Live Event Attendance Is Down – Perfect!
June 15th, 2009
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by BobTheTeacher · Filed Under: Business Building · Business Mentoring · Internet Marketing Seminars · Virtual Workshops
I just returned from an internet marketing seminar (been going to a lot of those recently!), and reality is sinking in.
For event promoters, having smaller audiences is depressing. For those hoping to attract people wanting to make a major change in their lives because of economic circumstances, they’re finding that most of their target market is unable to make the trip. The cost of the ticket, airfare/travel, and hotel is just not available to many.
While that’s bad news for event hosts, it’s great news for you!
If you are in the minority, and can get to these events, it’s a perfect time to go. With attendance being 30-60% smaller than normal, there’s never been a better opportunity to get on the radar of the current and feature leaders of the industry.
When seminars are 150-300 people, you can get lost in the shuffle. The speakers get swarmed by attendees, and it’s 99% likely you’ll never meet key people that could really impact your business.
But when you get in a room of high caliber people, but there’s only 50-80 of us in the room, the networking is amazing. You meet just about everyone, and the availability of the speakers triples.
As an example: At JV Alert this past weekend, I had substantial time with speakers Stephanie Frank, David Preston, Ron Davies, Susan Preston, Shannon Cherry, Anik Singal, Trevor Crook and Ken McArthur. I met some terrific people like Jacqueline Wales, Jen Blackert, Jennifer Carter, Harun Bahri, Jonathan Freeman, and so many others. And of course reconnected with old friends Andre Arnett, Danielle Miller, Frank Sousa, Sanyika Calloway-Boyce, and more.
So although I wouldn’t suggest that you run your own event right now (in fact, I’ve pushed mine back myself – although that’s mostly due to my focus on my IM Success Library and Teleseminar Formula Training Camp projects), I would suggest you get to a live event this summer and fall.
Here are 2 suggestions that come to mind of great seminars for your business.
In August, I’ll be in Poland for the entire month, but if I was in the States, I would have already registered for the NAMS Workshop, because David Perdew has constructed my ideal formula for an event.
It’s a true workshop, where the speakers take time to talk their strategy, and then spend extra time helping you actual implement it right then and there.
Some of my favorite people in the industry will be there, and they’re extraordinary teachers. People like Lynn Terry (an affiliate marketing GENIUS!), Willie Crawford (he bleeds internet marketing), Jeff Herring (article marketing), Kathleen Gage (one of my teleseminar teaching colleagues), David Preston (offline business workshops), and many more.
I expect this event to be the best of the summer, and if you can make it there, do it. Honestly, I wish the timing was better so I could be there.
Learn more about the Niche Affiliate Marketing Seminar (NAMS2)
Another event I’ve recently heard about is from motivational speaker and personal development guru Les Brown. I recently met Les at an event in Orlando.
And by that I mean my highly connected friend Mark Shilensky from Life Classroom introduced us, we shook hands, spoke for about 30 seconds. :)
In any case, he’s doing a seminar at the end of June to teach you how to discover your power voice. This would be helpful for speakers, consultants, teleseminar presenters, workshop leaders, and anyone else who finds themselves in front of an audience at some point in their business.
If this sounds like you, check out Les Brown’s Power Voice Seminar for more of the details.
Regardless of which event you attend, don’t let the doomsdayers of seminar attendance dissuade you from the incredible opportunity in front of you. Small events mean better networking and access to the “big stars” that you just can’t get when you’re at a typical conference.
Bob Jenkins
p.s. By the way, with attendance rates down, it’s also a great time to learn how to do teleseminars – no travel needed for those at all! I’ll be teaching my 3.0 version of Teleseminar Formula Training Camp in July. Details will be posted at my teleseminar training resource center.
21 Responses to “Live Event Attendance Is Down – Perfect!”
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| Bob Jenkins is an internet business marketing teacher, with ten years experience teaching teenagers and teachers. He is the creator of several online training courses that teach you how to get better customers and increase your profits. Specializing in social networking strategies for business and creating information products from teleseminars, Bob can help you use internet marketing tools and strategies to promote your business online. |
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Wish I could have been up at JV Alert. Had just way too much going on. But you’re right it has been nice to connect with some great people because the events have not been so crowded. I would think that sometimes that can be good for the speaker as well. I know that the speakers I have connected well with I have been more inclined to tell people about them and recommend their products.
I got some good chances to chat with you at Ross Goldberg’s event here in Tampa, which caused me to look up more about you which got me to sign up for some of your “discover” sites, which has also caused me to tell people about where I have been learning some of this cool stuff.
