Conference Bootstrap

Foreword

Who am I?

Why Organize a Conference?

1. The Purpose Behind the Plan
2. Selfish Reasons (That Are Totally Valid)
3. Are You Ready for the Fire?

From Vision to Viability — Making Your Conference Real

1. Define Success Before You Start
2. Sketch the Shape of Your Event
3. Budgeting: The Scary but Necessary Bit
4. Timelines Are Your Best Friend
5. Validate Before You Build
6. Tools of the Trade
7. Your Action Checklist

Picking the Perfect Format — Online, In-Person, or Hybrid?

1. In-Person: The Classic Experience
2. Online: The Scalable Alternative
3. Hybrid: The Double Challenge
4. How to Choose What’s Right for You
5. Format Impacts Everything Else
6. Your Action Checklist

Speakers and Content — Crafting a Lineup Worth Attending

1. Why Speakers Matter More Than You Think
2. Open Call vs. Direct Invite
3. Building a Fair Review Process
4. Curating the Schedule
5. Speaker Support and Logistics
6. Representation Matters
7. Your Action Checklist

Venue, Tech & Logistics — From Lanyards to Livestreams

1. Choosing a Venue That Works (and Wows)
2. Your AV Game Plan
3. Badges, Swag & Check-In Flow
4. Safety, Insurance & Contingency Planning
5. Logistics Team Roles
6. Your Run of Show (RoS)
7. Your Action Checklist

Sponsors and Funding — How to Get a Yes

1. Think of Sponsorship as a Partnership
2. Define Your Sponsorable Assets
3. Tiered Packages vs. Custom Deals
4. Finding and Reaching Out to Sponsors
5. Your Sponsor Deck
6. Closing the Deal
7. What If They Say No?
8. Your Action Checklist

Marketing and Ticket Sales — Filling the Room

1. Know Your Audience (and Where They Live)
2. Build Your Marketing Stack
3. Launch with Intent
4. Lean on Your Network
5. Run High-Intent Campaigns
6. Price Like a Pro
7. Create a Sales Timeline
8. Build Buzz with Content
9. Your Action Checklist

Volunteers and Staff — The People Behind the Magic

1. Why Volunteers Matter More Than You Think
2. Recruiting the Right People
3. Roles You’ll Need
4. Training and Communication
5. Staff and Contractors
6. Recognition and Retention
7. Your Action Checklist

Creating a Memorable Experience — More Than Just Talks

1. Think Like a Guest, Not Just an Organizer
2. The Details That Delight
3. Micro-Experiences that Stick
4. Facilitate Real Connections
5. Accessibility and Inclusion
6. Afterparties and Side Events
7. Capture the Magic
8. Your Action Checklist

Running the Day — The Calm in the Chaos

1. Start Your Day Before the Crowd Does
2. Keep a Run-of-Show in Your Pocket
3. Empower, Don’t Micromanage
4. Keep the Stage Flowing
5. When Things Go Wrong (Because They Will)
6. Be Present and Visible
7. Keep an Eye on Energy
8. Capture and Celebrate
9. Your Action Checklist

Post-Conference Follow-Up — What Happens After the Applause

1. Thank Everyone. Immediately.
2. Send a Survey — and Make It Count
3. Publish the Content
4. Share the Impact
5. Run a Retro (Yes, Even If You’re Tired)
6. Keep the Community Alive
7. Plan Your Next Move
8. Your Action Checklist

Scaling or Spinning Off — What Comes After One Great Event?

1. Scaling Up: Growth with Intention
2. Repeatability: Turning One-Offs into Annual Anchors
3. Going Regional or Global
4. Community Spin-Offs and Side Projects
5. Expanding Your Team
6. Knowing When to Evolve (or End)
7. Your Final Action Checklist

Epilogue: The Mic Is Yours