I really want more people to host a mini-conference or something like an unconference. So I am sharing more information here about how you could potentially do so!
What are these gatherings about?
They are focused on peer-to-peer learning, connection, and problem-solving for 6 hours. Sounds fun, right?
If you are a community builder, content creator, event host, and/or an experience designer, I hope you consider hosting one of these!
Why do I love these gatherings?
they have a high ROI (return on investment for attendees). Since event production costs are relatively low, you do not *have to* charge a lot for people to attend
they have high ROE (return on effort as a host). Since they are relatively not that hard to produce compared to a traditional full-day conference AND are impactful, the ROE is high
they are repeatable
I wrote about some tips before, and here are some more thoughts:
venue: the venue really matters, more than I initially thought. You want the venue to match the vibe and spirit of your activities of the gathering.
marketing timeline: I think the sweet spot to start marketing is ~4 weeks from your event date. Ideally, people are able to commit when they first see your invite about the event. Also… even for a 6 hour event and one that I regularly host during the week, some people commit to attending just a few days before.
curation: these gatherings are typically very curated, which helps accelerate conversations quickly among attendees. People likely have a lot in common AND they both know this in advance, making it easier to connect. Instead of asking “what do you do,” people can quickly dive into what is top of mind, challenges, ideas etc. When the right people are at an event, it’s easier to host and run too. Speaking of which…
facilitation: This has gotten easier for me with more reps. If you host a bunch of events, you probably have developed a certain facilitation style or rhythm. Instead of prepared remarks or memorizing a script, I try to be fluid and authentic. Hopefully this helps attendees feel comfortable enough to express authentically too, if they want. If I stumble with words throughout the day, I just keep pushing forward. It’s like life…. I try to just keep moving forward!
Any questions? Please reply back and/or leave a comment below. I hope you decide to host a gathering like this if you want too!
Speaking of cool events, my friends Jacey and Emily are hosting their Sunday Sanctuary event in Williamsburg on Sunday August 11th at 8:30 AM. I haven’t been to this event before, but I am impressed by their work and more. Learn more here! They both were on this episode too!
🎧 Portfolio Career Podcast Episodes
#331: Navigating Transitions
This was a fun Hot Pod Podcast Mixer where a group of 10 people shared their experiences. If you are going through a transition, I hope this episode helps.
#330: Getting Through The Hard Part
This was another Hot Pod Podcast Mixer where a group of ~10 people shared entrepreneurial challenges, experiences, and interests. If you are looking to build a personal project, side hustle, and/or a company, listen to this episode.
~ David Nebinski, who wants you to host a mini-conference
PS: want to learn more about how you could host a mini-conference? Read here!
Just popping in to say that I listened to "getting through the hard part," and loved it so much. Just hearing how other people have navigated the challenges of quitting/pivoting/starting something on their own was so heartening and made me feel less alone. So much wisdom in there. <3
I love your mini conferences!