Meeting planners have a tough job, made all the tougher when they leave attendees grumbling.
Trade association staff charged with planning meetings and conventions have a tough job that entails endless details. I don't pretend to know more than they do about how to do their jobs.
This I do know, however -- some conventions and conferences run better than others. I've attended more than 150 of them during my quarter-century in the industry. They've spanned groups representing contractors, wholesalers, manufacturers, reps and engineers, with attendance ranging from dozens to thousands. I've gone to national, regional, state and local events, those with big budgets and shoestring budgets.