1. 10 LESSONS FROM A LARGE CONFERENCE AHRC: LANDSCAPES OF SECRECY The CIA and the Contested Record of American Foreign Policy, 1947-2001 10 LESSONS FROM A LARGE CONFERENCE AHRC: LANDSCAPES OF SECRECY The CIA and the Contested Record of American Foreign Policy, 1947-2001

2. 1. Content is the key  Get the right people there  Ask well ahead  Sufficiently wide range of areas  New areas  Call for papers on emerging trends?  Round tables - informality  Get the right people there  Ask well ahead  Sufficiently wide range of areas  New areas  Call for papers on emerging trends?  Round tables - informality

3. 2: Planning Time  Nine months to a year ahead  Important to book your space  Visit alternative spaces  Set firm deadlines for your attendees  Early bird?  Nine months to a year ahead  Important to book your space  Visit alternative spaces  Set firm deadlines for your attendees  Early bird?

4. 3: Financial Issues  Sponsors - corporate crowd-sourcing  Registration fees - exhibitions  Contracts with conference centres  Financial regs  Audiovisual costs  Student fellowships/helpers/interns  Freeloaders – the professorial parasite  Sponsors - corporate crowd-sourcing  Registration fees - exhibitions  Contracts with conference centres  Financial regs  Audiovisual costs  Student fellowships/helpers/interns  Freeloaders – the professorial parasite

5. 4: Date and Location  Other conferences?  Slipstream a main conference?  Inexpensive accomm/airfares  Vegas?  Gregynog?  Other conferences?  Slipstream a main conference?  Inexpensive accomm/airfares  Vegas?  Gregynog?

6. 5: Create a Balanced Agenda  Well-known speakers versus early career  The ECF ghetto on the last day  Time for socializing and schmoozing  Book displays  How many parallels?  How early to start?  Well-known speakers versus early career  The ECF ghetto on the last day  Time for socializing and schmoozing  Book displays  How many parallels?  How early to start?

7. 6: Helpers/Organizing Committees  Can your department help?  Can you hire someone who has done it?  Can you expand your staff a month before?  Will the committee think up more tasks?  Web/marketing/funds/submissions/  dinner/prizes/expenses/accomm  Can your department help?  Can you hire someone who has done it?  Can you expand your staff a month before?  Will the committee think up more tasks?  Web/marketing/funds/submissions/  dinner/prizes/expenses/accomm

8. 7: Communicate Regularly  Meet monthly then weekly then daily  Meet with the venue people  Communications during the conference?  How will your participants communicate  List of attendees emails is helpful to all  Meet monthly then weekly then daily  Meet with the venue people  Communications during the conference?  How will your participants communicate  List of attendees emails is helpful to all

9. 8: Emergencies  Evacuation  Home emergencies  Medical  Security  Evacuation  Home emergencies  Medical  Security

10. 9: The End  Thanks  Feedback  The Party - not at the end  Next year?  Building a series?  Thanks  Feedback  The Party - not at the end  Next year?  Building a series?

11. 10: Long-term Impact  Published proceedings  Back Door Broadcasting - £3k  What are the alternatives?  London?  Annuals workshops?  Published proceedings  Back Door Broadcasting - £3k  What are the alternatives?  London?  Annuals workshops?