Advice: Sit at the front
Here's something that really annoys me.
If you've spent good money (or if your company has spent good money) on a conference or a lecture the least you can do is sit at the bloody front.
If you look closely at the picture above (bottom left, in a bit) you can see me and Beeker sat right at the front. I'm in the gold corduroy jacket, Beeker is the one looking slightly pissed off because I made her sit at the front.
What's wrong with sitting at the front? It's not bloody school.
You're probably going to hear some really interesting people so you want to be as close as you can, don't you? It's not like a fucking Derren Brown show where they're going to drag you out of the audience and make you give a stuffed donkey a blow job. So sit at the front. Ta.
rubbish - sit at the back. You're closer to food, booze and the exit. No, sit at the back.
Posted by: Marcus | Apr 24, 2007 at 11:29
Got to go with Marcus (unless the hall's acoustics are crap, in which case, go to the front).
For gigs - always in the middle.
Posted by: Will | Apr 24, 2007 at 11:51
It doesn't matter where I sit, I've never been invited to give a stuffed donkey a blow job. Maybe it's because I don't have a gold corduroy jacket.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | Apr 24, 2007 at 12:06
I'm always late so it's the first free seat closest to the door that's for me.
Posted by: Richard | Apr 24, 2007 at 12:20
Is that gold or.... beige?
Posted by: Charles | Apr 24, 2007 at 12:32
Charles - it's gold alright.
Others - you're all mad. I guess there are two types of people in the world, those that sit at the front and those that sit at the back.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 24, 2007 at 13:27
I think this proves that you're an optimist - those who lurk at the back suspect the talk will be crap and want an exit strategy.
Posted by: John Dodds | Apr 24, 2007 at 13:32
Whereas your exit strategy would involve a long walk during which your golden cape would take all the attention!
Posted by: John Dodds | Apr 24, 2007 at 13:33
ahahahahaha
this reminds me of one of our gigs at fitzroy square where you design conspiracy lot sat so close to the front we were almost treading on your toes!
but its good advice, for some reason people think its cool to sit at the back. IT ISNT - FACT.
Posted by: claire Gates | Apr 24, 2007 at 14:05
That's the spirit Claire.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 24, 2007 at 14:06
Rubbish - sitting at the back practical. Especially when you smoke. Or need to go to the loo.
Posted by: Marcus | Apr 24, 2007 at 14:23
People still smoke?
Posted by: Ben | Apr 24, 2007 at 14:33
I sat at the back so my typing wouldnt annoy people!
Though I did say to Beeker I would go to the front in the afternoon...and then you both moved back!
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | Apr 24, 2007 at 14:38
What's this? What's this? Are you saying that Ben MOVED TO THE BACK? Surely not?
That would make Ben a back AND front sitter.
And yes Ben, still smoke and still go to the loo.
Posted by: Marcus | Apr 24, 2007 at 15:01
Cross your legs and get a nicotine patch for gawd's sake!
Posted by: claire Gates | