I was reading a great blog this morning on the MIMegasite entitled, "How to Right a Sinking Ship". In other words, a show, event or conference is going downhill and how do you fix it.  It is really a great piece because it includes thoughts from an attendees perspective. It also asks, what would planners do to fix an event. Check it out at: http://www.misoapbox.com/2007/06/can_you_right_a.html#more. The event is referenced sounds so bad, I won't even go into the details on that can of worms.

My thought on the subject is simple and straightforward "how did we let the event get this way in the fist place?".

Even when planning for today, you should always be thinking about events that will happen tomorrow. Keep it fresh and new, this will keep attendees in their seats or on the show floor.

Rather than trying to right a sinking ship, associations, corporations and media companies need to concentrate on how to keep the ship moving full steam ahead. This means planning for the future in everything you do.

If you have to go back and plug the holes to keep the water from pouring in, it may already be too late. Keeping a ship moving forward, although sometimes difficult, is much easier than the alternative.

If you have an event that may be floundering, fix it now and fix it fast whatever it takes. If you do not, it is liable to end up on the ocean floor right next to the Titanic and just like that famous ship, someone will come along later and pick up the treasure that was once yours.

Just a thought

Keith