Organizing any conference, convention or conclave involves several interesting facets.
There is much more to it than what the facade of the marketing messages that go out will make you think is the case.
The organizers typically serve the same dish on the same old, but cleaned yet again, plate.
Generally, the same standard phrase is used every time.
Attending this event is a great opportunity.
As if there is nothing better to do than attending that event.
Very funny.
And quite ridiculous.
The exact way in which the above is conveyed will be different though.
And that's a big relief.
You will also often hear other statements too.
- you will get a chance to showcase your work
- you will get to listen to the gurus
- you will get to learn from others
- you will enhance your professional network
- And blah, blah, blah and what not.
There are several facets that would, however, strike you bluntly and conspicuously, when you analyse the organization of the conferences, conventions or conclaves!
Here are some of the interesting facets which are admittedly quite concerning too.
Money Smells Good
The main objective of the organizers behind the event is to generate revenues.
Whatever the subject be, cash is always king.
That's right.
Bang on.
Remember, organizing events is akin to doing business.
The primary driver for organizations and bodies that organize events is to earn revenues.
It is an important part of their business model.
Even the not-for-profit organizations and bodies suffer from the same greed and are desperately interested in generating surplus funds.
The learning aspect is important but that's not the reason any event gets organized.
The real hidden agenda is to make money.
Jury Knows Not Much
Getting jury in case the event requires that is done in an interesting manner.
Generally, those known to the members of the organizing committee are roped in.
Their appropriateness and competency are no big deal.
If they are even remotely related to the event's topic and are available, they are excellent choices.
The jury members would typically have good things to say related to their own learning and experience being a jury.
The real hidden agenda is to get the kick from seen as an expert by others irrespective of the level of expertise.
Lofty Folks Rule
The lofty folks are those key people who are generally the founder and co-founders and will be there in almost all events.
So how they can be missed out in a conference, convention or conclave?
They will have speaking slots and will talk some non-sense in the name of sharing gyan.
These self-styled gurus and loyalist-proclaimed gurus will share mundane and arcane ideas full of complete fluff and gas.
These people rule their little knitted world.
The lofty folks talk about lofty ideas and lofty things.
The real hidden agenda is to feed their inflated egos and to feel on top of the world.
Loyal Stooges Dance
The core people in the organizing committee are long timers and loyalists of the key people who matter in the organization or body which is organizing the event.
The core people in the affiliated bodies are "more loyal than the king" and will lie prostrate and dance as asked by the lofty folks.
They will call the lofty folks in even those events where their presence is not really needed.
Other than the lofty folks, the core people and some outsiders in such organisations, the overall participation in the events may be quite dismal.
The loyalists in the primary organization and affiliated bodies like chapters, etc. will be in complete awe of these self-styled and loyalist-proclaimed gurus.
The loyal stooges show that they are committed volunteers for a larger cause and next in line to join the lofty folks.
The real hidden agenda is that they want to use their visibility in external forums for getting recognised in their own organizations.
In addition, there are some of the loyal stooges who are like mercenaries.
These folks are typically trainers and consultants.
Their real hidden agenda is to showcase themselves as experts to the delegates and try to garner some more business subsequently.
Ring Master Controls Circus
The ring master is a special character who is in awe of the lofty folks.
He is the selected one, selected carefully based on his servility and loyalty to the lofty folks!
After all he gets his salary from them.
He seems to be the one who controls the circus.
He is the declared ringmaster but is the joker in the circus.
He does funny and stupid things.
He works in the background and gets many things done without much transparency.
He is also part of the loyal stooges’ group.
Any word from the lofty folks or loyal stooges is taken up by him without any communication or information.
He is driven by whimsical notions like we have the target to have one event every month.
However, he has a rudimentary approach to doing things.
While some events will be in conceptualization phase and some in execution phase he would conveniently forget (or rather lacks the competence to understand) that all this should happen as part of an overall plan.
The ring master is also the chief loyal stooge and is there to feel important and justify his existence in that organization or body.
His real hidden agenda is to serve his masters, the lofty folks, with complete loyalty and ensure continuity of his pay.
The Outsiders Observe
These people are misfits in that organization or body.
They join the organization or body based on genuine passion and love for the subject.
They participate in organizing events like conference, convention or conclave so that they can contribute in some manner.
But very quickly, they get disillusioned with the hypocrisy and hollowness of the lofty folks, the loyal stooges and the circus ring master.
The lofty folks have a hidden agenda.
The loyal stooges have a hidden agenda.
The circus ringmaster has a hidden agenda.
The jury members have a hidden agenda,
The body or organization conducting the conference, convention or conclave also a hidden agenda.
The outsider doesn't have any.
He simply watches.
And chuckles at what is going on around him.
He is amused at the circus he has become a part of.
Over time, he starts enjoying it.
Over time, he feels at ease with the lofty folks, loyal stooges and the ring master.
He gets to know soon that he is not part of organizing a small c - conference, convention or conclave.
He is a part of the big C - the Circus being run in the name of not only that conference, convention or conclave but also that body or organization itself!
And there are many more conferences, conventions or conclaves to come.
He knows circuses are meant to be observed with an amusing outlook.
And also enjoyed for its comedians and their comical acts!
The next conference, convention or conclave is not far away.
So better chuckle.
And have a great time.
