
  • AmberCadabra
    feeling like they'd already made friends. I know I did!
  • DebInAustin says
    I love that games thing! What a great way to get people involved.
  • sonnygill
    That is great Amber. Hopefully we can get a bunch of folks together the night before MP conf. kicks off.
  • onepinktee
    if you're attending with coworkers, consider a 'divide and conquer' approach so that you hear as many of the sessions that sound good
  • onepinktee
    then debrief over lunch or dinner and if there's anything to share in-depth, do a brown bag lunch after returning to work
  • DebInAustin says
    I always try to not spend all my time with co-workers at conferences. It's comfy, but I don't meet anyone new.
  • onepinktee
    dress in layers and bring a sweater - it's hard to pay attention if you're focused on avoiding frostbite
  • AmberCadabra
    LOLing at Tara telling a guy to "bring a sweater". Do guys do that?
  • sonnygill
    haha no...guys bring hoodies cause it sounds tougher ;-)
  • AmberCadabra
    Wait. "hoodie" sounds tougher? You might wanna rethink that. ;-)
  • onepinktee
    well, the dress in layers part was meant for the guys ;-)
  • sonnygill
    haha damn - i have a lotta hoodies, i thought they were manly lol - Tara, hopefully it is cool and not hot like AZ air!
  • BarbaraKB says
    prep before go: make list of folks u want to meet. perhaps e-mail & let 'em know u want to meet them. plan face time wisely.
  • BarbaraKB
    agree DebinDenver: tempting to stick w/those u know. y good to have prepped a list of folks to meet. make self accountable.
  • sonnygill
    Good tip Barbara - I'll be spending the next couple weeks contacting ppl who will be heading to the MP Mixer later this month.
  • sonnygill
    Then keeping a list of folks I want to or already scheduled some time to meet up with.

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