Customer Reviews

CONFERENCES THAT WORK: Creating Events That People Love

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Adrian Segar knows whereof he speaks. He is that rare individual who understands the power, value, and sheer wonderfulness of small participant-driven conferences -- AND also knows how to plan, design and run such a conference. I've talked with Segar about this topic on several occasions and have also participated in a conference that he nurtured into reality and that people did indeed love, just as this book's subtitle promises.

Segar's information is on target and his advice works. Way too many conferences are anonymous, talking-head, shut-up-and-listen, you-have-no-say-about-the-topics types of conferences. These conferences may work for the people who sponsor them; it's the participants who lose out -- the people who devoted their time, spent their or their company's money, and in many cases, traveled a long way to attend.

If you're unfamiliar with small, friendly, interactive, energizing, everyone-gets-to-know-everyone, participant-driven, learning-with-and-from-each-other conferences, this book makes a compelling case for them. If you're lucky enough to already be familiar with these conferences, you'll find yourself nodding in agreement as you read the case Segar makes. And for everyone, whether or not you've had the pleasure of attending such a conference, you'll learn in great detail what is entailed in making one happen. Yes, it takes work. But YES, it's worth the effort. Especially with Segar's book and his solid, step-by-step advice to guide you.

For not being a meeting planner, Adrian Segar knows a lot about the details that go into an event. If you are considering a peer conference you MUST buy this book. I devoured it cover to cover and am now producing peer conferences for different industries. So far the reviews are incredible. One of the main things that stuck me is how Adrian has figured out, and covers in his book, ever minute detail. People often think unconferences have no structure. Adrian's method has a solid structure as its base so there is plenty of room for the creativity the attendees can provide.

I would encourage readers to do everything exactly as stated in the book your first run. After that you can see what can be tweeked. Things that may seem insignificant to the event on first reading, you will find have great significance when you are actually in the process.

Tip: Take this book with you when you go on your site visit. The checklist and formulas are invaluable.

There are more and more xxx-camp's (insert your topic at the xxx's) every year, all based on the original barcamp idea. I think Adrian's term, Peer Conference, is much more descriptive of what these volunteer driven events are.

If you are getting involved in organizing a camp, this book is for you. It is THE how-to manual. Frankly I can't imagine anyone trying to organize a camp without this book. I've been to a number of camps, and almost every "mistake" or hiccup I've seen at one might have been prevented with the sage advice and instructions included in this book.

If you are running a traditional conference, especially association meeting planners, you should read this book. Annual conferences are the lifeblood for most associations, and for many for profit groups. Yet listen to attendees and most will say the networking is as important as the content. Conferences I attend are marketed as a collection of content, frequently including stuff I have no interest in. Attend a session that sounds promising and it may not be what is advertised or the speaker "sucks." More and more I don't need to travel to hear great speakers, I can watch them on-line, like the talks on [...] or [...]. I'm not advocating switching completely to a Peer Conference structure, but incorporating it into a traditional conference has exciting possibilities.

Conferences That Work completely documents how to organize Peer Conferences with a design that dramatically increases the networking while virtually guaranteeing the content--the attendees pick the topics! It works because at any conference there is more expertise in the audience than could ever be assembled on stage.

Back to re-read the chapter on Site Selection...

In this book, the author outlines a unique and innovative model for conferences and other events that engages the collective wisdom of those present. Reminiscent of Open Space Technology but with slightly more structure, this model revolutionizes the conference experience and provides a deeper level of learning and connections that traditional conferences woefully lack. The book is essentially a detailed how-to guide for planning, executing, and evaluating this peer conference model - a must read for anyone looking to revamp a tired event or for creating a new and exciting experience that engages the best of all participants.

This book provides great management and organizational techniques for capitalizing on the wisdom of the group. Until you've experienced it, it's hard to imagine just how powerful it is to have the combined experience of participants opened up as a resource.This process provides a well organized context that promotes and enables useful and directed contributions.