DM Days Deadline

The deadline for submitting presentations has been extended to Tuesday, January 9. It would be great if this means that there is an opportunity for some new speakers and new presentation ideas.

DM Days Accepting Presentation Proposals

This came in today rom the DMA's Conference Division:

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for submitting your session proposal to
DM Days Conference & Expo 2007 is quickly approaching. Please submit your proposal by Friday, December 22, 2006.
The RFP Form is available at http://email.the-dma.org/cgi-bin13/DM/y/hicw0NA64I0G830X3I0Ek

Producing Chief Compliance Officer Event

I am currently working on an event designed specifically for CCO's in the financial services industry. Please contact me for more info at ejager@speakerselect.com.

Securities Industry Event

I'm programming an event that addresses complex financial transactions and is geared to investment bankers, securities houses, ratings agencies, lawyers and trading platform providers. It is really quite a culture shock for me, having worked for a number of years in interactive advertising and internet marketing. I'm reminded that every industry has its own culture and way of communicating with each other. As a conference producer, you really have to immerse yourself in the culture of your speakers, sponsors, and delegates. And you better do it quickly.

Info regarding Autism Awareness Month

My family recently joined COSAC - The NJ Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community.

April is Autism Awareness Month and online ambassadors are requesting contributions to help COSAC to continue to provide information and referral, education, and advocacy to parents and professionals serving individuals with autism spectrum disorders. For more information visit our site.

Im not much of a fundraiser, but COSAC does alot of important stuff.

Project Based Sponsorship Sales Opportunities

A contact just sent on two listings for freelance sponsorship sales positions. One appears to be a straight sales position, and the other looks to be more high-level, creating strategy and new opportunities.

Drop me a note if interested.

SpeakerSelect Conference Producer Network

I'm tired of turning down freelance conference producer gigs because I don't have enough time/bandwidth to take on all of the work that is out there.

Over the past year or so, I've seen an increase in the number of freelance producing opportunities that are either advertised or come to me via a recommendation. More and more, conference organizers, trade show companies and associations that were initially reluctant to use freelancers are coming to realize the benefits of such a relationship with an experienced producer. By that I mean, the kind of professional who can hit the ground running with minimal direction, confirm quality speakers, produce fresh brochure copy and work well with sponsorship, marketing, analysts, advisory boards, etc.

I'm encouraged by all of this, and am looking to hook up with other experienced freelancers to share leads for project work. This kind of network will really benefit conference companies and associations, as well as those of us who are often unable to take on work because of timing.

If you are a freelancer and you'd like to get in touch about forming a network, please get in touch.

BtoB's New Calendar of Marketing, Advertising & Media Events

Here's a new resource to find upcoming events courtesy of BtoB. I'll try to provide some insight/analysis of events as they are posted.

Speakers Needed for Food Industry Event

The focus of the conference is safety and security issues. The target speaker and conference delegates are security, logistics, and transportation executives from food manufacturers and processors--and the event is coming up quickly.

Please email Eric Jager, ejager@speakerselect.com for more information.

Speaking Opportunities on IAB's Direct Response Event

The Interactive Advertising Bureau posted the agenda for the March Direct Response conference in Chicago. Given that there are no speakers listed, one can assume that there are a lot of opportunities still available.

Nortel's Virtual Trade Show

This Marketing Sherpa case study outlines the elements of Nortel's recent virtual trade show and hails it as a success and an example for vendors who are looking to expand on the content and information exchange capabilities of webinars.

Participants have the opportunity to invite other virtual-show-goers to engage in a private conversation during this all day event. As expected, according to the case study, the show's success was dependent on the delivery of meaningful content to its participants.

I may be old fashioned, but I still believe that there is no substitute for the in-person interaction that is made possible by real trade shows when it comes to gleaning information on potential vendors, partners and customers. Back in the day, when I was with USA Network, I engaged in what is now known as customer relationship management while strolling down the Atlantic City boardwalk with affilites.

On the other hand, I remember when the entire affiliate relations team flew down to New Orleans for a five hour seminar on cable industry re-regulation at a total cost of over $7,000. Would have been nice as a webinar.

The 21st Century College Media Geek

When I was a freshman at the Ithaca College School of Communications, I had a class called Introduction to Broadcast Production which included multiple sessions on being an eighties-style DJ. We spun records on multiple turntables, and read a mock weather reports. It seemed kind of silly at the time. Now it seems silly and quaint.

The current issue of the Ithaca College Quarterly touts CellFlix, "the first student film festival for movies shot entirely on a cell phone." The Dean of IC's Park School of Communications created the contest to "inspire and recognize creative uses of the medium." This kind of language sounds very familiar to me, having spent the past year or so producing Interactive industry events. I hope IC has a class on how to monetize all of this stuff. I know alot of people who'd want to audit it.

Call for Presentations: DMA Conference and Exhibition

This came the other day via email from the DMA. Notice the focus on INTERACTIVE. Let me know if I can help with a presentation proposal.

Dear Colleagues:
In preparation for DMA·06 Conference and Exhibition (October 14-18,
2006, Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA) we encourage you to
submit a session proposal should you or a colleague wish to be considered as
a presenter. Please see below the conference overview for your reference:
Conference Overview: DMA·06 Conference and Exhibition is the direct
and interactive marketing industry's most important event for discovering
cutting-edge thinking and networking with today's outstanding marketing
practitioners.
We have added a twist to this years' call for papers. We now have two
RFP's:
a) Areas of Direct Marketing, focusing on the processes of Direct Marketing
(Executive Issues, Planning and Research, CRM, List and Database Management
and Production/Fulfillment):
http://www.the-dma.org/conferences/conferencecatalog/dma06_Rrfp_form.shtml
b) Areas of Interactive Marketing, focusing on (Search Engine marketing,
Email Marketing, Affinity Marketing, Web Design & Development, etc.):
http://www.the-dma.org/conferences/conferencecatalog/dma06_interactive_Rrfp_
form.shtml
Please apply to the RFP that best fits your discipline.
The deadline for proposal submissions is January 25, 2006.
Please review the proposal requirements and review process at the top of the
RFP form. We suggest you to type and save your proposal in a word document,
and then transfer the data to the web form. Also note, only proposals
submitted via the online form will be accepted. Thank you for supporting our
efforts to create educational conferences tailored to the needs of the
direct and interactive marketing industry. If you have any questions or
concerns about the proposal, please e-mail DMA06RFP@the-dma.org and we will
reply promptly.