Many are not, but I usually find some of the sessions pertinent and useful

Posted by snipes824 on April 16, 2024, 15:59:20, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Although agree with the below, never the panels. Just a bad format. Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.

MFA in Miami was useful...only probably because it was winter

Posted by Throwsize on April 16, 2024, 15:52:22, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Useful as a way to get a trip to Vegas? In my younger days, yes*

Posted by PapaDels on April 16, 2024, 15:10:36, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time. A slack jaw and not much to say.

There was a stretch of time when I practically lived at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS

Posted by bbonb on April 16, 2024, 13:53:00, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

We have two a year that we primarily utilize for direct meetings with clients.

Posted by Dilbert on April 16, 2024, 13:52:59, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Actually rarely attend any actual presentations or such. Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.

The medical conferences seemed somewhat useful.

Posted by EffinIllini on April 16, 2024, 13:48:20, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Docs could get CUEs. Idiots like me could have their research presented.* Networking between docs & engineers for new product ideas. Of course there were also the 3 things you suggested. *Got me published in the most prestigious orthopedics journal, and other research was called a "landmark paper" by one of the surgeon panelists and later published in the second most prestigious orthopedic journal. Thats said, I'm glad I no longer attend as I am no longer involved in medical research nor product development.  Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.

Hopefully DocWalk20 doesn't answer No.

Posted by ISeeDeadHawkeyes on April 16, 2024, 13:28:51, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

He's going to see me speak at an industry conference in a few weeks! Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.

Also, 90+% of panel discussions are terrible

Posted by DT on April 16, 2024, 13:22:26, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Trying to cover a breadth of topics that would be too much for 1 person to give substantive answers about. Only there are 3-5 people wanting to talk about each plus respond to the other people’s comments. Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.

AVN*

Posted by ATL on April 16, 2024, 13:20:11, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time. "For the regulated community, a FONSI represents happy days."

ASCO*

Posted by suburbanmyth on April 16, 2024, 13:19:00, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time. "Joe Biden is a child molester. You think he gives a #### about how his employees are treated?" --not your father's republican party

good way to soak up CEU's, if applicable to your field

Posted by ijustkrushalot on April 16, 2024, 13:17:34, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

The International Conference of Shopping Centers is pretty great

Posted by Sounder on April 16, 2024, 13:16:52, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

it's one of the largest conventions in Vegas. Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.

Extroverts run the world

Posted by Jackie on April 16, 2024, 13:16:17, in reply to "Are there any industry conferences that are actually useful?"

And it’s so very boring 🥱 Previous Message It’s been a minute since I was mandated to go to one of these, but invariably they are: 1) An opportunity for presenters to stroke egos/showcase themselves for other jobs. 2) An opportunity for a company to sell you something 3) Bunch of people running around looking for a new job. Complete waste of my fucking time.