Jason Corsello talks about a session at a conference he really enjoyed. I would have also enjoyed it because it had end users - buyer participants - on the panel. Nothing like real life experiences. Little marketing spin.
On the other hand, Duncan Chapelle reports Gartner Symposium in Orlando saw several empty seats (I think it peaked around 10K attendees one year, so 6K this year would show empty in many of the larger rooms at the massive Dolphin-Swan complex). Even more telling - only 150 exhibitors down from 340 in 2001. Correlation - fewer buyers at the event attract less vendors. Kind of a spiral. Of course, the event agenda book is still so thick, it is overwhelming which sessions you want to attend. And puny compared to Oracle OpenWorld which is supposed to attract 40,000 and the agenda is chock ful of technical sessions, industry leader presentations, entertainment.
My favorite sessions at events I go to follow this order:
a) Buyer panels, particularly CIOs discussing innovation projects
b) Startup cameos where promising startup CEOs present their company and product for 10-15 minutes
c) A panel with conflicting interests - so buyers, investor, vendor reps on a panel. Hey, dueling words get exchanged every day in real life, so why not be transparent in a conference panel?
d) Interview with a large technology company executive - but a frank one, not just a respectful, softball one
e) A market overview perspective from a VC, a McKinsey, an analyst firm, or a market leading blogger - but only 1-2 in a conference. One of the reasons I would suggest Gartner Symposium has peaked is it is 90% analyst pitches.
f) Perspective from a large company vendor executive which is not about their company. Their life, their industry perspective, their politics,
g) Presentations by systems integrators and outsourcers. Generally, they present too much on methods and standards, not enough on client case studies.
I know many readers go to conferences for technical sessions. Others go for the vendor booths and demos. Some go for the networking opportunity. Others go to hang out with colleagues and friends they have not seen in a while. Still others for the entertainment. Some for the catered food -)
Reader, what are your tricks and traps as you decide which events you go to - and then how do you optimize your few days at the event?
