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Tweets From Radio Events Are Fun - But Here's Why Attending Is A Must
July 23, 2013
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Anytime we have the opportunity to listen, learn, and maybe even take away a thought or two that makes us even stronger and smarter – we should jump at that chance.
Last week, some of radio's Boomers, Gen X'ers, and Millennials did just that at the 38th annual Conclave Learning Conference. It was inspiring to be around this blend of generations.
Simply spending time with Gen Y energizes your spirit and reminds you of that early eagerness to grow in this business:
What makes radio conferences more interesting today is that we have different generations – all with very different radio usage experiences attending these events.
They are also very split in the way they participate in the social space.
Maybe a few Boomers tweet during radio conferences but mostly Gen X and Y professionals are the ones socially sharing what resonates with them from the speakers who present and the panels and sessions that take place.
Tweeting at these events is great for radio's image. It offers a peek inside as to what's happening by simply following the designated hashtag.
At Conclave 38 for instance, #clave is where the organized conversation was happening. And this is a small example of what it looked like as attendees tweeted:
And while those tweets represent some of Conclave's great sessions, what's interesting is that the most memorable moment wasn't really captured on Twitter. (And this is why attending is a must).
The room was captivated when Jaye Albright, one of this year's Rockwell recipients, sat down for a very candid interview with Fred Jacobs, during the Jacobs Media Summer School sessions.
In what Jaye referred to as the "greatest format flip ever," she opened up about her life story, and the audience was touched. There wasn't a person looking down at their phones. We were literally captivated by what we were seeing and hearing on stage.
Jaye served a reminder to us that everyone has a story. Her journey tells us about the power of acceptance. Her story is personal – which is why when she said the following, it moved everyone in the room:
"If there's something in your heart of hearts that you want to do, do it."
So you can follow hashtags to get a feel for what's going on at radio events – but there will always be moments like that where no tweet could do justice.
You had to be there.
Radio conferences can challenge our thoughts and maybe even get us to think about things differently. But if we're lucky - we also get to be part of something that goes deeper than any lesson in tactics and fundamentals.
We get a real reminder as to why we should be careful with each other and lift one another up:
Look at what it feels like when we do:
(Jennifer is a Millennial I try to mentor, something that every veteran in radio should do.)
If you need to know where to find these up and comers – take in an industry event.
They are there – ready to learn. In fact, Worldwide Radio Summit 2014 dates have been set for April 2 – 4, 2014.
And on behalf of Jacobs Media, I will be attending the summit. I look forward to the tweets - but mostly - the "un-tweeted" memorable moments.
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