by Thom Singer
I speak at business meetings, and I’ve seen it all. Every event is unique, but the people you meet are often the most fascinating part of the conference experience.
Several months ago, I was at an event with “thought leader extraordinaire” Matt Church, and we were talking about the meetings industry. Soon we were joking about all the people you can expect to meet at a conference, and I’ve been collecting ideas about “-ists” ever since that conversation. Here are some of the interesting personalities who often show up.
1. The Conference Pacifist. The person who does not want to witness or participate in conflict, controversy, or hands-on activities. Anything can make them uneasy and cause them to flee the conference and seek diplomatic immunity in their hotel room.
Several months ago, I was at an event with “thought leader extraordinaire” Matt Church, and we were talking about the meetings industry. Soon we were joking about all the people you can expect to meet at a conference, and I’ve been collecting ideas about “-ists” ever since that conversation. Here are some of the interesting personalities who often show up.
1. The Conference Pacifist. The person who does not want to witness or participate in conflict, controversy, or hands-on activities. Anything can make them uneasy and cause them to flee the conference and seek diplomatic immunity in their hotel room.
2. The Conference Socialist. The person who wants all the power at a conference to be distributed. They do not like it when keynotes receive more attention than breakouts. They can’t stand that there are VIP activities. These people love the new trend of the “unconference.”
3. The Conference Masochist. The person who finds joy listening to speakers who are unprepared, monotone, and bring awful PowerPoint presentations. The talks most of us find painful are their favorites. Unfortunately, they find plenty of joy, since too many events highlight speakers who may or may not have good content but are totally lacking in public speaking skills.
4. The Conference Narcissist. The person who cannot stop delivering their elevator pitch - even when nobody is listening. They enhance the story of their life and hold court rather than looking to make any real connections. They lead with their business card and are sure people will go home remembering their one-sided conversation. If this person is a featured speaker, you can expect a 60-minute commercial for their product, service, or coaching program.
5. The Conference Apologist. The speaker who starts his or her talk by telling the audience that he or she is not a good public speaker. They hope to lower the expectations for their speech, but their pre-apologizing just ensures nobody pays attention.
6. The Conference Obstructionist. The long-time attendee or board member who crushes every new idea that is proposed to enhance the conference experience or introduce new trends or technologies. They argue against new concepts because “that’s not the way it’s always been done.” These people hate change and will work hard to ensure their event organizers are not allowed to experiment.
7. The Conference Colonist. The person who attends the organization’s national convention and then brings the best ideas home to implement at the local chapter. They spread the best of what they see to new audiences and help to expand best practices.
8. The Conference Educationalist. The person who attends the conference only for the educational opportunities. They take pages of notes and never miss a keynote or breakout session. However, they avoid all the meals, happy hours, breaks, and anything else fun. They get good information, but miss out on meeting new people. When these people are on the committee to plan events, they undercut the importance of the human experience.
9. The Conference Receptionist. The person who attends all the happy hours, dinners, coffee breaks, etc., but never seems to be able to sit through an entire keynote or breakout session. These people meet everyone they can on a superficial level, but they’re never a true part of the overall conference society, as they are not engaged in the shared learning experience.
10. The Conference Aromatherapist. The person who is wearing too much cologne or perfume. Need I say more?
11. The Conference Capitalist. The person who finds a way to sign a new client or gets a new job offer while attending a conference. This person can make money grow on trees, regardless of their actual involvement with the event. They do this without being pushy or obnoxious; they just happen to be able to create opportunities in any situation. They do not need to be a vendor or sponsor to do business while at the event.
12. The Conference Accompanist. The person who attends the event with a coworker, spouse, or friend, and who never leaves the companion’s side the whole time.
13. The Conference Hobbyist. The person who makes a hobby out of attending events. They can be found at all types of conventions, conferences, tradeshows, and seminars. They love the atmosphere. They network and learn, but never seem to cultivate any long-term relationships or turn their participation into real business opportunities.
14. The Conference Protectionist. The person who often acts like the Conference Obstructionist, but under the guise of preserving traditions. They want to keep the meeting the same as it has always been, and they do not care about attracting new attendees.
15. The Conference Mixologist. The bartender.
16. The Conference Communist. The person who rides rough-shot over the professionals who plan the event, complain about everything, and do not make other people feel welcome. They profess the need of the greater good of the conference community, but they hang out in the VIP hospitality suite rather than mingling with the regular folk. For these people, the real purpose of the conference is to hold an annual reunion with their “power clique” buddies.
17. The Conference Photojournalist. The person with a camera or smartphone who is constantly taking pictures of everyone they meet and posting photos to Facebook and Flickr. Many have mixed emotions about the Conference Photojournalist, since they don’t want to be photographed but get excited to view all the cool pics.
