Is this the opportunity to rethink the Conference?

This was my last speaking appearance before the quarantine began.

Although as a public speaker the current situation is somewhat difficult, with multiple events being (rightfully!) cancelled and with no definite return to normality on sight, the entrepreneur in me refuses to accept that there is not a substantial opportunity here, even for public speakers.

Truth is, the conference business could use an overhaul. An ever-growing number of events are appearing each day and although the market is expanding, you do feel that it is becoming increasingly competitive and hard for new entrants to find their space.

So why not use this opportunity to try to find solutions that would allow most of the conference experience remotely?

Webinars are still a long way off, lacking all of the coffee-break networking and interactions that probably represent at least half of the value that attendees get from participating.

The other day I saw a very simple yet extremely interesting solution, called Sococo (no affiliations here, I just stumbled upon it, check it out at https://www.sococo.com/). It presents a very simple office plan and allows you to move your avatar around to communicate using video with the formal or informal groups that usually create in an office environment, from proper meetings to water cooler gatherings.

I could see something like this being applied to a seminar or conference. Or something completely different someone more creative than I am could come up with.

The opportunity for this change is definitely here. Now, all we need is someone with the creativity and entrepreneurial drive to use it.