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Staging an event. Rachael & Rob British Postgraduate Philosophy Association Masterclass www.bppa-online.org.uk. Should you do it?. Transferable skills Collaboration Make a contribution to academic community. Some defining factors. What’s the event for? Who’s it for?
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Staging an event Rachael & Rob British Postgraduate Philosophy Association Masterclass www.bppa-online.org.uk
Should you do it? • Transferable skills • Collaboration • Make a contribution to academic community
Some defining factors • What’s the event for? • Who’s it for? • Length of conference: day or overnight? • Date of conference: term or vacation? • Price: how much should delegates pay?
Moneymoneymoney • Head of Department • AHRC • Journals and trusts • Publishers and magazines • Attendees
Checklist • Appoint a treasurer • Draw up a timetable • Plan the programme • Keynote address / speaker • Book venue / accommodation • Set selection criteria • Advertise. Set deadlines • Catering. Who can’t eat nuts?
Advertising • Emails. PHILOS-L, departments … • Focused campaign • Get suggestions from speaker • Website • Posters. Send to departments • Don’t forget to mention your sponsors • Shameless plugs…
Event Runs Itself • Well done you!
“Set yourself goals, high and noble goals, and perish in pursuit of them! I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible...” - Nietzsche
Should you do it? At times… • …things will go wrong • …you won’t be appreciated • …you’ll think ‘What am I doing?’ • …it will take more time than you thought • …you could go to jail
Some things you can’t plan for • Nature of event depends, partially, on who turns up • People might drop out • Acts of God. • Trains, floods, locked doors, fire drills, etc.
Moneymoneymoney • Outside academia, people are strange • People who give you money want things from you • Your projected costs are wrong • How much will people pay? Strike a balance • How little can you give someone without them being offended?
Attracting attendees • People don’t check their emails during the holidays • Asking for enough • Not asking for too much • There might be a last-minute rush • There might not be a last-minute rush
Event is stressful… • …but fun • Well done you!