The real estate industry loves to have conventions, but time and profitability constraints on attendees are influencing how conventions are planned. Here's a look at two types of gatherings that have been successful over the last three years by relying on voice and online technologies.

Three years ago, the horrors of September 11th hadn't occurred yet, but conventions were already beginning to decline due to their sheer proliferation, becoming tedious to many brokers. Some brokers were complaining about the sheer number of technology conventions, franchise conventions, state conventions, and more. Asset management conventions, where attendance is all but required to continue receiving REO referrals, were also burgeoning.

Clearly, to get the brokers to attend, something had to change.

Karen Gehle, CEO of the Kansas Association of Realtors had the idea for a regional broker profitability conference three years ago. She asked Jeremy Conaway with RECON Intelligence Services, an association and broker advisory company, to help her and her staff arrange the conference itinerary and to facilitate.

Along with broker panels and discussions, the seminar features "call-ins" from national experts which saves costs on flying in speakers and opens the pool of experts to include many who aren't on the speaker's circuit but who have something valid to say. Call-ins also keeps the program flowing quickly with more contributors. Conaway co-facilitates with Steve Murray, co-founder of RealTrends, and they use a Getner machine which allows the expert to call into the venue at an appointed time.

"It makes your voice sound really good, and we put your picture and website up on the big screens," explains Conaway. "The experts make about ten minutes worth of comments relative to your view of the present day real estate industry from a broker perspective, and then the brokers have ten minutes to ask you questions."

So far, brokers who attend enjoy the call-in aspect. "We appreciate the willingness of our experts to take time out of their busy schedules to share their thoughts and ideas," says Gehle.

The "Driving Broker Profits Seminar" is attended annually in person by about 100 brokers from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Colorado. The third broker profitability seminar was held yesterday.

The Third Annual National Real Estate On-Line Convention and Exposition

The Real Estate CyberSpace Society is hosting its third annual online convention from April 18th through the 24th, 2004. Over 31,000 attendees have preregistered, according to Jack Peckham, the society's founder.

"Registrations are coming in at an average of about five per minute for the last two days," says Peckham, "the word is out that the convention's opening on Sunday, and we have the biggest rush on attendance now."

The convention will attract the largest gathering of real estate professionals to ever convene, says Peckham, exceeding last years event by over 15,000 attendees.

"At the present rate of registration," says Peckham, "the event is expected to attract in excess of 50,000 attendees over the seven-day event.

"The convention is free to Realtors and the real estate community at large and is supported by sponsors. Attendees will learn from 32 top-notch nationally recognized speakers including Barbara Corcoran and Stefan Swanepoel, see the latest products and services at the 300+ booths, make contacts at the Convention's Virtual Networking Center and be able to enjoy some fun and relaxation in the Convention On-line Social Center," says Peckham. "Visitors to the Expo may be surprised to find fishbowls on the booth tabletops, an Expo Food Court and even Men's and Woman's rest rooms with working "plumbing'!"

According to Peckham over 300 booths have already been committed for the products and services Exposition. The Booths will be open 24 hours a day during the event. Every exhibitor will award a valuable door prize from their booths. Peckham explained, "Over $20,000 in prizes were given away last year with an even greater array expected this year. All of the door prizes will be indexed at the Expo so visitors can be at any drawing they choose with one click."

Sponsors include Century 21Real Estate Corporation and Realty Times, among many others.

"The only things missing will be out of pocket costs and time away from home! No airfare! No hotel bills! No lost shoe leather! No aching muscles, travel hassle or registration fees!" says Peckham. Real estate professionals can obtain more information and register at: www.REcyber.com/preconvention.

Published: April 14, 2004

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.