3 Course, Workshop or Conference Hacks 💡
This post loosely accompanies Gab & Jam, 283. 3 Course, Conference, or Workshop Hacks
(video: https://bit.ly/283coursehacksvid and podcast: https://bit.ly/283coursehackspod )
We always look to get something out of every course/workshop/seminar we invest in—even if the content/speaker/information ISN’T the greatest. Here are 3 ways to do just that.
Inspired by What Other Results I've Gotten from Investments Outside of the Ones Promised or Advertised Systems Saved Me® Podcast.
See the episode for the full discussion.
Trying to make sure we get the MOST out of a course or a conference investment has changed over the years for us. —At one time, finishing all modules and learning ALL THE THINGS was the goal. Now, it is getting AT LEAST one “gold nugget” could be worth the time and money spent. —In fact, our time and energy are more valuable now than ever, so even if we don’t get through it all, if we walk away with ONE good aha moment that can help move our enterprises, thought processes, or pull back the curtain on how to do something faster, easier, cheaper than we are all in. THAT’S why this episode struck a chord with me.
3 we can get from a course/conference/workshop (even if it sucks). 😳🙄
Here are the 3 things that CAN make suffering through a course/workshop work for you:
1. Making networking connections
If you’re more of an introvert—like us!—and would NOT be comfortable walking up to folks and striking up a conversation, attending the meetups (where folks are EXPECTED to talk and is ALREADY a feature of the event) is an easy way to take advantage of what is already offered while meeting your actual NEED to make connections that you don’t already have. Another opportunity that MAY already be built in is the mentoring sessions. For the FIRST time ever, we took advantage of what is offered and booked 14 mentoring sessions—specifically for sync licensing professionals—so that we can pick their brain and make a connection that we did not have previously. Finally, hanging around the sessions once they are over puts you in a position to meet the speakers, as the speakers often mill about after the sessions and are MUCH MORE accessible. Saying “hi” and “I liked your talk” are easy ways to engage. If it turns into more, than that’s great, but if not, at least you TRIED, right?! The conference was the BEST way to even have that encounter, so THAT has to be the motivator to take advantage of the opportunity to advance your goals. –Join into an already existing conversation, do the eye contact, give a little laugh, if you have a chance, ask a question, and you MIGHT be surprised at how “easy” it is to network. Lean into that EVEN when—and if—the workshop is not the greatest.
Networking for introverts? https://bit.ly/networkingforintroblog
2. Look at HOW the course/conference was set up
We are saying this, because somewhere down the line, we will have courses for you guys. We may to make sure that we don’t make the same mistakes and/or do the great things that we see being done at the conferences we attend. –Yes, there is something valuable about figuring out how to do it ourselves, so we are paying more attention now to the details than we ever have before. –Things like telling folks where to go during a conference or greeting people at the door seem VERY important to us, so we are sensitive to when other folks DO—or DON’T do! —that very thing. –Or seeing what they are missing at these types of conferences. We see that explaining how copyright works is a lack telling songwriters what is—and what is NOT—copyright-able. We also don’t think that the court has handled some of the copyright rulings have been done correctly and we don’t think it’s been talked about enough, which is one thing that we might like to cover. –It seems that MANY people are interested in this, because they are afraid that their work might be stolen. Or things like using Beat Stars or Splice, which allows you to use samples. Needless to say, using these samples has proved to be problematic when more than one artist copyrights their beats; the question of who owns the rights becomes at issue. We would really like to share ways to avoid this situation, so that’s on our list of things that we haven’t seen any of these conferences cover.
South By Southwest 2023 Preview: https://bit.ly/281sxsw2023preblog
3. Getting feedback (directly from those sponsoring)
I knew that we are interested in forming deeper relationships with folks who are sponsoring some of these conferences, so I made a SPECIAL effort to engage in conversation with the folks at the badge table and with those who are letting us in the sessions, because we knew that the organization is so small that those folks are in charge of the day-to-day operations are the folks who are do the day-to-day operations when it comes to making decisions about things that are important to us. As a former secretary—and as a former Marketing Director (who did my OWN secretarial work)—I KNOW that when I am treated well by folks, I am MORE inclined to think favorably of them. –I expect that others MIGHT feel similarly, so I am careful to build as much of a relationship as possible. –It is the opportunity that is provided by the workshop or conference. It is what I PAID for, so I try to take advantage of that, no matter what else is going on.
South By Southwest 2022: https://bit.ly/sxsw2022sessionsblog
Ultimately, it is up to you—as the consumer—to “pull on the anointing” of the presenters, which means that—even if the speakers have a condescending attitude, the material presented is not at the level you’re currently concerned with, or the sessions are unorganized—YOU need to find SOMETHING valuable in it for yourself; even if it’s awkward, you have to push past that to get the cure for the disease you’re dying of. –Otherwise, WHY would you walk into an emergency room for help?!
What about you? How have YOU figured out how to get MORE out of a course than what is apparent?
Did you know that along with putting together our next album, we are working on our first book?
Here’s the link, if you want to pre-order: https://bit.ly/prejippiebklanding
Here’s what we’re into now:
· We’re featured in Variety Magazine! https://bit.ly/featuresxsw2023
· One of our videos for our song, “Tell Me What You Want,” is going gangbusters in Vietnam! https://bit.ly/tellmewhatyouwantvid
· “Faith in Me” on Union 999 Independent Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3Jusm2Q
· “I Miss You” got picked up for a Spotify Playlist! https://spoti.fi/3jha4HP
· Tom Ray’s Art Podcast: https://bit.ly/tomrayspodcast2june2022
· “Sugar Fit” on Darkest Corners of the World Podcast S2 E3 http://bit.ly/sugarfitdarkestpod
· “Flying High” (from “Sugar Fit” album) on Toes in the Sand Playlist http://bit.ly/toesplaylist
· “Sugar Fit” on his Spotify “Indie: Undiscovered But Brilliant: Vol. 3” http://bit.ly/SugarFitonPlaylist2
· “Sugar Fit” on No Sugar Radio http://bit.ly/nosugarradiosugarfit
How to prepare for a music conference: https://bit.ly/222musicconfblog
If you like this, you might enjoy:
· Blooming Prejippie Travel Adventures playlist: https://bit.ly/travelplaylistvids
· Basic Recording Studio Setup: https://bit.ly/246basicstudiopost
· What to do when real life interrupts your artistic process? https://bit.ly/241reallifeblog
· 7 Strategies for rebounding from creative burnout: https://bit.ly/239digoutofburnoutblog
· How to give better interviews (for D.I.Y. Rock Star): https://bit.ly/236betterinterviewsblog
· How to give better live performances: https://bit.ly/219betterliveblog
· How to collaborate better (for D.I.Y. Rock Star): https://bit.ly/Ep163collaborateblog
· How to write quicker, but better (for D.I.Y. Rock Star): https://bit.ly/228writebetterblogpost
· Should you ever play for free? https://bit.ly/214playfreeblog
· 17 Tips for taking better band photos—ESPECIALLY if you taking them yourself: http://bit.ly/betterbandphotos
· First Music Video? 10 Best Websites for Free Stock Video Footage: http://bit.ly/freestockvideosprej
NOW:
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Until next Monday, here’s wishing love, peace, and chicken grease!
