The Difference Between Conferences Aimed At Businesses -- and Those For Individuals

I really enjoyed reading this piece by Michael Pusateri explaining why he won’t be attending the South by Southwest Interactive conference this year. I was never able to attend SxSW in its early years, and I was resolutely unwowed the one time I did go (in 2008) for exactly these reasons. But I hadn’t thought of it in the terms that he outlines here, which I found interesting and a useful way to think about conferences—and choosing which ones to attend. The differences according to Pusateri, then, are that at business conferences, you’ll find:

• Uni-directional lectures
• Focus on making money
• Company-sponsored sessions
• Trade show marketing booths
• Product launches & announcements
• Press attending to report on events rather than participate
• Formal sponsored parties

At conferences aimed at individuals, on the other hand, you’ll find:

• Bi-directional discussions
• Focus on individual knowledge and talents
• Focus on innovation and exploration
• Time/space for people to meet

[Story via Jeff Jarvis.]