Quote Originally Posted by TropixxxStudios View Post
Alan,

One of the other things you might find is that the seminars are only as helpful as the questions you ask, or are asked. A lot of the seminars (not all of them) are just big commercials for different programs and promotions. In order to get real advice, you need to ask real questions...either while the panel is in progress, or by pulling the person aside after the fact. There are notable exceptions to this, and some panel people are more than willing to share a lot of their knowledge...but you never know until you get there....so if it turns into a commercial, dont be afraid to ask.
Good points, Michael.

I can't believe that we are a close as next week!

A comment on the seminars and formats this year.
We spent a lot of time talking to industry folk about what they would like to hear and see and talk about this year, and got some great ideas. And as I have mentioned before, many of the topics on the education sessions are direct recommendations from those in our community.

To address your comment about 'commercials', Thursday's sessions are designed a little diferently as roundtable discussions and workshop formats - shorter hour long sessions (held twice that day), with the intent to create more direct discussion and intimacy of conversation, rather than the traditional headtable panel set-ups. So sitting alongside the panelists, mentors, and experts should offer a great opportunity to get your questions answered. But Michael is right, you only get as much as you put into it.
Friday and Saturday's sessions are the more traditional panel formats - but with interesting topics, I think.

We will never make everyone happy with every topic or format, but I am hopeful that our community can suspend its cynicism for a few minutes and go into these with an open mind.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next week.