WRITER WONDERLAND
  • Blog
  • Romance Rocks
  • Goddess Fish Tour
  • About

How Do You Measure Success in a Conference?

7/20/2013

2 Comments

 
When I first came down on Monday, I wondered if I was making an expensive trip for nothing. I realize the Marriott measures success by how much money they take in. I can’t begin to estimate the thousands, even the millions they made off the conference attendees with the six-dollar bottle of waters and other overpriced items. Success to a writer or an aspiring writer is a little more difficult to measure.

The obtainment of needed information is always good. There were great speakers and workshop leaders.  Members shared information in the goody room or bar, even while waiting to pitch. The general mood was upbeat with few naysayers in the group. Most writers might measure their success on how much fulls were requested, how much swag they distributed or positive networking opportunities.

It is amazing that people who have never met you are willing to share the highs and lows of their publishing career if only to help you miss a few stumbles on your writing path. The majority of information wasn’t in keynote speeches or workshops, but in other members. I found most members were willing to encourage one another, even to suggesting editors, agents and publishers.

 At the end of every RWA Conference is a survey asking what went well and areas they could improve.

This is my lists of things that went well.

*The food was excellent. I will admit to be a foodie.

*Workshops were plentiful and informative.

* The main speakers were nothing short of amazing.

*Chapter parties and meetings went well.

*Easy access to the mall and inexpensive food court help to save on daily dining options.

*The Marta was a cheap alternative to get to the airport.

*The elevators worked!

This is my list of things that need tweaking.

*The wait staff at the luncheons often appeared confused and did not communicate with one another. Participants who had pre-ordered vegetarian meals received their entrée after everyone else started dessert. Requests for ice tea and water glasses that needed refilling went unfilled.

*I noticed this year that more people brought husbands and families, but there was not much to entertain them. After visiting the Coca Cola museum & the aquarium, they could hang out at the small pool and the miniscule non-working hot tub.

*Goody Room supervision was non-existent, which resulted in tumbled masses of books marks and cards that serves neither reader nor writer well.

*As a travel writer, I often get information on trips as soon as I sign onto the Internet. I was surprised to see the room I stayed in at the Marquis went for $105 and at the most $145. Trust me; I ended up paying much more. It makes me wonder why the trumped up charge?

*I did talk to other people who were staying in surrounding hotels who received free breakfast and free Internet. This brings me to the Internet, which was nonexistent. You could pay to have it in your room. The promised ability to use Internet in the lobby or conference center proved to be more in theory as opposed to actual use. Instead, I paid .40 a minute to use Kinko’s computers. This should be a no brainer that writers need a good Internet service.

*Most people did have smart phones they could use for simple messages and browsing, but even these were victims of the dampening blockers placed in the rooms to prevent people from having Internet.

*Parking ran between $32-$40 dollars a day. New York City parking was cheaper. I am willing to bet the Motel 6 I could see from my window charged nothing for parking.

*Finally, I would have enjoyed a mildew-free bathroom. The tile in my bathroom had mildew decorating the tub enclosure. We stayed for a week, as did the mildew.

In summary, I would have to say the areas that needed tweaking were mainly the hotel’s responsibility as opposed to RWA.

2 Comments
Angela Adams link
7/21/2013 08:24:58 am

Thanks for the insight.

Reply
Holley Trent link
7/21/2013 11:57:09 am

I was originally going to bring my family along, but I dis-invited them back in April, lol. I'm glad I did. It would have been even more expensive by the time all was said and done than our last Disney cruise!

We had similar issues at our luncheon table one day regarding vegan meals not being delivered (or dessert...or coffee), and I felt horrible for my poor chapter-mate who sat there that entire time watching us eat.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​

    Picture

    Only .99 Pre-order

    Christmas Cozies

    BOOK THREE

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    June 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Abraham Menard
    Atty Eve
    Bitten By Romance
    Cathy Maxwell
    Celebrate Freedom Blog Hop
    David Caruso
    Dorien Kelley
    Emergency Call Series
    Emergency Calls Series
    Free Book Sites
    Fun Summer Reads
    Harry Potter
    Historical Romance Blog Hop
    Historical Trivia
    Incognito
    Interracial Romance
    Joan Stewart
    Johnny Depp
    J.R.R. Tolkien
    LaNora Mangano
    Lindsay Downs
    Marcus Aronson Interview
    Mature Romance
    Michael A. Rothman
    Perfect Stranger
    PJ Fiala
    Prizes
    Realistic Characters
    Reciprocity
    Scarlett O'Hara
    Secret Cravings
    S.E. Hinton
    Street Team
    Sylvia Hubbard
    Teresa Gallagher
    The Fault Is In Our Stars
    The Hunger Games

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.