Jayvis

I haven?t been to as many industry conventions as some of you veterans here, but I do feel like I?ve attended more than enough to realize the staleness they all seem to carry. I think shows are great for networking with like-minded individuals and picking up business you otherwise may have missed out on. I also think that you get what you put into them. With that said; I think they could greatly be approved in a number of different ways and I wanted to throw out some ideas as I currently am taking a break from Cybernet and ordering some room service. So while I wait for some food, let me ramble a little bit. This could end up being a long post but I think someone needs to bring these points up and I?m totally open to any scrutiny or suggestions you?d like to throw in. Normally most people just bitch on this board without ever offering up solutions or suggestions, so I?m gonna do both! And I know this post is going to come off in an angry or pissed-off tone and possibly as arrogant tone as well - but I can PROMISE you those are not my intentions. I love going to shows, have met some interesting people, partied and had fun with truly unique individuals, done plenty of business and so on. So please keep that in mind when reading this (if you even do read this, it?s probably going to be long).

Oh before I get started, I guess I better play it safe and say that these statements are my opinions only. These are not meant to be taken personally or directly by an individual. So just because I?m posting this while attending Cybernet, please don?t think for a second that I don?t enjoy LAJ or the show etc, because I DO get value out of them. In fact, I?m really motivated to perform better and it?s only my second day here. I?m just posting these as suggestions and THAT?S it. A suggestion. Nothing more, nothing less. No hidden meaning in anything I say. And I?m sure I?ll see some equally great replies in this thread. So let me begin?


To me, this is my bread and butter. This is also the most important part of any convention for myself (outside of pre-set meetings). This is where I usually find the majority of new affiliates and b2b relations. The problem is, it is a horrible way to pick-up business. Well, maybe horrible isn?t the word but there are better ways. Firstly, 2-3 minutes is honestly WAY too long for each encounter. Out of this entire group I think the 80/20 rule applies. You have 80% of people that you will never do business with (for me these are people like billers, hosting, etc). Sitting there awkwardly trying to carry a polite conversation and seem interested is totally unnecessary. I sit there and count down the seconds until I can hit the 20% of people that will ultimately develop into something positive.

Second problem with speed networking? You only hit half the room. You have the stationary inside seaters that you never even get to chat with.

My proposal? Get rid of speed networking all together. It?s loud, you have to speak up in a noisy ass room, try to remember details about every single person? unless you?re writing it down which is still difficult and primitive considering you?re trying to have a conversation at the same time. It also has limited fucking seating. I could go on and on.

Instead, implement a system where each individual has 3-5 minutes to speak to everyone in the room collectively and they can then pitch whatever they?re all about. Give them a mic and let them talk. Each person is given a number, just like speed networking does now, ten people in line at a time waiting for their turn to give their brief presentation. The others all are seated, taking notes if need be, listening in a quiet room, not shuffling all around. Not interested in the person currently speaking? No problem, check your Facebook on your iphone, who cares.

If you wanted to get really into it, there should be a pre-registration for this event. Like a REAL pre-registration, not filling out your name on a sheet of paper five minutes before it starts. From here you could develop a simple pamphlet that each attendee could receive. Within the pamphlet are details on each person/company speaking including contact info, etc. Now you don?t have to worry about carrying 600 business cards in your pocket and trying to put a name or face to that business card later on. This pamphlet also gives you the opportunity to see if the last 15-20 presenters in line will be individuals you may or may not be interested in listening to.

This allows ANYONE else registered for the convention to sit down and check it out as well. No more limitations. It would probably take longer than the 45 minutes to an hour most speed networking events currently adhere to but I?ll take a two hour long session with this system over the old way.


I hear a lot of sponsors are pulling sponsorship more and more and understandably so. At the end of the day how much branding and ROI are they really receiving by placing a couple of huge banners around some pool cabana? It doesn?t take a rocket scientist to realize they’re only going to be seen by the thousand or so attendees and that?s it. Pointless.

What is the other reason sponsors are pulling sponsorships at an ever increasing rate? Lack of real affiliates in attendance. It?s no secret that only a handful of affiliates attend these things. Most of the business being done here are usually B2B deals which can only happen a certain amount of times before you have a case of seeing familiar faces you?re already working with.

My proposal? Broadcast all of these speaking panels live on the web and for free. Not only does this give your sponsors a wider variety of exposure but you now have the ability to reach out to the affiliates that are otherwise not attending. Plenty of mainstream conventions currently do this. Let?s say no panels are currently going on, what do you fill the live feed with during that time? You could have it showing a schedule of what?s to come next or you could take it to the next level and walk around and get personal interviews; for instance:


Once again, more branding for your sponsors, more eyes on your show.

Once the show is over, have someone break down the footage into their respective individual clips and archive that on a tube site or something for later viewing. Now you?ve got great thinkers and speakers on video and available anytime via the web.

Now, I can see where the counter argument to this would be ?Well if we give them everything for free via a broadcast, what is going to make them ever want to purchase a badge in the first place?? Maybe you?re right but I have a feeling that people who don?t pay for a badge now, probably never will. In fact, I think offering this footage for free would do nothing but excite an individual to say ?Man, that looks fucking fun, I gotta buy a badge next year!? Watching it and being there are two different worlds. It?s like watching a basketball game on tv, sure it?s pretty cool but wouldn?t you want to be there in person with front row seats?

Last but not lead, how cool would it be to have one or two panels that take questions directly from people viewing the show online?