Host Your Own Event, People Will Come (Probably)

I meant to post this sooner, but Pete mentioned it again so I figured I should make the placeholder now.

Ross Mayfield has an interesting little entry up titled "Cheaper to Host than Attend". Basically, he's talking about the effects social media are having on the way that events are conceived, coordinated and executed.

Ross asks us to think about it - believe me I have been. Right now, the trade show industry is seeing a very strange series of effects chomping down their utility. How do I know? Comdex is dead! OK that's only anecdotal. What I can tell you is that the meetings we've had with people that are in the event business all are the same, they're looking for new ways to get people in and they recognize, but don't know how to harness, the increasing role and impact of technology and social media on their business.

Don't like that answer? Then consider things like BloggerCon, Gnomedex, local user groups and associations. There is tremendous growth in this arena and it's more than just 5 or ten people, we're seeing hundreds and even thousands aggregate in new and interesting ways. Do you think somehow those groups will STOP getting together?

The future of events looks quite different from my chair. How's it look from yours?