One of my goals over the past 6 years has been to produce a real estate investing conference unlike any we've seen before. I believe that BiggerPockets is in a unique position to create a conference that changes the game . . . While most real estate investing events, seminars, clubs, conferences, etc., revolve around the guru crowd, I think the REI world is longing for something different. Just as we changed the game by creating a community dominated by actual investors and other real estate professionals with their feet on the ground, I think we can and must do the same with a BiggerPockets conference. With that in mind, I've been brainstorming this thing for a long time now, and have had a few false starts, but I've connected with someone that I believe can help us put on a hugely successful event. He has experience putting on various large and successful conventions, and we've begun to talk about how to proceed with one for BiggerPockets. That said, while I'm confident in my ideas, I would love to get yours as well! So . . . here are a few questions I've got for you.... 1) If BiggerPockets put on a conference, would you want to attend? 2) Would you be willing to travel (fly) to attend such an event? 3) Do you think 2 days would be adequate for a first shot at it? 4) What kinds of ideas do you have for sessions? 5) What would a BP conference look like to you? 6) Of the real estate and other events that you've attended, what is the one thing that you've liked the most? 7) The least? Feel free to add anything else to your post . . . I'm just looking to determine the level of enthusiasm and to get some ideas from all of you. So . . . are you psyched?

Uve, I've wondered about this too, but it does not need to be big or expensive to be successful, in fact, if only the people who have responded in this thread came, I'd stil go and am confident I'd be happy with the return on investment of my time and money. Also this kind of event could be a tipping point for BP to go to another level.

Sounds awesome Josh! 1. I would definitely attend. 2. Yup...you would have to if you wanted to attend 3. 2 days is probably fine. I would love for it to be longer, but that is probably great for a first event 4. The sessions could have people present on different topics. There are tons of investors on here and I am sure you could start a thread to solicit interest from potential presenters. You could then have people vote on who they want to see present the most or some such 5. Half presentations and half mixers/networking. Perhaps a few hours of presentation followed by structure networking followed by more presentations followed by more networking 6. I think the best events are the ones that have people hit the highlights during their presentations and encourage networking. Hours and hours of lecture doesn't make for a very appealing event IMO 7. Events where people pitch stuff in their presentation or are non-experts on subjects with an agenda I think one of the big things missing from the experience you are looking to create are local groups too. If BP could structure leaders for local groups and coordinate times for club meetings that would make the whole experience much more powerful IMO. I have met with many BP people by phone and in person and it adds a whole new dimension to the networking. Periodic structured BP club meetings would be very powerful.

Ok gang . . . some updates: 1 - I've got someone to help me get things moving. 2 - We're going to check out a venue tomorrow. 3 - We're probably aiming to put this on in February (perfect for a post-conference ski weekend) 4 - I'm very hopeful that we're going to pull this off in a big way! I'll likely be starting new threads soon to garner interest for things like sponsors, give aways, speakers, and more . . . stay tuned.

Normally I might want to follow what track or another, but in this case I would probably more more concerned about who was teaching what and exploring other areas outside of my main focus. The networking will be the biggest draw for me as well. I would hope not to get so busy that I had no chance to meet so many of my fellow BPers. There are a great many that I would like to meet in person and get to know better.

i am beyond excited for the idea of this conference. The networking that will naturally occur is worth its weight in gold. No matter where its at, I would travel to it. I think creating "Tracks" that are linked to the forum catagories currently laid out, would give attendees an opportunity to learn about a variety of investing concepts, such as notes, commercial re, or tax and legal.

I like Charles Perkins replies verbatim! In seminars I've attended and presented at, it seems the more well-received were the ones oriented to Q&A with short answers and also short presentations. Many presentations go long and don't cover info particular attendees are interested in. I'd attend no matter where it was held. I don't like the seminars that are peddling either inside or outside. A real estate conference is NOT a bunch of booths or gurus selling books, tapes, rehab programs etc, imo. There are folks on here I'd love to ask questions! Limit the questions per attendee and time to reply to something reseanable.Rich

with all due respect howard, this is something i would skip...i don't want to get business cards thrown at me...i'd rather meet with less people but get to know them and their businesses, and i'd hope that's what they'd want from me as well

