Quote Originally Posted by dwaynered
The key to making any show a success is being as outgoing and assertive as possible. I've seen webmasters go to a show, walk around, never talk to anyone unless they know them already and then complain the show wasn't worth spending the money on.

You must have an extroverted personality to make the right connections and network, network, network. I think people become frozen when they have to meet new people face-to-face because they sit for weeks on end in their bedrooms typing on a computer. That's the limit of their social skills.

I had the same problem a few years ago. Then I realized that the more people I talked to, the more connections I started making. "Oh he knows her and she knows him. Let's go get dinner and make it happen!"

Six degrees of separation becomes one degree. :kitten:

I agree. Netoworking is a fact of life in this industry.



However, at shows there is one big no-no : Don't lose control.

There is free-flowing booze, drugs, and plenty of opportunities to make an ass of yourself. I was at a conference in San Diego sitting outside with about 18 people and met one guy who was there for his first conference falling down drunk. I have never seen him again--his drunken antics did not impress anybody.A few complimentary cocktails are fine but a sloppy drunk does not make a good first impression, and a sloppy drunk first impression is hard to shake.

Also, there is definitely a heavy sexual tone to conferences, but newbies should not act like a starving child in a free candy store. A certain amount of flirtaciousness is fine but if I have just met you, do not try to put your hand down my pants or rub your cock on me. Even pornographers have boundaries, and until you know where those boundaries are do not expect that I will appreciate having you grope me while assaulting me with heavily liquored breath.

This business is increasingly becoming professional. The first show is like coming to a frat house for the first time--be on good behaviour and act like a professional that other people would be interested in doing business with. The best businessmen and women never lose control, they go to the parties, they are always looking for business opportunities and they practice moderation. There is enough competition out there that anyone who acts like an ass shouldn't expect business to beat down their door anytime soon.