Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1280285
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION AUGUST 19, 2020 Page 21 What's It Like to Attend a Virtual Conference?…Continued from page 19 Since this is what we are faced with right now, at least a virtual platform can bring much of what attendees are looking for when attending a conference. While you are not going to get the "bump" factor, where you run into another attendee who is looking for your product or service, you can find other ways of connecting with someone. For example, the platform had a lounge area where you could find a topic area where others would be hanging out at a specific time of day. It is easier to type a chat comment about something you are interested and receive feedback rather than walking into a crowded lounge at a hotel and announcing a topic out loud or going one by one through the crowd. Emily: I love to socialize and travel around new cities. I love field trips! It's obviously not the same to network and learn through a screen, but for where we are today it makes sense, so I was willing to change my expectations. I believe that's what made the whole event even more fun than I imagined it could be. I couldn't find anything I didn't like except for maybe that one moment when Todd had more badges than me. What is our overall evaluation of attending the conference virtually? Todd: I believe that the future of attending live events will be accompanied by some type of virtual aspect. It just helps with connections, finding information, and enhancing the in person event. While we need to stay apart, these platforms do a wonderful job of recreating a live event. Emily: I'm disappointed that it's over. It's like losing your favorite app; I was just getting to know everyone and find my way around when it ended. Nothing can replace seeing each other in person, but it felt good to familiarize myself with something new and expand my horizons in the virtual world. I also liked that I had time to visit all the booths without running into crowds and that each exhibitor could choose how much or how little their booth offered. It's not about location, but about the extra links and videos—and the games! I liked that I could watch the presentations while they were live or choose to watch them at another time, as they all remained accessible throughout the event. I didn't have to miss a thing! I enjoyed the "Playground" where I could take a break from the educational piece and watch the exhibitors' side videos that were always fun and sometimes quite beneficial—a little beach yoga in Puerto Rico, anyone? A virtual event is a great alternative to the real thing. I'm already looking for the next one to attend.