Mission Possible: Engaging Event Attention July 12, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Attention is a payment of the brain’s resources. It requires that we adjust, engage and sustain each of our nine brain areas involved in attention. We must also exclude, suppress or ignore external and internal distracters. Ultimately, we need a highly disciplined internal state and the right brain chemical balance to maintain attention. This is … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conference best practices, conference tips, conferences, engagement, meeting planning best practices
5 Ways To Ensure Your Conference Reception Fails July 5, 2011 by Jeff Hurt When do the majority of people arrive at a conference reception? In my experience, typically it is not at the beginning of the reception. I’m used to seeing the majority of guests at a reception towards the end of that event. That is assuming the reception is a decent event. And people are enjoying themselves. … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conferences, meeting planner, meeting planning best practices
Go Ahead. Reinvent The Wheel! July 1, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Every day I read dozens of blogs and articles about new technologies arriving at our door steps. I am always intrigued by the technology people create. Even more so, I am fascinated by their inventiveness. Their ingenuity. Their originality and resourcefulness. It’s very appealing and captivating. I want to hang around with those inventors and … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conference best practices, conference tips, conferences, meeting planning best practices, meeting professional
Mall Science: What Your Conference Can Learn From The Mall June 28, 2011 by Jeff Hurt As a teenager in Roanoke, VA, I would hang out with my friends in Crossroads Mall. We would visit our friends who were working in various stores. We’d visit Robby in the Hallmark Card and Candy Store located in the mall’s main courtyard. We’d visit Sherry in the Hobby Shop. Tom in JCPenny. Mark in … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conference best practices, conference tips, conferences, meeting best practices, meeting professionals
Screening Steps To Improve Your Conference’s Health June 27, 2011 by Jeff Hurt How healthy is your conference? Is it time for your conference to have a thorough physical exam? Is your conference experience in need of a health check-up? Is it in a state of dis-ease? Why Your Conference Needs A Checkup Here are three reasons why your conference needs a health checkup: 1. Avoid Dr. Fix-it … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conference best practices, conference tips, conferences, meeting planner, meeting planning best practices, meeting professional
Not Safe For Conferences (NSFC): Marginal Presentations June 21, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Welcome to the world of conferences starring your industry speaker’s slide deck with a supporting role by you. If Ebert and Roper critiqued our conference presentations instead of movies, they would announce a huge two thumbs down for the majority of our speakers. If Entertainment Tonight was Conference Tonight, they would report a colossal loss of … [Read more…] Filed Under: Speaker Coaching Tagged With: , conference tips, conferences, meeting planning best practices
4 Tips Your Conference Can Learn From Oprah Winfrey May 31, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Oprah Winfrey said goodbye to her raving fans recently after 4,560 shows. Her last episode generated more than 18 million viewers. (Nielson Ratings) Few public figures have received such extraordinary exit ratings. Amazingly, Oprah stopped while she was ahead. Creating Raving Fans And Extraordinary Success How did she do it? What made her successful? What … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conferences, meeting planning best practices
Do You See Your Conference Attendees? May 26, 2011 by Jeff Hurt “I see you,” is a phrase used by the Na’vi of the movie Avatar when they greet one another. While it literally means “I see you,” the Na’vi use it figuratively to mean “I see into you” or “I understand you.” The phrase is more than a greeting. It is an acknowledgement. An acknowledgement that … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conferences, meeting planning best practices
Creating A Fuzzy Event With ESP May 20, 2011 by Jeff Hurt How fuzzy is your annual conference or event? No, we are not talking about a hairy, fluffy conference or event. Nor are we talking about an event for hair stylists, hair removal professionals or hirsute populations. Fuzzy events embrace fuzzy goals. Is your goal to incrementally improve your conference experience? Or is it to create … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conferences, meeting planning best practices
Are You Corrupting Your Education Sessions? May 19, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Less is more. Too much, too fast, it won’t last. That’s a favorite adage used by some educators. The underlying concept is that you can present more and faster. But your listeners will simply forget more and faster! Overloading The Mind Organizations and conference planners are often pressured to offer more presentations and content. More, … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , brain science education, conference education, conferences, content, delivery, meeting planning best practices, presentation best practices