I think Josh is still holding out on some more of the lurkers speaking up... where are you lurkers??? The bottom line is if we don't have at least 100 or so people going, it isn't practical to make this happen. In terms of getting a venue, enticing vendors to come (and thus pay for some of it), etc... all depend on the numbers. I don't think we can get a venue for an event with like 20 people. And I don't think a vendor would drop any cash or bother to travel to only have a shot at selling something to 20 people. Realistically, if 100 people post in this thread saying they'd like to go, we will be lucky if 20 of them actually end up going. A lot of people are all talk. Some people will have last minute excuses. Others are borderline not able to afford this, and the location and final cost will ultimately affect whether or not they can even go. So, if Josh needs say 100-200 people (that figure is a guess on my part but I'm quite confident the real number is at least > 100) to ATTEND in order to make this work, then that means we need several hundred, if not a couple thousand, members posting here saying that they want to go. It's like mortgage brokering, or showing apartments, or website traffic conversion (the number of visitors that actually click an ad on your site or buy your product) or anything else... it's a numbers game. If you show an apartment to a bunch of people, several of them will swear up and down that it's the nicest place they have ever scene and they can't wait to move in and they are totally serious but then it will often turn out that either they can't come up with the deposit and 1st month's rent, or they will just flake out and change their mind or say they found a better place. And this always seems to happen at the last minute. So... in my opinion... we need a LOT MORE PEOPLE to express interest here in order for Josh to start seriously working on setting this up. It's not fair to expect him to invest his time in it otherwise.

I was thinking of one of those boxing rings that they have at carnivals or maybe even having the sumo grudge match room with the inflatable sumo suits. Keep the ideas (serious ones) coming...

BiggerPockets Real Estate Conference: Is it time?

Joshua D.Pro Member

OP

BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes

15y

Since people are craving an update, here it is.

The BP team will soon have a new addition, and as such, I've been putting most of my time and energy into ensuring that happens. Once that happens (in the next 2 weeks), I'll be spending the following few weeks focused on an important project relevant to the future of the company. After that, I believe will be the appropriate time to start planning this thing . . . I hope that helps!

Podcast Guest on Show #100

2 Reply

Toni D.

Rehabber · Fillmore, CA · Member since 2011 · 116 posts · 11 votes

15y

Josh,
If your event is as informative & successful as BP forum is now, your conference will ROCK!!!!

1) If BiggerPockets put on a conference, would you want to attend?
YES!!

2) Would you be willing to travel (fly) to attend such an event?
Yes, but not too far as there is a need to adjust to time difference, especially 3 hours! The cost of flying in a day earlier to adjust is additional monies.

3) Do you think 2 days would be adequate for a first shot at it?
2 days would be perfect, otherwise it could be an overload

4) What kinds of ideas do you have for sessions?
My thoughts would be in categories- beginner-no experience, no flips or buy & holds, etc, complete virgin, sessions or education would be based on that
medium experience-someone who has completed 3 or more-topics geared to that group
advanced-same here too
Private Funding is a real big topic.
Basically attending different sessions, but certain topics require more time than others. Cant seat for the entire time, would lose the attendees, moving from room to room.
Bottom line, topics that we can run with when we go home!

5) What would a BP conference look like to you?
Please dont use WF or BofA or any big banks because dealing with big banks on a daily basis havent convinced me that they are willing to work with consumers. I'd prefer to hear from some HML & Private Money speakers who actually can explain to us what they are looking for when they are approached by us. Possibly Credit Unions & Community Banks who have worked with RE Investors & share their criteria.
Think I gave you feedback for this in the last question.

6) Of the real estate and other events that you've attended, what is the one thing that you've liked the most?
The educational part from experts & experienced investors from different parts of the country

7) The least?
Bringing in speakers whose goal is only to sell their products!!!!

Feel free to add anything else to your post . . . I'm just looking to determine the level of enthusiasm and to get some ideas from all of you.
For me, personally it is how to find private funding because I realize that our own cash can only do 2 deals at a time, so now we are looking to flip 3-4 at the same time. In order to accomplish this, I need to learn how to find private funding.

So . . . are you psyched?
1000%

Debating to attend a 3 day Private Funding event in July, so if BP is having a conference, I'd forgo this, since it will cost me a lot of money! So I hope you can organize this soon! Will be in Hon & Kaui from end of Aug to Mid of Sept, hint, hint, LOL!!!
Thank you so much for your BP Forum!! It has helped me with our Investing Journey!!!

1 Reply

Toni D.

Rehabber · Fillmore, CA · Member since 2011 · 116 posts · 11 votes

15y

Bryan is correct that not everybody has seen this thread, as I just am reading it tonight! I dont get to read it everyday!
A survey to members would be a great idea! Looks like my comments are a bit late, but I did express my thoughts!
Las Vegas would be great, LA even better, closer to me, LOL! Sun-Tues wuld be perfect, hotel rates are cheaper!

BiggerPockets Real Estate Conference: Is it time?

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