A conference is a conference is a conference . . . .
We here at CBC participate at a healthy number of conferences throughout the year. We typically find these conferences useful for gathering industry information, networking and uncovering the latest industry trends. Although conferences vary is size and focus (and some are more enjoyable than others), we’re hearing from other participants that most conferences are the “same every year, just different locations.”
Well, there’s a new conference format that’s gaining heaps of attention and may change the structure of conferences as we know it . . . Everyone, meet the “NONCONFERENCE.”
This new conference format aims to buck the conventional thinking of how a conference is structured and puts much more power in the hands of the audience to address topical issues and concerns. What’s more, it’s cheap (sometimes free!).
Thoroughly described in the recent BusinessWeek article, “Take Your PowerPoint And . . .,” Reporter Scott Kirsner examines the essence of the nonconference and who’s attending and who benefits. Basically, a nonconference is a gathering of like-minded professionals in a given field to meet at a designated location and share industry ideas, trends and concerns. Like the title says, there’s no PowerPoint or formal presentations, but rather individuals sign-up to “present” their ideas and expect immediate Q&A from the crowd (as opposed to waiting to the end).
I encourage you to pay attention to this new phenomenon (I know I will) and how it can be applied to benefit your business. Just another useful tool and medium to tell and prove the story.
