A nutrient-rich word on conference etiquette inspired by #ClubhouseApp (#joinClubhouse)

Dear Y'all,

Before I cut into the meat and potatoes of this piece, Clubhouse is an audio-only social networking application still in beta and on the hyper-rise. 

Picture an always open networking event venue (whether physical or virtual) with a hallway connecting rooms. Emphasis on always open.

In each room, you’ll discover folks (moderators, speakers, and audience members) engaging one another in conversation. Topics vary. 

Moderators facilitate and control the room temperature.

Speakers are conversation contributors and share the stage with moderators.

Audience members are listeners until they are invited to the stage. Once on stage, audience members become speakers.

You’re free to enter and exit rooms at your leisure. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the best attended Clubhouse rooms are those that educate members on app features and functionalities while leaving space for audience members to engage.

To move from audience to stage, audience members can be invited by moderators at random OR raise their hand to be called up. In both scenarios, both moderators and audience members must agree. 

(This means moderators can decline to address a raised hand and audience members can decline an unsolicited invite to the stage.)

All the above brings us to my take on audience etiquette. Read me good. 

But first, let me be crystal clear: I like Clubhouse (a lot).

What I am about to say, then, should be taken as constructive criticism inspired not only by my observations as a new member, but also, as one with years of experience facilitating conversations in physical, virtual, and audio-only spaces (AND as one with years of time served in Corporate America in and around conference culture). Yes, time served (tee hee, dead serious).

My hope is that pushing my two cents into the stratosphere on this ONE opportunity area NOW, will drive depth of self-awareness and consideration for time and place as the network grows.

Okay, back on track.

To audience members invited onstage to ask a question:

Ask your question straightaway. Don’t pump fake, don’t stutter step. Don't row your boat gently down the stream of consciousness.

... This is NOT the moment to thank every moderator for his or her time. 

... This is NOT the time to preface what inspired you to raise your hand. 

... This is NOT the time to share your resume with the room. 

... This is NOT the time to wax poetic about your road to the Clubhouse App.

Reasons being include the following:

1. Rooms do not have consistent and predictable end times (only start times are broadcast as of now).
2. Audience members lack visibility into how long a question queue is at any given time (again, as of now).
3. Member bios can be accessed at anytime before, after, or during an event by curious parties.

Okay, next.

A two-part question is not a question. A two-part question is, in fact, TWO questions. 

Similarly, a three-part question is also not a question. A 3-part question is, in fact, THREE questions. 

So, for the reasons listed above, and until further notice, it feels best when audience members ask ONE question, return to audience, and ask to re-enter the question queue.

Okay, next.

“Piggybacking" and “building" on the question that precedes your question should include the addition of NEW insights to the conversation. Otherwise, best to defer to next in line. No harm, no foul.

Okay, landing the plane.

My historical read of networking events is that they succeed in tempting us to overthink, overtalk, overpackage, and oversell who we are, what we do, and what validates our seats at any given conference table. ESPECIALLY when passed a live mic by a keynote runner.

My present day read is that Clubhouse aims to diffuse the triggers that inspire poor networking experiences for both introverts and extroverts alike - despite the two groups having very different values. I will ABSOLUTELY unpack this point in a continuation post... Do standby.

THIS post, though, is for the people in the back (moved to the front).

THIS post, though, is for the future of (net)work.

Much love,

@madisonlmobley

P. S. Join Clubhouse (Recall, I like the app. Like, a lot.)

P. P. S. Yes, the app is still "invite (and iPhone users for now) only," but there is one tech "hack" in particular worth noting here.

Download app via the link above, and reserve your user name. If someone you know is currently on the app, they will be notified when you've done so. At that point, he or she or they will have the opportunity to pull you into the app and off the wait-list.