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[quote=Anonymous]I just had a difficult professional experience and would be grateful for insights/advice.
 
I'm in leadership in a very niche field - there really isn't a developed sector of competitors or industry events. I don't usually go to conferences. Someone recommended a big conference in an adjacent area as a great opportunity to find contacts, partners, etc. So I went. They did not have a list of attendees or speakers in advance.

When I got there, I realized that everyone had come with others and/or had a schedule of closed meetings or private events. I actually saw a few people I knew, but after talking for a bit, they all had to run to their VIP meetings or go back to their actual group or go chase down someone else.

The official program was in one huge room, there wasn't any opportunity for Q&A, talking to speakers, etc. Most speakers were super high profile and were bundled out of the room by their staff as soon as they finished their brief remarks. Most people weren't listening to the speakers, everyone seemed very busy running back and forth.

I tried my best to approach and meet new people - sitting next to them in the big room, circulating outside where people were standing, coming up to a couple less famous speakers, etc. But (a) nearly everyone was in a group or on the phone and kept brushing me off and (b) even with those I talked to, 5-10 minutes later they went back to their groups or their next meeting. They did seem interested in my work and we exchanged information, but it was just like "Great, we should partner, let's get in touch after, bye". Everyone had their own dinner and lunch plans already with their groups or contacts.

It was really awkward and lonely, and I left way early. It was supposed to be 2 days 7AM-9PM, but after like 4 hours of alternating between listening to irrelevant speeches and going around the hallways trying to meet people (only to have to find someone new after 5-10 minutes), I just couldn't take it anymore.

Could I have done something differently? The people I knew / met were clearly busy and couldn't "adopt" me for the duration of the conference. As it was, they went out of their way to chat with me and introduce me to others (who were also busy and ran off quickly).[/quote]

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