I went to CreatorFest Orlando, 2024 to listen, to observe, to understand and to convey that knowledge work is generationally agnostic.
I heard a LOT of exuberance, a lot of unbridled enthusiasm and, probably, way too much BASS to facilitate the networking that was to take place on day 1.
I observed a curious lack of technological sophistication in the organizational aspects of the event, but this was an inaugural event built primarily on the aforementioned
and it did not significantly detract from my understanding the stories being told on day 2 and day 3.
I came away very satisfied that this was a most worthwhile use of my time and effort based on these findings:
- I was delighted to find myself (the eldest attendee) being accepted as a fellow K-Dubb, along with all those 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years younger.
- Only 2.5% of ALL these “Creators” earn a decent living on the internet.
- The quote “We collect followers, not money” summed up the other 97.5%.
- There were three instructional targets,
A. How to Grow Your audience,
B. How to Monetize your Brand/Product
C. How to manage your way into a lasting business. - In general I found the event pursued those targets but exuberance, enthusiasm, and BASS, seemed to dominate the attention span of the audience.
- I was reminded of a song from the male dominated culture of the last century where MTV declared:
“That ain’t workin. That’s the way you do it. Get your money for nuthin, Get your chicks for free.”HOWEVER, the crystal clear message of EVERY speaker after the noise died down was:
“This IS WORKIN! These are the ways to do it! EARNING money for value. Get your clicks for free!”
For whatever it may be worth I offer a few recommendations:
1. DO NOT segregate the attendees into haves and have nots (meals should be for everyone allowing time to network with background music)
2. Put all your main stage speakers on in exclusive morning “opening sessions” of 90 to 120 minutes.
3. Allow at least half your afternoon speakers to be unknowns and place them in multiple smaller rooms of 50 or so
4. Allow attendees to determine which 2 or three afternoon sessions should be repeated.
5. Automate your entire registration process and PRINT BADGES on site.
6. Start everything ON TIME.
7. Lower the price and shoot for 2000 attendees, now that you have had a successful event.
8. Celebrate at the end of the event.