Point but no counterpoint. Events are coming back!
BC HATCHETT
So for once, I don’t have a counterpoint. The idea of the return of trade shows and conferences has me beyond excited. It is not just the idea of seeing new tech and traveling but it is another milestone in the march to the next normal. Add this to the news that more and more campuses are announcing that they will return to normal operation for this fall, and the increasing number of pedal taverns that go by my office every afternoon, and it looks like nature is healing.
I will say that I have enjoyed the virtual conference offerings though. They provided the flexibility and ability to continue learning and growing throughout lockdowns and periods of remote work. But the thing that I did not expect is that they also provided a much-needed sense of community that I missed. Talking shop with AV professionals from across different verticals provides an opportunity to share strategies and knowledge that only comes from the wealth of experience that our industry has.
Virtual shows also had the added advantage of low to no cost. The pandemic hit higher ed with a financial crisis that has not been experienced since the great recession in 2008-2009, and travel/training budgets were often the first to be cut and reallocated. With the virtual option being free in most cases, an opportunity was created for a wider participation pool. Much like hybrid education, I think the genie is out of the bottle and we will continue to see the growth and expansion of the virtual option when it comes to conferences. The fact that conference centers are investing in virtual studios shows that conference organizers see this as a viable option going forward.
We have come a long way in a little over a year. This industry has faced and overcame numerous challenges, some we could have never foreseen. The fact that in-person tradeshows and conferences are on the horizon is one more data point that shows we are heading in the right direction.
Get to Know BC Hatchett
BC Hatchett, M.A.Ed. is the Associate Director for Classroom Technology with Vanderbilt University Information Technology. He holds a master’s degree in education and has worked in higher education technology management for 15 years. BC is also one of the co-founders of the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HEMTA) which is working to provide a greater voice for the higher education technology industry. He is extremely passionate about serving his institution and providing the best possible experience to Vanderbilt’s faculty, staff, and students. Outside of work, BC enjoys spending time with family, friends, watching the Nashville Predators, and quoting The Big Lebowski as often as possible. Feel free to connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.