I saw this tweet come through the other day from Steve Collins:
@docbaty proposal for @uxaustralia side event – “The UX of tasting a single malt”. Dead set serious.
This got me to thinking about the nature of social events at conferences. And, naturally, about single malt whiskey 
Appreciation of a good single malt is a shared vice for a few of us within the user experience community – and I know that this is not universal – but there are enough of us that Steve’s suggestion is certainly worth thinking about. It might be a formal whisky appreciation mini-course, or a tasting put on in a bar, or a gathering at someone’s home or workplace.
Now, in general… what makes a good conference? To me it is a blend of location, venue, speaker quality, interest in the presented material – and yes – it is also about the social stuff.
Who do I know that is going along? Are these “my kind of mad UX/IA people” in general? How well do I feel accepted into the conversations when I am there? Are the social venues crowded and noisy with long lines at the bar and a long wait for food? I want to know where I fit in and how well suited the venue is to my style of conference socialising – which is having a drink or two while chatting to people, catching up, learning – and I grant that your mileage may vary.
Are you any different? What is your ideal conference social experience? Can you define it? I think it is fair to say that the whole UX Australia team is really interested in your answer
And by the by, if you think that Steve Collins’ suggestion is a good one, please say so.
UX Events Pty Ltd
a: PO Box 988, Dickson ACT 2602, Australia
e: admin@uxaustralia.com.au
p: 02 6255 4993
I just saw an international conference announced with a “JetLag Reception” the day before the conference. The name alone made me want to go!
In other words: naming social events may be a factor.
Oh, and food! Many conference websites are unclear about if and if so: how much drinks, snacks, and proper meals are provided (for free/at cost). Will there be breakfast? Lunch? Coffee? At each break? And what does “reception” mean: one free drink? Two? A lot? And what about dinner?
In other words: being clear about the food and drink situation is crucial for expectation management around social events.
Hi Peter,
thank you for your comment.
I like the idea of naming events – it makes it clear exactly what is happening (“Drinks”) and perhaps when (“Friday Night Drinks”).
Specification of inclusions are important – and not only what is available within the ticket price, but as you point out, what other options are available for attendees at a price (“The main dinner is here, but if you prefer to head straight to the cocktail lounge, it is just around the corner and up the stairs”). I think it is also important that social event food/drink coverage is well publicised – this allows participants to make an informed decision to attend (or not) and thus plan to take best advantage of their time.
Best regards, Andrew