Meeting Industry Resources

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Follow the Introduction Verbatim

Many introducers offer an ad-hoc lines, which squelch a speaker’s planned opening. One of my introducers once added his own line to my introduction. It was his attempt at a joke. It was lame, fell flat, and went nowhere. It also conflicted with my intended opening line, and I had to quickly say something else.

Do your conference speakers a favor: tell your introducers in no uncertain terms not to improvise. I know of one meeting planner who asks, "Can you deliver this introduction as the speaker has requested?" If the introducer does not pledge to deliver the introduction free of these remarks, she suggests another introducer.

Four Basic Audience Needs

Since my first paid presentation in 1983, I’ve learned a great deal about what audiences need, want, and expect, which primarily boils down to four vital ingredients:
* to be informed,
* to be entertained,
* to participate in some way,
* and most of all to be inspired to take action.

Over the course of 26 years, remarkably, these four basic needs prevail.

The Special Event 2007

The Special events industry comes into its own: Barbara Scofidio writing for MeetingsNet.com observes “If there was a common theme at The Special Event 2007, held last week in Los Angeles, it was that this industry, which started out as a cottage industry or a ‘garage industry,’ as insiders like to describe it has finally evolved into a profession.”

Reasons People Volunteer

Need help with your next meeting? Here is a roster of reasons why people volunteer:

1. Fill time

2. Repay a perceived indebtedness

3. Because someone they love benefits

4. To set an example for children

5. To work as a family

6. Someone they love is also involved

7. To meet people

8. To please someone else

9. To have fun

10. To gain skills

11. To gain experience

12. To be visible

13. To gain credit

14. To express their religion or belief

15. To find happiness

16. To employ otherwise unused gifts or skills

17. Because of tradition

18. As part of a group

19. To maintain health

20. To explore new learning, ideas

21. To heal

22. To avert loneliness

23. Because of interest

24. As a hobby

25. Out of concern

26. To receive a tax benefit

27. To counter-point paid work

28. As an extension of a job

29. Because they were assigned

30. To survive tragedy (cope)

31. To test leadership skills

32. To gain recognition

33. To acquire self-confidence

34. To be a change agent

35. To right a wrong

36. To work in a safe place

37. To save money

38. To have a purpose

39. To be a good neighbor

40. To get out of the house

41. To keep active

42. To experience new lifestyles

43. To feel a sense of power and success

Travel Distribution Summit

Senior-level executives from airlines, hotels, cruise lines, car hire companies, and online travel suppliers will all be meeting at Travel Distribution Summit, North America, on October 4 and 5 in Chicago.

The Net Meeting Phenomena

Here is my 2001 article on Jumping Aboard the Net Meeting Bandwagon. Amazing how quickly times flies and how this is all coming into place.

Choosing Effectiveness

Making deeply pronounced choices is an efficient way to get in control of life. An essential choice for all meeting planner is choosing to feel worthy and complete, especially at the height of your major convention--where every little mishap can seem as if it's much larger than it really is.

Simply say to yourself: "I choose to feel worthy and complete,"and helps to reduce anxiety, stay calm and feel more relaxed. Depending on how long it's been since you've felt worthy and complete, you may have to make this choice for many days or weeks running. But keep at it.

By choosing to feel worthy and complete, you automatically redirect the inner and outer you to accept that there is nothing you must do or must finish. Everything is based on your choice. If you choose to continue working on some task, even one assigned to you, the choice is made in the present moment, not based on a prior agenda. A worthy and complete feeling yields a tremendous sense of inner harmony.