Where Do You Sit?
Have you noticed that people will choose their seats depending on the situation?
In a concert or sporting event who wouldn’t want to be in the front row . . . and yet if we’re talking about a class or conference, more often than not the front row (and usually the 2nd and 3rd rows) are avoided like the plague.
The reason is usually fear. Fear of being in the spotlight, of being called upon to answer a question, of having nowhere to hide.
The back row is ‘safe’, the front row, terrifying for many.
My Experience With The Front Row
Last month I attended the Inbound Marketing Summit in San Francisco. The room was reasonably full when I arrived but the first few rows were completely empty. I chose to sit in the 4th row, about a ¼ of the way from the front. Not the front row, but definitely visible.
I hadn’t attended many conferences and this was my first to attend solo. While I’m reasonably chatty I don’t usually make a habbit of wandering straight up to strangers and striking up a conversaion, but this was a 2 day conference so I would need to talk to some people. My plan was to become active on the twitter hashtag #ims11, get involved in the conversation and then go seek those people out.
Shortly before our first break I noticed a woman, Jackie Shelley, tweeting about how all the fabulous people were in the front row, I tweeted back to see if the 4th row counted, Jackie agreed that I could be fabulous in the 4th row although Brandon Yanofsky was informed point blank that the back row was no good! However post lunch I had been recruited to the ‘fabulous front row’ to join both Jackie and Lois Ardito, and then Brandon joined us a few sessions later.
Sitting in the front row for the conference was great for a lot of reasons. Not only is it easier to see the slides and give each session your full attention (without the distractions of ‘people watching’) but I met some great people!
Life After The Front Row
One month later and Jackie, Lois, Brandon and myself are all still in contact and have even started our own podcast, discussing all things marketing, business and life related.
By our second podcast Jackie had a new business venture, her own company, appropriately called, Front Row Antics!
Today was our fourth podcast and Lois mentioned that she now uses the idea of the ‘front row’ as a positive mentality, deciding that today will be a ‘front row day’, meaning all engines are firing and the day will be met head on. I absolutely love this idea and will try to make most days front row days!
So there you have it, sitting in the front row resulted in friendship, a podcast, a new business and a new mentality. Remember that the next time you have to choose your seat…!
Who would have ever thought that being available and open to the idea of placing one’s self in the front row would or could lead to 4 unlikely people becoming friends and partners in-inspiration! I must have been in a “front row” state of mind that day and super glad I was or I would have missed the opportunity to have Jackie, Brandon and you in my life. It was supposed to happen, no question about it.
Lois #frontrowantics
Definitely. Love how social media keeps us all connected across thousands of miles and several timezones too!
brilliant
Thanks Catherine!
We only have one life and it’s best to be in the front row literally and metaphorically speaking. Mind you it can have its problems as I found out once at Earls Court in UK when I went to see Tom Peters and Sir Bob Geldof.
The Tom Peters bit worked out fine – he remembered me and used the occasion to go on a 3 minute rant about my book (Tom has an amazing memory) – so far so good.
Later on that day I am in the front row wanting to ask Bob Geldof a question – very long story, but it turned out that I was sitting next to a stalker who claimed to be his estranged wife from Africa – Imagine my surprise and the look that I got as Bob assumed I was something to do with her! :-)(
Peter Cook
Author ‘Sex, Leadership and Rock’n’Roll’
Moral of the story…sit in the front row but be careful who you sit beside?! Sounds like that was quite a day for you! Hopefully Bob realised you weren’t actually best friends with his ‘wife’ 🙂
Thanks for reading.
Sarah
Very long story, but I think he might have – I did not get the chance to correct his impression as he went off to another appointment so I wrote to him about it some months later
Congratulations on stepping out of your comfort zone! I like the back row because I’m a big picture person. I’m very sensitive to my environment and as a coach I work with people to shift their lives by shifting their environments. Seems to me you had an intention to learn more and to be more engaged. Changing your environment supported you in making the shift and getting what you wanted. Way to go!
Linda@LindaHardenstein.com
Thanks Linda. Always good to step out of the comfort zone occasionally!
Thanks for reading.
Sarah
With the exception of Blue Man Group and Seaworld, I would agree that fear of participation kept me out of the front row for many years. Then something wonderful happened: I grew past it. I realized that missing out was not as much fun.
The great thing about Blue Man is that they don’t care if you’re in the back row, they are going to involve you in the show. I love that they do that!
Here’s to you, Jackie, Lois, Brian and all the rest who gladly live in the front row. May we all get soaked clothes from the water and hoarse throats from the laughter!
Life is for sharing! (Tamara Schenk)
Don F Perkins
http://donfperkins.com