“The most value you get out of most conferences are the parties from nine to midnight,” says frustrated August Capital partner David Hornik, complaining that most of the time at events is spent listening to people talk at you. He says the two way conversations are far more valuable, and you only get that at the parties, or outside the event in the lobby.
So three years ago he started an invite only, strictly off-record conference aptly named The Lobby. It’s held in Hawaii each September, and the goal is to have nothing but conversations. And a few mai tais.
This year’s event, which just ended, had just under 200 hand picked attendees. Venture capitalists, startup entrepreneurs and established CEOs attended The Lobby. Some astonishingly candid alcohol and sun-lubricated conversations break out, sometimes by the pool, more often at the ocean-side bar. And I’ve heard that more than a handful of venture capital, acquisition and business development deals were first conceived under the fading light of a stunning sunset at The Lobby.
The event is strictly off record. And apart from the first year of the event in 2007 where one blogger who posted light content was permanently banned, the rule has been strictly obeyed.
Who attended this year? I can’t say, under threat of not being invited back next year. However, a search for the event on Twitter shows a handful of notes from attendees. And Facebook has a scattering of happy pictures uploaded from the event. There are also a few people included in the overview video on the conference website. First Round Capital partner Rob Hayes is shown above wearing a shirt that you can only be seen in on vacation.
For a blogger like me, seeing so many juicy, sometimes inebriated sources lounging by the pool is a difficult thing. The off record aspect of the conference makes it extremely frustrating. It’s a little bit like a strip club, you can look but you can’t touch.
Is it also a bit of a boondoggle? Yes it is. But this is the kind of event that Silicon Valley leaders and do’ers need every once in a while, far away from the scrutiny of the pundits and comment trolls who so often disrupt conversations. It’s also a clear indication that the real value of events isn’t so much the on stage content, but the stuff that happens off stage. In, well, the lobby. I count myself lucky to attend.
maui wowie
it looks like fun. when do i get my invite?
Well said, Mike…
Sounds amazing. These candid conversations can be important at any level, but with that type of group in that type of environment, it must have been really fun.
This formula can work at many levels, I think. Up near me, there is http://www.unsummit.org, and at the highest levels, there is the http://www.weforum.org Davos annual meeting. Whatever the case, a hand picked attendee list, the assurance of confidentiality, and a cool environment can create the right mix.
Thanks Mr. Generality, for using so many words to say nothing at all. Is that you barack?
Okay, so you’re a cool insider and all your readers are pointless losers. And you can’t tell us anything that went on or you won’t get invited back. And some rich people got drunk and sprayed money on each other. Got it. Thanks.
Right… nothing to see… moving on.
which is exactly why sometimes it’s a nice idea to get away from the mob.
+1
I agree with wang…
whose wang?
Shouldn’t Sacca being on the road biking to NYC? lol
btw, Miachael this makes you a big shot doesn’t it? Congrats!
So Mike, did you go back and see your record buddy Simon Potts while you were there? (man I wish I knew that guy! talk about information in my industry – he’d be a good mentor)
And second, this is the ULTIMATE embargo – and actually how business should be conducted. Blogs who break embargoes should be handled this way, then there wouldn’t be as many problems as there have been… but PR flacks (I’m one!) would have get serious like these guys.
yes. if more PR firms, or any PR firms, had the stomach to conduct business this way the embargo stuff would be much less of a problem.
Mike can you make arringtoncrunch.com? Same thing as techcrunch, just all the other authors stripped out except you. Would make things much easier for me! kthx
just click his name:
http://www.tech...hael-arrington/
Sounds great! Look forward to hearing all about it. Oh wait a minute …
What was the guy to girl ratio? 1:20?
for attendees, probably 7:1. But people also brought spouses/S.O.’s as well, who participated in most of the conference.
Mike,
At these off-the-record conferences do you feel that the execs really feel free to talk around the journalists/bloggers or do you feel they always have their guard up to a certain extent?
It must be hard for you to compartmentalise what you’ve heard on/off the record
I’m not supposed to say this since it’s supposed to be off the record, but Mike had a steak at The Lobby dinner.
Michael, don’t you think that to many, silicon valley already seems elitist enough? This party really seems like rubbing it in peoples’ faces who weren’t cool enough to be invited. I prefer the idea of you having them in your backyard, although those days are probably long gone.
How exactly does one have an invite-only party (that doesn’t suck) and it not be considered elitist by people did not receive an invite?
what exactly is your point? that to have an “elitist” party is the only way a party can’t suck? From what I hear from friends, the parties in Mike’s backyard were great. I realize TC has moved well beyond that point, but silicon valley should be more about being open, not less. And SV seems it’s closing its doors more lately.
The two way conversation is by far the more valuable element at any conference. I wish more conference organizers would figure this out.
Arrington you are so banned from next years conference.
i have never seen so many pale old men with crap shirts. what are those guys wearing????
anyways looks like a lot of fun. thanks for rubbing it in my face
.
Kevin Rose is old?
It has always been the case at most conferences that the real work and learning happens outside the conference rooms.
A biz dev guy I used to work with would show up at conferences and hang out in the lobby or outside the building and meet the random people who stepped outside for a moment.
He saved the money, but more important, he felt he made more connections and learned more than most people attending the conferences.
sounds like Eyes Wide Shut
You can’t fool me, it was really a Free Mason meeting. I’m sure there were a few Illuminati mixed in… Oh… and a Templar I’m sure made the invite list. What’s a party of powerful people without a Templar… and his sword. Mike, you’re the Templar aren’t you?!
Looks like someone was photoshopped out of that Kevin Rose photo???
“The most value you get out of most conferences are the parties from nine to midnight”
Yeah, that’s why I always laugh when people point to the mass tantrum in Seattle ten years ago as some kind of recent American left success. Uh…all the real work at conferences takes place away from the conference. Shutting down the city and the conference proves you don’t understand that, or…you just feel like shutting down the city.
rob hayes shirt ++
How about allowing participants to ask permission to selectively make something on the record? I think that is a good idea.