Well, the short answer is yes. However, there are specific nuances that all students should consider before reaching a burnout state trying to put on the guise of a ‘professional’ at every academic conference available. Here are seven helpful suggestions to make any conference-seeking, CV-building, full-time eager student feel less burned out and more inspired, reinvigorated, entrepreneurial, and authentic at the next academic conference.
1. Have a Digital Portfolio Ready.
Make your portfolio readily accessible and sharable. If you are seeking new connections, then it is essential that you have a portfolio that can be shared in an authentic way. Invest in a website, or at bare minimum a social media page, where you can highlight your interests, your work, and more importantly your personality! People want to work with people that are authentic to themselves and fun. Make sure that your portfolio clearly conveys the extrinsic value (entrepreneurialism) and intrinsic value (mission-based aims) you provide as a person and as a sole-proprietor. Remember, you are a professional and a business (even if it’s just a one-person business) who seeks to find like-minded people who are would be meaningful to joint venture in the future.
2. Celebrate. Don’t Collaborate.
Focus on celebrating others without mentioning the desire to “collaborate.” It is very tempting to go to academic conferences with the intention of making a ‘big splash’ and wanting to seek out connections that will turn into professional opportunities. This is a big part of the conference circuit, but the desire to create meaningful collaboration requires authenticity (etymologically, authenticity means ‘of undisputed origin’). It is ok to just celebrate others. In fact, I would say it’s more authentic. Don’t feel the desire to always force opportunities, be present in the moment and allow others to inspire you rather than force a misguided opportunity that did not arise from the development of an authentic professional relationship.
3. Determine the Necessity.
Determine when it’s necessary to attend the conference and when it’s better to stay home. Conferences are opportunities for professional growth. Once tallying up the receipts of a conference trip you soon realize they are also very expensive! Discover which conferences resonate with you – professionally, scholarly, pedagogically, artistically – and focus on those. You do not need to be part of every “scene.” Find your people, the crowd that resonates with you the most, the colleagues that inspire you, and focus on that. The truth is not every conference is going to resonate with you and that is ok. Pick the ones you like and revisit the others later once its more financially viable – or don’t, and just know which crowd you resonate with.
4. Seek inspiration, not confusion.
The best conferences inspire you. However, not everything will be congruous with your own work – this is ok. You do not need to feel that your interests or expertise are irrelevant, but rather see this as an opportunity for differentiation.
5. Focus on the Conversations.
Focus on which topics are being addressed and focus on what topics are not being addressed. One of great opportunities that an academic conference provides is the opportunity to see the work your peers and colleagues are doing. Often you will see trends emerge from conferences, this is important for our profession as it shows that we are collectively working towards a goal. However, that does not mean you need to jump on the band wagon and change your focus. Sure, if inspiration hits you and you can see a connect between the work emerging and your own, go for it! A more interesting way to view these conferences is identifying what is not being addressed. The truth is we are all trying to find a way to stand out professionally, scholarly, artistically, entrepreneurially, etc. (positively that is…) and if you are going to look at these conferences through the lens of an opportunist then why not be cognizant of what topics are not being addressed – especially if you have expertise in an untapped area.
6. Keep Authenticity as Your Brand.
Maintain authenticity with your brand identity. Remember, you do not need to be anyone else other than yourself. You like what you like, and that is ok! Be open to inspiration and new ideas, but your brand identity does not need to waver depending on the direction the wind is blowing. Conferences are opportunities to meet and collaborate, but true professional, artistic, and entrepreneurial growth only occurs through meaningful collaborations.
7. Know that You are a Pro.
You must remember that you are not nearly just a student. You are a professional, and and perhaps even an expert in several things, who is pursuing a degree to strengthen your expertise. Walk with a high level of confidence (etymologically, confidence means ‘with faith’) in who you are, what you can do, and how you can be transformational in the lives of others. In doing so, you will position yourself to be respected as a professional with clear direction and your character will be received by many people with great enthusiasm and favor.
References:
Sá, M. J., Ferreira, C. M., & Serpa, S. (2019). Virtual and face-to-face academic conferences: comparison and potentials. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 9(2), 35-47.
Rowley, J. (2012). Six steps to successful academic conference presentation. The Marketing Review, 12(4), 435-448.
Ruiz-Resto, J. V., Lee, D., & Shelton, C. (2021). Entrepreneurial Responses to the COVID Era: A Qualitative Study of Five Professional Music Entrepreneurs. Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education, 3(2), 4.
Edward White is the Director of Music Education at Altitude Academies in Port St. Lucie, FL. In his role, Edward teaches popular music education curriculum that he developed such as popular guitar performance; commercial musicianship skills; music entrepreneurship; music production; and the chronology of popular music education. A 2022 Global Music® Award Winner for Mixed-Genre Album, Edward is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Music Education with cognates in Popular Music Education and Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida. He enjoys rocking with several bands in Gainesville, FL and is simultaneously a career as a remote session guitarist for projects within popular, jazz, and global music styles.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ed.white.98031
José Valentino Ruiz is the Founder and Creative Director at JV Music Enterprises; Resident Media Composer/Music Producer at Hayden 5; and Inaugural Program Director of Music Business & Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida. A published scholar in numerous journals including the Journal of Popular Music Education, Ruiz is passionate about uncovering, testing, and sharing pedagogical and pragmatic frameworks for improving aspiring musicians’ and entrepreneurs’ missiological aspirations, strategies, impact value, and business acumen. As an entrepreneur, music producer, composer, and performing artist, Ruiz has earned multiple GRAMMY® Awards, an Emmy® Award, and Inc. Magazine’s 2022 Best in Business® Award, among other awards. Ruiz has produced 130+ album, performed 1400+ concerts, and led numerous mission trips in 5 continents to develop popular music education programs as interventions for providing access and opportunities to at-risk students. His Ph.D. in Music Education is from the University of South Florida.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josevalentino
Instagram: @josevalentinomusic