Webinars—Or, Self Improvement in Underoos

It's happened. The internet has become so evolved that one no longer has to worry about leaving their home computer to attend a seminar. No surprise really, considering that one can do just about everything else at the click of a button, from grocery shopping to dry cleaning. So long as you have a high speed set up and decent hardware, you can just pull up a chair in your favorite underoos and plug into a self improvement seminar. Oh, the irony.

You'd think I would berate the fact that folks have become such ridiculous digital couch potatoes that they can be easily confused for agoraphobics. However, I'm forced to admit that the idea of a live "webinar" intrigues me. Online seminars are hardly a novelty—corporations commonly employ them. However it's starting to now evolve to the point where the self-starter can also benefit from this resource, so long as one knows where to look.

Take HOW Magazine's upcoming webinar, in September. Here's what they plan to cover:

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Why you must focus on a market if you want to succeed in business
• How to identify the ideal target market for your design business
• How to choose a market that blends your skills and interests with the needs of the market
• How to determine if the market you've chosen is viable
• How to find and reach the best prospects in your target market

What I Like:

• They're addressing particular needs of a specific group...in this case, the entrepreneur. In the words of my sister, I "skeeve" generalisations. HOW didn't try to hit a non-descript mass audience with vague "fortune cookie" topics in the hopes of bringing in numbers. Contrary to what some might believe, John and Jane Q. Public do not have completely identical business marketing agendas.

• The sponsors are a relevant industry role model. Some of Ilise Benun's accolades during her career include numerous spotlights in magazines and is author of multiple books on self promotion. Point blank, I want to learn the secrets of her success...I want to pick her brain...I want her success to help inspire my own success. Having someone who's success you wish to emulate is quite naturally a big factor in investing in a seminar. Peleg Top has an equally impressive resume, especially when you take into consideration his "modest" beginnings.

• You get swag delivered to your doorstep. Well, not "swag" more than presentation materials to aid in following along, because when you think about it, you can't bring a recorder to this session, now can you? And speaking of which, you also have access to an archived recording of the seminar for an entire year, so who the heck even needs it in this brave new webinar world.

What don't I like? Well, I never like the price ("self starter" should be another name for "starting strapped,") but it's a necessary evil. You would however, think that the price wouldn't (or shouldn't) be as steep since the actual venue is eliminated, but I digress. As with a seminar you physically attend, you still gotta pay to play. For what it's worth and considering the sponsors that will be hosting, in this case, it should prove to be worthwhile.

So final consensus: Webinars good? Depends. If you're not in the mood to hop on mass transit to schlep to a hotel ballroom teeming with a crowd that's waiting on a line to enter, then jostling for the perfect vantage spot to sit in on the seminar, this could be your ideal cuppa. So long as the hosts are worth the price of admission, the presentation and site are stimulating and engaging and the topic addresses in a modicum of detail the needs of your business, I say give it a shot—I plan to.

Melting monitor faces drawing by Anthony of Frenetic Pen Project

It's About That Time

With the warming weather come the notices of all the major networking events in store for the summer. Yes, they can be pricey, particularly the major ones. However it would behoove you to attend at least one of the big industry events. Not only is it a great hobnobbing opportunity, they provide seminars and workshops with industry leaders that you couldn't find anywhere else if you paid in gold for it. It's a wonderful mecca of inspiration to immerse yourself in. So if you can sweet talk your employer into paying for the trip (work related seminar type of thing) it can double as the ultimate Creative's vacation. If you work for yourself it makes for a handy dandy write-off.

The first big one scheduled is HOW magazine's conference in Atlanta, GA in June. Do visit their website for a schedule of events. Do visit their forum, even if you aren't sure if you're attending to meet some of the creatives who will be attending or doing a workshop/seminar. Hobnob, people...hobnob.

For those of you who can't make it to the East Coast, there will be an unofficial get together in Seattle called HOW-About-CL in May. Basically formed by forum regulars who visit the respective HOW, About Graphic Design forum and Creative Latitude members. If you start frequenting those places, chances are you might also be able to gain passage and join the tidy host of industry professionals who will be getting together here as well. Unlike the HOW Conference, the HOW-About-CL is more of an informal social gathering. But hey, any opportunity for spending a good time with industry greats should never be passed by. Plus...well, I shouldn't spill, but designers always love a good time. It's in the genes.

AIGA also has their NEXT Conference lined up in October, which will be held in Denver, CO. They also have other more concentrated networking events lined up in the months ahead. Another interesting notable they're holding will be a conference that is in conjunction with Harvard Business School which targets principals from mid to large creative firms and Senior Designers who work in-house. A very worthwhile event for those who fall under this category.

There are many other local network Events during the summer that are worth the price of admission like the National Stationery Show in New York City this May. Any way you look at it, there is a conference out there to meet the needs of every professional level of designer. Its the ideal means to socialize and network with industry peers, to soak in some creative atmosphere, unwind or just cut loose with forum friends that you're finally able to meet for the first time. I've been told that the workshops, although very good, usually are forgotten when not applied. It helps to take notes, join the forums and ask questions beforehand. If you're allowed to record the session so much the better. It's also recommended to register early as many of the workshops fill up fast and space is limited.

If attending can improve or at least enlighten your personal game it's still a worthwhile step ahead and ultimately a win-win investment. If it's an event that is associated with the industry that can lead to possible business liasons, even better.