18. The Conference Localist. The person who lives in the city where the conference is held and keeps leaving the venue to go to the office or home. They miss out on being part of the mini-society that is created at an event, but they save on the expense of a hotel room.
19. The Conference Plagiarist. The speaker who has no new ideas and who just takes the stories from other people’s presentations without giving credit. They share no personal experiences. They take the jokes and other intellectual property from others’ books and presentations and use them as their own.
20. The Conference Verbalist. The person who has an opinion about everything said from the stage during the keynotes and breakout sessions. They are the first one to the microphone during Q&A, but they never ask a question. They just keep harping on their point of view to anyone who will listen.
21. The Conference Perfectionist. The person who wants every single detail at the conference to come off without a hitch. Wonderful trait in a hard-working meeting professional - annoying trait in an attendee.
22. The Conference Regionalist. The attendee who is from the area and who knows where to find all the best bars and restaurants. When others are visiting a new city, they turn to the Conference Regionalist to experience the wonderful (and sometimes off-the-beaten-path) gems of the city.
23. The Conference Chauvinist. The man, often from a traditionally male-dominated industry, who calls all the women executives “honey,” “sweetie,” and so forth.
24. The Conference Projectionist. The member of the audiovisual team whom we all need to honor, praise, and respect as the unsung hero of a successful conference.
25. The Conference Rallyist. The person who leads the charge to ensure that anyone and everyone has a good experience, even if the agenda is same old, same old. They improve the situation by rallying the troops to keep having fun even after the scheduled happy hour ends. They can often be found organizing a last-minute group to go to a local restaurant, club, sporting event, etc. Pair them with the Conference Regionalist, and you have some good times!
26. The Conference Therapist. The person at the hotel bar late at night whom everyone else wants to talk to. They listen and always seem to have some sort of good advice. The doctor is in!
27. The Conference Royalist. The person who stalks the celebrity speakers and industry experts and thinks shaking their hands is the purpose of the trip to the conference. They worship the famous and ignore their peers. They’re so excited to meet the celebrities that they stand in line for an hour just to say hello. However, they miss the real power sitting next to them: the other attendees!
28. The Conference Motorist. The attendee who rented a car.
29. The Conference Rhythmist. The person who should not be on the dance floor, but who has all “the moves.” They dance all night with everyone. When the band or dj stops, they get a group to go out dancing some more (see Conference Rallyist).
30. The Conference Revolutionist. The meeting professional who bravely pushes the company or association to try new things and to transform the event into an “industry happening.” These fearless folk often face risk by pushing their CEO or executive director to take a chance on a weird new idea. They rarely get the credit or recognition deserved for the impact they have on the overall meeting. They’re not afraid to fail because they have confidence in their instincts and experience. They know that to make an omelet, one must break a few eggs, and they’re excited by the challenge of helping to reshape a new area of business and professional meetings.
Oh, the people you’ll meet at a conference!
Thom Singer is known as “The Conference Catalyst.” As a speaker, he transforms average conference hallway chitchat into impactful networking and long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that lead to more business. He is the author of eight books on the power of business relationships, networking, and presentation skills. For more information, visit www.ConferenceCatalyst.com.
3. The Conference Masochist. The person who finds joy listening to speakers who are unprepared, monotone, and bring awful PowerPoint presentations. The talks most of us find painful are their favorites. Unfortunately, they find plenty of joy, since too many events highlight speakers who may or may not have good content but are totally lacking in public speaking skills.
4. The Conference Narcissist. The person who cannot stop delivering their elevator pitch - even when nobody is listening. They enhance the story of their life and hold court rather than looking to make any real connections. They lead with their business card and are sure people will go home remembering their one-sided conversation. If this person is a featured speaker, you can expect a 60-minute commercial for their product, service, or coaching program.
5. The Conference Apologist. The speaker who starts his or her talk by telling the audience that he or she is not a good public speaker. They hope to lower the expectations for their speech, but their pre-apologizing just ensures nobody pays attention.
6. The Conference Obstructionist. The long-time attendee or board member who crushes every new idea that is proposed to enhance the conference experience or introduce new trends or technologies. They argue against new concepts because “that’s not the way it’s always been done.” These people hate change and will work hard to ensure their event organizers are not allowed to experiment.
7. The Conference Colonist. The person who attends the organization’s national convention and then brings the best ideas home to implement at the local chapter. They spread the best of what they see to new audiences and help to expand best practices.
8. The Conference Educationalist. The person who attends the conference only for the educational opportunities. They take pages of notes and never miss a keynote or breakout session. However, they avoid all the meals, happy hours, breaks, and anything else fun. They get good information, but miss out on meeting new people. When these people are on the committee to plan events, they undercut the importance of the human experience.
9. The Conference Receptionist. The person who attends all the happy hours, dinners, coffee breaks, etc., but never seems to be able to sit through an entire keynote or breakout session. These people meet everyone they can on a superficial level, but they’re never a true part of the overall conference society, as they are not engaged in the shared learning experience.
