--- title: "Talkin’ FailFest: A Couple of #Tech16 Highlights" id: "36247" type: "post" slug: "talkin-failfest-a-couple-of-tech16-highlights" published_at: "2016-12-14T23:28:19+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T18:12:22+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/12/14/talkin-failfest-a-couple-of-tech16-highlights/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/12/14/talkin-failfest-a-couple-of-tech16-highlights.md" excerpt: "Why FailFest, despite the heartaches that drove the session, was so important. Also: One slide that really kind of says it all." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "conferences" - "Live Events" - "Professional Development" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Talkin’ FailFest: A Couple of #Tech16 Highlights Regarding what happened at yesterday’s FailFest at the ASAE’s 2016 Technology Conference & Expo, I can’t tell you exactly what happened. Like everyone else there, I’ve been sworn to secrecy. http://twitter.com/Satovich/status/809036522980802561 But I can give you an idea of what transpired. Third-generation association pro Reggie Henry, CAE, ASAE’s chief information and engagement officer, led a forum—a safe space, as the kids call it—where execs could discuss an array of embarrassing failures from their own organizations or others. Sagas involving payment systems, embarrassing coding errors, or poor rollouts ruled the roost. Some people lost their jobs. Some people got lucky and skated by. But all got people thinking. The event was fun and as interesting as an Ignite session. It helped Tech attendees show their human sides. Way too often, conferences seem to linger on the success stories rather than on the belly flops. But sometimes, the belly flops are what people need to hear. ### Dull Goes In, Dull Comes Out > This is my favorite slide. [#Tech16 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tech16?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/a6p63KrRdV (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/a6p63KrRdV) > > — Ernie Smith (@ErnieSmithAN) [December 13, 2016 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/ErnieSmithAN/status/808745294527602688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **During Tuesday’s** “Advanced Web Analytics: Get A 360-Degree View of Your Users,” speakers Stephanie Yamkovenko and Juan Sanchez of the American Occupational Therapy Association and Jen Borland of Beaconfire RED showed off the potential sophistication your organization could aim for with Google Analytics. But that kind of approach requires a shift in thinking. Which is why this slide was such a great way to intro the session. Same dull thinking? Same dull result. ### What’s Happening Beyond #Tech16 **What’s next for events?** At *Event Manager Blog*, Julius Solaris says he is asked this question often. [And his answer may not be what you expect (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/the-next-biggest-thing-in-events) . **Use social media to drive volunteer giving:** Over at the Neon CRM website, Volunteer Match’s Basil Sadiq [offers a few smart ideas on the issue (opens in a new tab)](https://www.neoncrm.com/encourage-volunteer-giving-on-social/) . **There’s not always a silver lining:** [Lifehacker makes the case (opens in a new tab)](http://lifehacker.com/why-you-shouldnt-always-look-for-the-silver-lining-1790065401) that it’s not always a good thing to look for an upside in a bad situation. “Without those negative emotions, you won’t learn from it and adapt so it doesn’t happen again,” Patrick Allan writes. (iStock/Thinkstock) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. 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