If you have the answer, we’d all love to hear it. I think it has something to do with the difference between it being your choice or forced upon you, mixed with a bit of entertainment versus education (or whatever the business purpose of the meeting is). Doesn’t mean the twain can’t meet, though.

He may be joking, but this news item isn’t: Spirit to charge for seat assignments.

Photo courtesy of BareboatsBVI

We go sailing down there regularly, and just inside the reef by the former Drake’s Anchorage Resort was a favorite place to park for the night. It’s been really sad to see the place abandoned, the moorings deteriorating, the hiking trails empty. It’s been even sadder not to be able to eat at Drake’s restaurant, which was hands-down the finest dining we ever had down there.

So, while it might be useful mainly for super high-end meetings, similar to Branson’s other BVI retreat, Necker Island, for we sailors will welcome the renewal of the island with open arms. As long as Branson will, like the former owner did, allow our stinky sunburned feet to walk the trails and our ravenous appetites be satisfied on shore. Even if we can’t land our dingies there, I still am glad to hear plans are moving forward. I love that place!

People always end up asking someone at the hotel for a good jogging/walking route (I know I do); I’m thinking this would allow planners to set up routes of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty for their attendees who are outdoor-exercise-inclined. Or better yet, hotels could set them up for all their guests to use.

I’m using it just to map my dog walks around town, and so far it looks really accurate. Nice!

I’m going to see him, along with Steve Miller, in concert later this month, and I just know this is going to be running through my mind…

What makes it so striking is that the conference organizers actually admit that some things didn’t go quite right, and they vow to learn from their mistakes and do better next time.

But this really shouldn’t be so unusual. I know it hurts to tell the truth, but just because it goes unacknowledged by the conference organizers, do you really think no one noticed that the shuttles were running way behind, or that the keynote bombed, or any other little glitch? Trust me, we notice. Huge kudos to any organizer who’s big enough to own up, learn, and commit to fixing what was broken.

If perchance anyone reading this has done this and wouldn’t mind sharing their experience, please drop me an e-mail. I would love to hold you up as an example of how to show that you are truly professionals at what you do, and that you respect your attendees and aren’t afraid to show it by treating us like the adults we are.

Jeff at Principled Innovation recently asked what would make a conference insanely cool, and got a few interesting responses. He also came up with three principles of insanely cool conferences. I think his second principle, “violate the participant’s expectations,” comes closest to my main criteria, but all three are essential. I’d add “surprise and delight” to his list, along with the other nine of my 10 reasons to attend. What would you add?

P.S. On a semi-related note, you could have the most insanely cool conference ever conceived, but if you don’t market it as such, forget about it. Check out Jim Carroll’s thoughts on the subject.

P.P.S. While it may not give your event the IC factor (I’m getting tired of typing “insanely cool”), Seth has some good ideas on how to organize the room to give your participants the vibe you want them to get.