10. The Conference Aromatherapist. The person who is wearing too much cologne or perfume. Need I say more?
11. The Conference Capitalist. The person who finds a way to sign a new client or gets a new job offer while attending a conference. This person can make money grow on trees, regardless of their actual involvement with the event. They do this without being pushy or obnoxious; they just happen to be able to create opportunities in any situation. They do not need to be a vendor or sponsor to do business while at the event.
12. The Conference Accompanist. The person who attends the event with a coworker, spouse, or friend, and who never leaves the companion’s side the whole time.
13. The Conference Hobbyist. The person who makes a hobby out of attending events. They can be found at all types of conventions, conferences, tradeshows, and seminars. They love the atmosphere. They network and learn, but never seem to cultivate any long-term relationships or turn their participation into real business opportunities.
14. The Conference Protectionist. The person who often acts like the Conference Obstructionist, but under the guise of preserving traditions. They want to keep the meeting the same as it has always been, and they do not care about attracting new attendees.
15. The Conference Mixologist. The bartender.
16. The Conference Communist. The person who rides rough-shot over the professionals who plan the event, complain about everything, and do not make other people feel welcome. They profess the need of the greater good of the conference community, but they hang out in the VIP hospitality suite rather than mingling with the regular folk. For these people, the real purpose of the conference is to hold an annual reunion with their “power clique” buddies.
17. The Conference Photojournalist. The person with a camera or smartphone who is constantly taking pictures of everyone they meet and posting photos to Facebook and Flickr. Many have mixed emotions about the Conference Photojournalist, since they don’t want to be photographed but get excited to view all the cool pics.
18. The Conference Localist. The person who lives in the city where the conference is held and keeps leaving the venue to go to the office or home. They miss out on being part of the mini-society that is created at an event, but they save on the expense of a hotel room.
19. The Conference Plagiarist. The speaker who has no new ideas and who just takes the stories from other people’s presentations without giving credit. They share no personal experiences. They take the jokes and other intellectual property from others’ books and presentations and use them as their own.
20. The Conference Verbalist. The person who has an opinion about everything said from the stage during the keynotes and breakout sessions. They are the first one to the microphone during Q&A, but they never ask a question. They just keep harping on their point of view to anyone who will listen.
21. The Conference Perfectionist. The person who wants every single detail at the conference to come off without a hitch. Wonderful trait in a hard-working meeting professional - annoying trait in an attendee.
22. The Conference Regionalist. The attendee who is from the area and who knows where to find all the best bars and restaurants. When others are visiting a new city, they turn to the Conference Regionalist to experience the wonderful (and sometimes off-the-beaten-path) gems of the city.
23. The Conference Chauvinist. The man, often from a traditionally male-dominated industry, who calls all the women executives “honey,” “sweetie,” and so forth.
24. The Conference Projectionist. The member of the audiovisual team whom we all need to honor, praise, and respect as the unsung hero of a successful conference.
25. The Conference Rallyist. The person who leads the charge to ensure that anyone and everyone has a good experience, even if the agenda is same old, same old. They improve the situation by rallying the troops to keep having fun even after the scheduled happy hour ends. They can often be found organizing a last-minute group to go to a local restaurant, club, sporting event, etc. Pair them with the Conference Regionalist, and you have some good times!
26. The Conference Therapist. The person at the hotel bar late at night whom everyone else wants to talk to. They listen and always seem to have some sort of good advice. The doctor is in!
27. The Conference Royalist. The person who stalks the celebrity speakers and industry experts and thinks shaking their hands is the purpose of the trip to the conference. They worship the famous and ignore their peers. They’re so excited to meet the celebrities that they stand in line for an hour just to say hello. However, they miss the real power sitting next to them: the other attendees!
28. The Conference Motorist. The attendee who rented a car.
29. The Conference Rhythmist. The person who should not be on the dance floor, but who has all “the moves.” They dance all night with everyone. When the band or dj stops, they get a group to go out dancing some more (see Conference Rallyist).
30. The Conference Revolutionist. The meeting professional who bravely pushes the company or association to try new things and to transform the event into an “industry happening.” These fearless folk often face risk by pushing their CEO or executive director to take a chance on a weird new idea. They rarely get the credit or recognition deserved for the impact they have on the overall meeting. They’re not afraid to fail because they have confidence in their instincts and experience. They know that to make an omelet, one must break a few eggs, and they’re excited by the challenge of helping to reshape a new area of business and professional meetings.
Oh, the people you’ll meet at a conference!
Thom Singer is known as “The Conference Catalyst.” As a speaker, he transforms average conference hallway chitchat into impactful networking and long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that lead to more business. He is the author of eight books on the power of business relationships, networking, and presentation skills. For more information, visit www.ConferenceCatalyst.com.
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