How would you compare the festival with other marketing events?
Marek: The question is whether such a comparison is even possible. The MF was so different, unique and superbly organised that, in my opinion, it cannot be compared to other Czech marketing events or conferences.
David: The festival definitely surpassed all the events I’ve been able to attend so far. Both education and entertainment were more than well catered for. I really take my hat off to Jindra (note: Jindřich Fáborský, the festival organiser); he did a tremendous amount of high-quality work.
How did you like the festival and what interested you most?
Marek: As I hinted at in my previous answer, I personally think it was the very best event I’ve ever attended. What caught my attention most was the overall atmosphere of the conference, which you could literally feel in every corner of the foyer and auditorium of the Janáček Theatre.
David: What caught my attention most was the communication leading up to the event. From accommodation recommendations, through problem-solving and answering queries, right up to the release of an e-book to help participants brush up on the necessary basics, everything was brilliant.
Which talk did you think was the best?
Marek: I can’t just mention one. 🙂 I’ll name two. The first was Niel Patel’s talk, which personally gave me a lot of practical advice on how to approach working with corporate and personal content. I’ll definitely be putting some of his tips to good use when preparing my own blog, which David and I are currently working on together. The second, and in some respects perhaps even better, talk was given by Jan Podzimek from Pria. It was a very pleasant surprise for me personally, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many practical and real-world examples at any other conference, even in a whole day.
David: I agree with Marek on this, and I’d like to add one more talk that caught my attention: ‘A video strategy for 2014’ by Phil Nottingham. Phil shared many interesting tips and insights on video marketing, but unfortunately he rattled off his words at machine-gun speed, and by the time I’d processed one idea, Phil was already three steps ahead. That’s why I’m looking forward to watching the recording of the talk in the comfort of my own home, which is, among other things, another positive aspect of the festival.
Which one, on the other hand, was the weakest?
Marek: Unfortunately, the answer is simple. Jan Zdarsa and his talk on display advertising. A talk that shouldn’t have been at the festival.
David: I agree with Marek again; Jan Zdarsa’s talk would have been among the best at most events, but unfortunately not here. Ondřej Sláma’s talk on the benefits of YouTube for marketing didn’t really grab me on first listen either, but I’ll definitely have another look at that one.
What about the accommodation and Brno? 🙂
Marek: Not bad for Brno, is it? But it’s true that when you book a four-star hotel (all the more so when it has the word ‘grand’ in its name), you’d expect a bit more than a musty, outdated room overlooking some dodgy alleyway.
David: The hotel was in a great location, everything was within walking distance, but otherwise I suppose I expected more. Still, the hotel wasn’t the main reason for our trip to Brno, so never mind. 🙂
Marek: I’d have to correct David here. Everything’s within walking distance in Brno, not just from the hotel in question. 🙂
How did you like the supporting programme and the after-parties?
Marek: I have to give credit again. The after-parties were so spectacular that they could have been considered separate and very successful events in their own right. Hats off to them.
David: I agree with Marek again. Brno isn’t nearly as bad as one might think. 🙂 In the end, we managed to see much more than the festival’s official programme offered, and for that I must thank my friend Bětka for her very informative tour of Brno by night.
What did an event like this give you?
Marek: Hope that there are capable people in the Czech Republic who want to learn, meet up and exchange their knowledge. And from a purely practical point of view, it gave me some valuable advice that I’ll apply in my work with our clients.
David: Generally speaking, I enjoy attending events like this; whether it’s a conference or a training session, I always come away with plenty of energy and inspiration for my future work, and this time was no different. I jotted down a few pages of potential improvements and we’re already trying to implement them.
Official video highlights from the Marketing Festival.
Useful links:
- Marketing Festival website – http://www.marketingfestival.cz
- Photo gallery from the conference – http://www.flickr.com/photos/berryphoto/with/11053102485/
David Ptáček and Marek Mencl
Further previews:
