“If I have a dollar and you have a dollar and we exchange dollars,” Kanye West once mused, “we’d each have one dollar. But if I have an idea and you have an idea and we exchange ideas, we’d each have two ideas.”
I love a good idea exchange. Brainstorms are where clarity comes and the fires of the future are lit. But you can’t always put a proper idea exchange into a timed box or expect to schedule and plan them. Even in NYC, where time is money and every minute counts, you have to be willing to get caught up in a worthwhile conversation, to be late to your next appointment, to let things happen when they happen. When ideas are flowing, you have take them in.
As festival season officially ends, conference season kicks off. Conferences are a great way to meet new people, gain new perspectives, and exchange ideas at scale. But it’s not only what you know that matters, it’s what you do with the information once you have it. What do you apply to your work? What do you share with others? What do you store for a project down the road? As dealmakers, dot connectors, and cultural archeologists, it’s important for us to parse what’s on the pulse today, and what goes in the tank for tomorrow.
Different conferences provide different value, offer different viewpoints, and feature different attendees. Here’s a list of what I’m looking forward to most in the coming months:
Brandweek: September 23rd-25th in Palm Springs
Inaugural relaunch of this event. Low-key but boasts a stellar lineup of attendees and speakers including Kevin Hard, Tony Robbins, and Boz, with a performance by Lauryn Hill (who we booked!)
Dreamforce: September 25th-28th in San Francisco
One of the biggest conferences in the world because, seriously, who doesn’t use Salesforce in some way, shape, or form? Learn about the latest and greatest in sales and connect with other superusers of the platform. With Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, buying TIME magazine, clearly there are bigger ambitions here. I’m there opening night to check out the Splash.fm party. If you’re in town, let me know.
Advertising Week: October 1st-5th in NYC
A smörgåsbord of NYC events, parties, dinners, panels, cocktails, and showcases.
Mondo NYC: October 2nd-5th in NYC
Igniting music and technology. Put on by the same folks behind CMJ (R.I.P.), Mondo is a great mix of showcases and talks. I’m leading one on brands and music on Thursday, October 4th, at 11AM.
Digital Music Forum: October 4th in NYC
A staple in the NYC innovation scene. A smart mix of speakers and innovators. I’m moderating a talk on branding in a digital world, talking about content and storytelling at 430PM.
A3C: October 3rd-7th in Atlanta
The #1 hip-hop conference and festival in the game. The lineup is stacked across the board.
Growth Stories presents How To Make It In The Music Business: October 9th in NYC
A live taping of a one-on-one interview with me at our old office, WeWork at 222 Broadway.
WORDLZ: October 17th-18th in Long Beach, CA
Dubbed “the Harvard of culture marketing,” this is the place to be for brands and marketing executives looking to get close to the culture. I’m running a master class for the second year on October 18th. My pal Jake Udell and the extremely talented sisters of Krewella will join me.
Fast Company Innovation: October 22nd-26th in NYC
The annual Fast Company Innovation Festival brings together thousands of forward-thinking creators, makers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders from across the country and globe who are embracing change, blazing new trails, and moving our world forward.
The Lead Summit: October 24th in Brooklyn NY
Visionaries, rule-breakers, and leaders unite the fashion and retail industries with a global Silicon Valley.
Summit Series: November 2nd-5th in Los Angeles
This is the ultimate gathering of cool kids that care about social good, innovation, and culture. I owe so much to the old days of Summit Series. It changed my life and so many of my friends today are “summiteers.”
Complex Con: November 3rd-4th in Long Beach, CA
The Internet comes to life at this convention. Exclusive drops and one-of-a-kind collaborations. This is the ultimate meeting of commerce and culture.
Fall is here. Let’s expand our minds and build great connections…
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Also published on Medium.