I hope the LeWeb3 Private Party, in 10 days, is going to be as good or even better than what I've seen of YouTube, of last year's party (see below):
Last Year's Party at LeWeb3
Here's another video I found of two people getting to last year's NetVibes party via the Paris Metro and then covering the venue in more detail. The party looks like a jazzed up version of New York Party to me, much like some I've been to, from time to time - hopefully I'll be speaking and interacting with many of the attendees.
"…LeWeb3 private party (participants & by invitation only) will take place on Tuesday DEC 11th from 10:00pm to …. at:
LA SCALA (pictures)
188 Bis RUE DE RIVOLI
75001 PARIS"
I hope, when the say "participants" they mean "attendees" - many conferences are becoming increasingly exclusive when it comes to parties - that's how Search Engine Strategies and Webmasterworld went - and now they're not much fun anymore - they've gotten too big, to self important.
But I would say, just by publishing the address, it's likely that "attendees" is what's meant, and I'm one of those.
The pictures of La Scala - it's certainly big…
But … while this party looks interesting - and I'll certainly go - I bet the "real" parties are the ones that I'll need to be personally invited to - if I'm lucky - they will be totally exclusive - and it will really depend on who I know - that's they way most conferences are these days - it's who you know, what circle you travel in.
My guess is that some of the sponsors of LeWeb3 will be giving their own parties - and they will selectively invite only those they want to come, probably clients.
What's also interesting - while LeWeb3 is taking place more in the Suburbs - Paris's equivalent to Flushing, Queens, based on what I'm hearing - that parties are happening in downtown Paris - which confirms my decision not to stay at the closest hotels to the conference because there's just not that much to do near Les Docks than in the heart of Paris - I'd rather take the train to Les Docks, then be in walking distance.
Of course, I'll cover as much of the conference and parties I end up attending as I can. One thing I have found, increasingly, is that at conferences I can either listen and absorb what I can (and let others take notes - and read their blogs to refresh my mind - while taking very minimal notes of my own) OR, take copious notes.
I've found, taking copious notes is a waste of my time - while I do retain more - I find I don't enjoy the conference when I'm so busy writing it all down - and given that much of the conference is taped anyway - and often, podcasts are made too… the value of writing down the essence of what speakers say, and what questions are asked, is becoming less and less needed or enjoyable.
I'd rather just sit back, listen, and take it in, jotting notes down when something very important pops up, but, otherwise, blog about the conference mostly by memory. And I've found that live blogging at the conference takes bandwidth away from me actually networking at the conference - which is, more and more, the main benefits to going.
Attending means personally meeting the people who are speaking as well as the attendees and having interactions that could not have happened otherwise; if not for that, I'd be better off reading someone else's blog and not attending. That's why I focus on good conversations with select individuals, rather than taking a lot of notes, but that's just my opinion - it works for me.