Chances are without chatting one on one with you those couple times I may not have done so.
Hopefully the attendance picks up for these seminars. I know many people may be getting stressed out and giving up but I know that when you are at that point it usually is just before something takes off. Sadly from what I hear most give up just before.
I’ll be here pressing on and hope to see you at an event soon!
Interesting take, Bob.
It certainly makes sense. I’ve noticed and benefited similarly from the three events I’ve attended this year.
Meeting and, to some degree, getting to know other folks in real life provides benefits that simply can’t be gained via an on-line only relationship.
A firm handshake and meeting face-to-face is invaluable!
Enjoy Poland…
Hi Bob,
I agree about the smaller seminars being able to network with some of the big stars much better. I met you in Tampa at Ross Goldberg’s seminar a couple of months ago and we all went out(Kevin Nations, Melanie Melletics,Felicia Slattery and some other people) after the seminar Sat. to a club to dance and drink…that would never have happened at one of those really big conferences.
I also met several other people that I have stayed in contact with that could lead to other opportunities…
I would go to a small event versus a big one anyday!
Have a great day!
Robert Garcia
Tampa, Florida
Great!
Now I see why you are the “King of Lemonade Makers”
Thanks for sharing
[...] about something from your target market, and then submitting it to a free article directory Live Event Attendance Is Down – Perfect! – askbobtheteacher.com 06/15/2009 I just returned from an internet marketing seminar (been going to [...]
When it comes to JV Alert, I think they are simply spreading these events too thin by having them so frequently (I attended one in Orlando earlier this year). That being said you are right that when fewer attend the more one on one time becomes available which in itself is priceless.
I agree with Bob – if you get the chance to attend any of these events you shouldn’t miss them. What you gain really does not only boost your potential income, but it also boosts your motivation providing a more clear insight into what you really want to achieve in life.
I’m already booked to join Bob in the marketing cruise in January and look forward to his next session of teleseminar training as an alumni – it’s amazing how much additional information you pick up the second time around (especially since the first time around was SO much information it was impossible to digest it all in that short a time).
See you all soon!
Kay Kinder
http://www.theBestAdirondackChair.com
http://www.FrancisPlumbing.com
http://www.ConsumersWakeup.com
& so much more…
Bob,
Enjoyed your travelog to Las Vegas, my home for the last ten years. We had the coolest June in years just for you.
I just attended a speakers bootcamp with John Childers and Marshall Sylvers. 149 0f us and 47 of us are forming mastermind groups of 6 each. Anyone care to join us contact me at my e-mail. We plan to work on speaking, writing our books, real estate investing,financial planning, etc.
It was a great event with lots of usable content and networking. We are encouraging each other to finish projects.I’ll be on vacation until the first of July.
ask the wYman wymancrane@yahoo.com
Hey Bob,
Enjoyed meeting you at the JV event. It was my first event since getting into the business last August with Mike Ambrosio. You are so right about being able to really get some quality time with many of the speakers due to this recent attendance drop.
Not to mention getting that additional quality time in with all the other tremendous minds in the game that were in attendance!
Looking forward to seeing you again soon. If I don’t see you prior to your Poland departure in August… Have a safe and productive journey! Again, thanks for taking the time and allowing me to get to know you a little better.
James Steiner – “AKA Ricky Martin”
Hey Bob!
I think you hit the nail on the head! It is a great time to attend workshops!
Less people = more personal time both learning and meeting people!
I very muck enjoyed your presentation and meeting you in Vegas at Mikes event.
Hope to see you again!
All the Best,
Bob Winchell
Hi Bob!
As always, I love connecting with you in person (the compliment had nothing to do with it…lol!) It was really an amazing weekend for me. I met a complete soul sister in Shannon Cherry and we have some exciting times ahead!
You’re right about the event, makes it much more intimate and seems to be a perfect opportunity to REALLY JV with others there and meet colleagues in your niche.
I find these experiences invaluable in adding to my knowledge base and getting new perspectives….looking forward to seeing you again soon:-)
Warmly,
Danielle
That’s an interesting point that you made about seminar attendances being low in your country.
It’s certainly not the case where I live in Australia.
I have been to a few live events recently and they have all been packed with people.
The most recent one I attended was a full day event run by just one man, Brett McFall.
Even though there was no huge list of speakers and this was all about just one person speaking about internet marketing, the room was crammed with about 600 people.
And this event took place in a town that is only a small fraction of the size of cities like Orlando or D.C.
So, I’m not sure why the attendances at live events would be different in Aus compared to U.S.
