Just wondering who all was going to vegas for the 7th and 8th, for Harlan's seminar.

I'm actually going to be there that weekend, but not at the seminar. I considered going but schedule problems will keep me away until after the first day is over.

But... I will be around and would love to meet as many of you as I can.

The last time I did a seminar in Vegas, someone else
did this.

They showed up and wanted to hang with me.

They offered to ply me with drinks so they could pick
my brain at night during the seminar.

Nothing doing.

My time at the seminar (and afterwards) is reserved for the
people AT the seminar.

And Celine Dion of course.

I wasn't planning to do anything of the sort. I can't make Thursday because I have to take my wife for a long-planned visit to a fertility doctor. I won't be getting into town until late thursday.

I do plan on meeting as many people as I can. I hope you'll shake my hand and say "hey," but I wouldn't think of trying to get ANYTHING out of you for free harlan. I know better.

ARgggg,

I want to go to this event bad.

Just don't know if I can squeeze it in with all the
festivities in September.

Hmm, wonder how many hotels let you bring your
dog in Vegas?

Harlan, when is your seminar? Actually, my wife and I are flying into Vegas that week!

Hey actually, the wife and I will be in town, here is our schedule, I can't wait!

Monday, 4 September:
- Louis Anderson Comedy Show, located inside Excalibur
- Dinner at Picasso inside Bellagio,

Tuesday, 5 September:
- Dream Catcher Helicopter Tour of Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Etc...


Wednesday, 6 September:
-Zumanity Show, located inside New York – New York


Thursday, 7 September:
- Dinner at The Alex, located inside The Wynn
- Le Reve at The Wynn, located at The Wynn


Friday, 8 September:
- Dinner at Le Cirque, located inside The Bellagio.

I had all this typed up for out plans and just copied an pasted, it's been a WHILE since we've taken a small vacation. I actually might come to Harlans deal though, need to check it out.

Well Ricky... if you're around Friday and/or saturday without a full schedule, I'd love to meet ya and say hey.

I'm going to be seeing Mike Morgan and Matt Marshall as well as a couple others.

right Harlan re someone buying drinks etc..

my clients used to try and do that all the time, when I was a consultant, eg buy me lunch to try and get free answers..

I got great advice from one of my presentation coaches is, always leave events (of any kind: seminars, chamber of commerce meetings, industry meetings) promptly and don't "hang around" much after the event, and don't drink etc afterwards.

the reasons are:

a) you want to establish scarcity and credibility
b) you don't want to be seen as level playing field, eg think of famous marketers/authors, they don't "hang out in the hotel bar afterwards for hours", as it's cognitive dissonance re image building

having said that, it is fun to hang out w/folks and overdeliver re giving more Q&A time/answers after the event..

point is, boundary management is critical for perception.

I doubt you'd see Dan Kennedy or Jay Abraham or Tony Robbins or Brian Tracy hanging out in a hotel bar w/folks after their seminars. Same story.

should be an interesting debate point though - anyone have other thoughts?

me, I used to like to hang out w/folks and do my best to help them after seminars, and be more casual, but my consultant had a good point, re your image and credibility needs to have some "space", some bit of aloofness and mystique/intrigue, vs being overly-available..

of course "how" you do that is important, eg one might want to say "I'd love to have drinks with you all, but I've got a rush client order I've got to work on tonight" etc.. to avoid seeming arrogant/rude etc

ken

During the Customer Appreciation Seminar in Orlando in June I sat with Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, and John Reese in the hotel lounge...

I can assure you that these guys weren't too worried about "boundry management".

In fact, they were regular guys. They treated me like an old friend.

Did I pick their brains... nope!

Did I want to... nope! Just wanted get to know them personally.

I'll will say that they were kind enough to asked me for my opinions and included me in their mastermind discussions about upcoming strategies.

Did they appear to hang out with the "regular" crowd... no, and they didn't hang around all night. They had their schedules down tight.

I imagine that Michel Fortin is the same way, since he is good friends with these three guys.

I look at this way... if your the type that after a couple of drinks you make a fool out of yourself and blabber on, then yes... it's best you should leave immediately and definitely don't hang at the bar...

but on the other hand, if you can maintain professionalism and want to find some great JV partners and also make lasting relationship with people, then hanging with the crowd is an OK thing to do if not overdone.

The thing about it is that most folks are just too intimidated to approach these guys, so you won't see a flood of folks running in with pen and paper in hand saying, "can I have your autograph"... it's just not the same as being a rock star or a movie star

I know that Ray Edwards isn't much of a drinker, but you'll see him at the bar getting to know people and share his ideas with folks (and it's not just to drum up business either).

Yancey and I had the pleasure to sit with Ray one evening and discuss what we were doing and it was a good conversation. We all got to become closer in our relationships.

Also has the pleasure of meeting with Andy Catsimanes and his lovely wife, Shawn (I think I was drinking bottled water that night).

My point here is that there is nothing wrong with hanging with the "crowd" at times.

Just be aware that some may be out to pick your brains and some won't. Just be conscious of this, but at the same time don't be afraid to be "friendly" with people.

I think Harlan's point is that if you don't pay for the seminar, you don't get any information (which is only fair), but I can assure you that it was not Vins intent.

Vin, if I was in vegas that weekend, I'd definitely hang out with you... it would be a blast!

Just saying, not everyone that wants to meet you wants to get free information... some actually just want to get to know you... Is there anything wrong with that?

I don't think so. This is just basic social skills you learned as a child.

Right - I think you helped make my point; eg comparing

Dan Kennedy or Jay Abraham or Tony Robbins or Brian Tracy
with others ... they're in a different league re professionalism/success.

having said that, I had a blast when I did a seminar last year, being in the hotel bar with everyone til midnight... lots of fun..

but my consultant (who's a top image consultant to CEOs) advises against the "hang out with the crowd" approach... maybe it's different for entrepreneurs/IMers/copywriters..



ken