I had a meeting last year with the PR person for a ‘well-known American payments company’. The founder was due to speak at Money 20/20 Europe. The PR woman was very nice and pleasant – but said something that made me think of a Twitter thread I wrote awhile back, while bored at an event in Brussels. “Really, he will be getting in late on Sunday, doing his talk on Monday morning and then leaving on a flight right after.” Translation: You’ll have a greater chance being invited on holiday with Beyonce and Jay-Z, than getting a sit down with our CEO.

Those who know me (or follow me on ‘the Twitter’) know that I attend a lot of conferences. Over the years I have clocked a few ‘types’ that you tend to see walking around, networking and speaking at conferences. Using the hashtag #PeopleYouSeeAtConferences – please add yours!

1. The old fogey who remembers when this event started above a pub, sometime in the 1980s, with 10 delegates
2. The 20-something marketing woman who wears five inch heels … all day
3. The middle aged man who is now a “consultant” and scoping for work. He doesn’t wear a tie (but looks slightly uneasy about it)
4. The camera guy with a man bun … and tattoos
5. The ‘very senior person’ who is constantly trailed by a minder. He is given a script before he gets on stage. A moderator who goes ‘off-script’ and asks a follow up question, will be an ‘issue’
6. Me (Come say Hi, I know lots of good jokes 🙂 )
7. The really interesting person who arrives five minutes before their great panel and leaves as soon as it’s finished
8. The American who tells everyone about their post-event European long weekend plans
9. The swag hoarder
10. Backpack guy.

Add your #PeopleYouSeeAtConferences today!