Maybe it comes down to how the events are promoted.
Bob -
We’re going to miss you so much at NAMS. I’ve been following you personally since the days when you were still teaching. And really you’re an example of exactly what we try to accomplish at NAMS2 – people changing their lives by taking guided action on the spot. And we provide the tools necessary.
We attract action takers at NAMS – it’s way cool. And you’re right, this set up is amazing.
But then, you’ll be in Poland having a great time. I expect to see you in February for the next one – up front, on stage maybe?
By the way: Your low turnout warning isn’t holding true for us. We’re almost sold out and I expect to be completely sold out by end of this month – 2 months early. We’ve already had to bump the hotel block once last week.
Early bird special ends tonight.
Wish you were going to be there.
David Perdew
Hey Bob!
I agree with you 100%!!
As you know, I recently got back from attending an Alex Jeffreys workshop in Vegas and there were less than 30 of us there.
As a result, I was able to spend a lot of time with Alex himself and formed some strong friendships with a lot of the other students that were there.
It was an AMAZING experience!
Cheers!
Jit
Bob,
I’ll be doing a 90-minute workshop at NAMS- almost makes you want to cancel your vacation, doesn’t it? :)
Hello Bob,
It was my pleasure to connect with you again at JV Alert. I think I got a lot out being able to talk and interact with the participants. I try to get everyone I can to attend a conference as they will be able to see just what it is like to hang out with you Guru’s and learn. I can always count on you for inspiration and I want to personally thank you and Stephanie for opening my eyes and making me see the possibilities. I hope you have an excellent visit with family and friends in Poland and we will connect when you get back. I will be digging around in that library. Take care and hope to see you again real soon.
I’ll miss seeing you Bob. Had a great time with you and the “gang” at Willie’s Birthday Bash. I know NAMS is going to be fabulous.
Chris, David and the rest, I will see you there. Wait until you see what I have planned for my presentation!
You make a great point, Bob.
I don’t think we would have ever been able to connect on such one-on-one level if the place was packed. The JV Alert experience gave me new opportunities, allowed me to make new friends and discover some new ideas, which I never would have if I was just a face in the sea of hundreds of people.
I also think the smaller venue allows folks to hone their messages and get immediate feedback.
And thank you for taking the time with me. You are an incredible resource – and such a great guy. Can’t wait for our call in a few weeks!
Shannon
That’s great news for the attendees. We benefit the way you described, but not so great for the organizers. But…
I am glad to read about this for another reason. People vote with their feet, and when organizers throw a pitchfest under the guise of network meetings, or learning opportunities on one kind or another, people are going to be pissed.
So you organizers, please heed the message you are seeing with your smaller audiences. We are not stupid, we can see that your are lining up your buddies to sell us stuff, and that’s not why we attend.
Bush struggled with the quote, but it goes like this: Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. After a couple of B.S. seminars, we stop going.
AND, you guys that throw the legitimate seminars, you need to speak up to your colleagues, because they are screwing it up for you in the future. (credits to Filsaime; but this is a negative consequence butterfly effect). Check your greed meter guys.
Bob,
I loved your article and loved meeting you at JVAlert. It was an incredible opportunity for me to meet some of the best in the internet marketing world, and learn so much from you. Yes, I include you among them. Your generosity of spirit was very welcome as I learned what internet marketing and joint ventures was all about.
I’ve now forged great connections that I look forward to cultivating, and I know our paths will cross again. I’ve already signed up for NAMS2. Sorry you can’t be there.
Jacqueline The Fearless Factor
I love your positive spin on things, Bob :)
I hear a lot of grumbling lately about “pitch fests”. I know IM is not the only industry to use this model, but the IM market has become somewhat volatile over the last few years – demanding higher quality, more content, more value, etc. You’ve heard it too I’m sure.
I’m not sure what this will mean for the event hosts- if they will change & grow, or if attendance will dwindle to nothing… or if things will magically turn around on their own (doubt it).
The best thing I’ve seen was NAMS this past Jan/Feb, which was incredible. Glad to see it coming back for a 2nd round! I do wish you were speaking at NAMS in August – you’ll be missed! Have a great trip ;)
Best,
Lynn Terry
p.s. I came by your blog looking for an update on what happened to the Nashville conference. It was canceled I heard. A shame – I’ll miss getting to see you this month!
Bob,
You’re always a bright spirit. I do prefer smaller events & quality time w/ other people over larger events & the masses. It was good to see you in DC too, Bob….
As the saying goes – let’s – “Accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative.” ;)
@CheriSigmon
@LongestWiener