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In this season of lights and carols, recognize the delight in discovery reflected in a child\u2019s eyes. Capture it in your memory bank as you would capture on film the Christmas morning rush.<\/p>\nIn this season of lights and carols, recognize the delight in discovery reflected in a child\u2019s eyes. Capture it in your memory bank as you would capture on film the Christmas morning rush.<\/p>\n
It is our own childlike qualities that drive us to discover, probe and wonder. I believe those are some of the most important qualities we need in event planning today. When our attendees come to our tradeshows and events it is vital to put them in the frame of mind you capture in your memory bank, help put them in the mode for discovery and wonderment.<\/p>\n
Creating fascinating experiences and settings can help your attendees engage with one another, with the learning content, with your exhibitors or sponsors. Specifically in tradeshows, where I am most at home, that can mean rearranging your floorplan into different shapes or even neighborhoods of like exhibitors. It may mean incentivizing your big exhibitors to move away from the front door or launching material handling packages that encourage everyone to bring more product. A fascinating experience on a trade show floor could be the latest game or it could be a town hall space at the center of the show where education, engagement and even social media come to life.<\/p>\n
The rarity of the delights found during the Christmas season adds to its appeal. \u201cMom, look! There\u2019s a huge inflatable Santa Claus riding on a motorcycle in that yard.\u201d We don\u2019t see that every day. And that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n
Help your attendees to see, hear, smell, taste and touch something they don\u2019t every day. If your conference schedule is always the same, you\u2019re a yard without Harley Santa. When you shake things up, tweak that schedule, play with the floorplan, introduce a new idea, your community says \u201cLook! Harley Santa!\u201d That discovery opens their mind for the next new thing, the next opportunity, the next relationship, and the next.<\/p>\n
Start talking with your team about how you can create entrees to discovery and wonderment within your conference or event. It starts, I think, with lots of questions.<\/p>\n
Why do we do it this way?<\/p>\n
What if we added this?<\/p>\n
Would people react differently if this was over here?<\/p>\n
Which pieces of our event should be enhanced?<\/p>\n
Can we set politics aside and talk about attendee mindsets?<\/p>\n
Could you support us in this trial initiative?<\/p>\n
When is the ideal time for our attendees?<\/p>\n
What if we started from scratch?<\/p>\n
Should we go for a walk to clear our minds?<\/p>\n
What\u2019s in it for them?<\/p>\n
What\u2019s in it for us?<\/p>\n
Will you take a step back and think about this other idea?<\/p>\n
What if, what if, what if?<\/p>\n
What amazes you?<\/p>\n
What can we change today to improve the conference and event experience for your community?<\/p>\n
Start small. Don\u2019t go Clark Griswold on us, because too much of anything can be a bad thing. But don\u2019t be afraid to try. This is not the season of comfort and joy because it\u2019s same-old, same-old. Capture that wonderment, and be merry.<\/p>\n