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Throw a Networking Event

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The convention ideas roundup is here.

When conventions focus on career events, its usually panels, workshops and demos.  This is and should be the norm, since these are the things people want and need.  I'd suggest conventions consider one addition to all of this.

A professional networking event.

Take an hour for people interested in going pro and give them a place to talk, exchange cards, and find out more about careers from each other.  INvite people from the professional panels you do run.  Have handouts and documents from recruiters, local businesses, etc.  For that matter, see if a local – or national – job board or service would want to sponsor it (oh, I'd love to see LinkedIN.com sponsor a geek networking event).

I confess it would be challenging – you'd probably need some icebreakers, and it may take a year or two to really reach a good self-perpetuating pace – but I think it's a worthy experiment.  People network at conventions anyway, adding professional networking to the mix would be a good goal to have.

The benefits I see:

  • It's another social event.  In general, I'm all for those.
  • It would let fans connect on a different level than the usually do – one that benefits them professionally.
  • Gathering your "pro panel" speakers would let them network with each other and further talk to and inform attendees.
  • It's a way to involve recruiters and colleges if you invite them as I mentioned previously.
  • Done right, it could be an event that grows and helps promote the convention.
  • It acts as a foundation for future professional events.

Again, this is more a theory of mine – but if anyone wants to try it out I'd be happy to lend some suggestions . . .

– Steven Savage

Con Report: Kin-Yoobi Con

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I just did my fan-to-pro panel at Kin-Yoobi con, in Hayward, CA.  My second year there – and the last presentation of my current panel structure (a new one is in development for the fall).

THE PANEL:
The panel area was noisy this year due to the architecture of the place.  I had about the same attendance as last year (about ten people), and this time I was armed with increased handouts as well – all put in nice plastic folders (these will be up on the soon-to-be-added site library).  The panel went pretty good – most interesting was the reaction to the advantage of having fans help you move – I guess a lot of people there had thought about or had had to relocate.

Met a lot of good folks there, chatted with one after the panel who displayed his self-created flash games (including a dynamite enhanced Tetris).  He actually had them with him on his laptop – an interest idea that I think could also pay off in an interview.

THE CON:
The con was a bit disorganized to start, but then everything fell in line.  Kin-Yoobi has a good energy to it and it was VERY friendly.  People chatted, hung out with friends, or made new ones.  It skewed to the college age crowd, with some older and younger fans.

A few things stood out:

  • The gaming area was in a hall – this made watching games easier
  • Since the campus had limited lunch facilities, the membership fees paid for a free pizza lunch that got brought in and everyone just went at it.  THAT was neat and friendly – everyone just hung out eating pizza.  It felt like a big PARTY.
  • The dealers had a lot of fan-artists and fandom-merchandise, kind of doubling as an artists alley.  Very nice

So I had fun, met some great folks, enjoyed doing my panel, and plan to go back next year time permitting!  More and more I like how the con's developed an intimate hang-out-with friends atmosphere.

– Steven Savage

Convention Spotlight: Ani-Magic- the Autumn Dream

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http://www.autumn-dream.com/

Ani-Magic is a
convention in Palmdale California that takes place in October.  They
have an interesting way of helping the convention serve the
professional needs of those on staff according to their Vice-Chair: 
the convention itself is a training ground.

The idea used at Ani-Magic is that the con itself should be run as
professionally as possible.  Positions, processes, etc. are all done
like they would be in a business.  The result is the convention itself
is a growth opportunity for people to gain business skills and
metaskills, as well as getting valuable experience applying their
abilities to a large endeavor like a convention.

This idea is one that any convention could leverage – getting
people experienced in business processes to help the convention run (or
studying up on them yourself), using appropriate practices, etc. is a
great way for people to get experience with running something
professional.  I also imagine it's far easier to put such information
on a resume or use it in a job interview – and to use people as references

Additionally, the convention has actively sought to have speakers
who can discuss jobs and careers and actively seeks out more of all
stripes.

Some great ideas going on with this convention.  Keep
their ideas in mind – and if you're in southern California, this
convention looks like one worth attending – and working on.

– Steven Savage