DISQUS

Oh, I was going to write a post that said exactly what you have! The end was awful. I was trying to have a conversation with someone at the seating outside of the B8 room, but I had a headache and the clanging and clanking of stands being dismantled really meant I couldn't cope, so we retreated to the speaker lounge. Even in there, all I could really hear were the sounds of things being taken down.

And this was *during* the last session. It really was awful - if nothing else it was rude and showed a disrespect for the final speakers, but it also left a very bad taste in my mouth. Really, was there any need for the stands to be dismantled at 4pm? The conference finished pretty early - at about 4.30pm or 5pm - and there was a party on at 10pm that night, so I can't see why there couldn't have been a closing drinks session until 7pm. OK, some people would have had to leave a bit early, but make sure there's something worth staying for on the schedule and most people will.

I've been to a lot of conferences, but I've never been to one where the expo was dismantled and gone before the talks were even over.

I'd totally go for it - I spend so much time travelling, where all I really need to access is the internet and some local blogging software that carting my MacBook around with me feels like overkill. It'd have to be able to selectively sync with my MacBook and iPhone and have the proper Bluetooth that the iPhone is missing.

I'd also like to see Apple make more accessories, e.g. a folding BlueTooth keyboard like the one I have for my old Palm Vx. No doubt Apple would do a grand job of such things.

Really good advice. I'm promoting my own event at the moment - http://fruitful-socialtoolsadoption.eventbrite.... - about adoption of social media in business. Sending out lots of personalised emails is exhausting, but I'd feel uncomfortable spamming people.

This is my first event too, although it's much smaller than yours, I can totally empathise with what you went through with Going Solo. The problem I have is not just about finding the time and energy to promote my event whilst also having to put the nuts and bolts of it together so that it functions as a full day seminar, but also, what do I do next time round? I'm hoping to run a number of seminars on different subjects, at a frequency of one a month when things get going. But I don't want to keep bothering people with emails... we have a mailing list, but few people are signing up to it.

How does one effectively promote regular events without getting on people's nerves?

I'm sad that I'm missing it yet again, but in two weeks I'll be in the final run up to my wedding. Oh well, fingers crossed for next year!

OK, .... let me be blunt. ;-) Every event organiser wants my linkylove. Every event organiser asks me to blog about their event, to email people I think might want to go, to pimp their ride, as it were. But they never really explain to me what it is that I get out of it. I get lots of people asking me for stuff, but very few people offering me stuff. Why should I write about any event, if I'm not in the mood to? What is it that I'm going to get out of it?

Generally speaking, I usually intent to blog about the events that I'm going to go to, but certainly over the last year I've been too busy to even do that. I don't even have time to write up my own talks! Daft.

Asking people directly for linkylove isn't going to work, because you're making it all about what you need, and offering them nothing in return. And no, a "blog badge" isn't going to cut it. I'm not sure what is, but there's got to be some exchange of value. I'm giving you my time, attention, a bit of my reputation, and the attention of my readers... you're giving me what?

This has nothing to do with the value of your event, or how interesting it's going to be, or the quality of the speakers, but is more about understanding what the transaction is that you are attempting to enter into with people.

And it's not just you. I was disappointed at how little participation there's been on the Creative Business project I'm running. But I haven't had time to really think about how to get people on board, and by the time I do, it will be all over.

So I'd say think a little bit more about what it is that you're offering, rather than what it is that you want.

Now, as this event is you, and I'm involved, then I will put more effort into blogging about it once I have all the screamingly urgent things I need to do done. What with the wedding and stuff, you can imagine my to do list. But at least the good intention is there. ;-) Others, well, yes, it's going to be hard to get them involved. It always is.

One thing - always pay for design work if you can. It's very hard to find a designer prepared to work for nothing, because they are always inundated with offers to work for free, which often they rightly turn down. And if you do find a designer who's working for nothing, then you are in a very weak position if you don't like what they do, or need a change made. And design is so important that it's worth getting it right.

Rejection for good reasons is one thing, but those are rather pathetic reasons. My respect for Blogtalk just went down a notch. I wonder what they did accept, and why. I'm not going because I'll only have just got back from honeymoon, but I have no time for this "two page proposal" bullshit.

Personally though, I don't find these sorts of conferences good for business at all. Never picked up a new client at one - better conferences for that are more sector-focused, e.g. HR or marketing or IT. So I would save your money, frankly.

I understand why conference organisers want papers or slide dekcs, but it's really bad practice in my opinion. We do not work in academia, and we do not have the "publish or die" culture that academia has, so we are neither used to writing papers nor do we have time to do so.

I would much prefer it if conferences routinely videoed the sessions and made them freely available online. Then if individual presenters want to write more about their topic, then they can blog it, and if people want to see what was said, then they can get it from the horses mouth.

I still own conference organisers papers and slide decks from months ago, and to be honest, I have no idea if I am ever going to get the time to prepare them. The academic model just doesn't work for business people, imho. It cerrtainly doesn't work for me.

Anyway, looks like a great talk! Wish I was going to be there, but it's too close after I return from honeymoon.

It's good to see you talking about this in the open, Steph, because I think this is an aspect of going into business that most peole feel too scared to broach. As Peter said, there are many examples of "co-opetition", where companies co-operate despite also being in competition. I would like to think that more enlightened companies would consider such a move, but experience also tells me to be wary both when you are approached, and when you decide to approach. Co-opetition can be a great thing, so long as everyone is open, honest, and transparent.

Your new business is going to have an impact on your network - some people will undoubtedly feel unhappy or slighted somehow, but you'll attract other people who are interested in your work. It will even itself out. If you continue to be as positive and open as you normally are, though, I think you'll do just fine.

Really great talk, Steph. Wish I'd been there!

Wonderful post, Steph. I think this is also related to the difficulty some people have in prioritising relaxing activities as highly as they prioritise work. Because they don't think of the two things as equally worthy of their time and attention, they can only see GTD as relating to work, not pleasure.

Personally, I have a 'social' GTD to do list, as well as other things on my to do list which I count as pleasurable. Certainly the way I use GTD it's across the whole spectrum of types of things that I do with my life. And like you it's absolutely not about cramming more work in, but about getting work more efficiently done so that I can relax, guilt-free, whenever I so choose.

Sadly, Blogware is broken so I can't even blog this on my own blog. :( Oh well, I'm sure it'll be fixed... eventually.

Don't forget you can always ask permission. Creative Commons licenses specify what you can do without having to ask permission, but they do not prevent you asking permission to do something not covered by the license.

We are intending to be at this booze-up: http://randomreality.blogware.com/blog/_archive...>

It's hosted by the Friday Project, so if you want to come, please do RSVP to them.

6.30pm onwards (on 21st of December)
Upstairs @ The Horse & Groom
128 Great Portland Street

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=528972&y=181761&z=0&sv=W1W+6PX&st=2&pc=W1W+6PX&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

Please RSVP to Heather Smith: heather@thefridayproject.co.uk

Robert, I've been trying to say the same thing to people working with me at the OpenRightsGroup.org.uk, but they aren't having any of it. I just did a BBC TV interview outside of the Apple Store here in London talking about DRM, and you know what? They didn't come to me because of a press release, they came because they want an alternative voice that will push back against the industry and they've read about me elsewhere.

Personally, I think press releases are a waste of time and effort. I have better things to be doing with my time. But the lure of old school PR remains strong. Actually, less of a lure, more of a stranglehold.

And I was so hoping to be writing on the new All About Drag Queens, or at least, All About Transvestites, but no. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to learn to live with writing about my Palm Treo instead then. Such a pity...

Steph just SMS'd me to say that her borrowed computer has also now broken, so she won't be blogging for a while.

Steph has asked me to post here to say that her laptop is now away being fixed and that she won't be able to easily get online for the next couple of weeks.

Ah, at least they do have Hawaii though. Wonder if they've got Alaska...

me too. I have started up a category for Welsh language posts, but it remains to be seen if it works ok, or how much i write. I have set it up so that it doesn't show up on the front page, but you need to go to a category page to see it. Not sure if this is ideal or not.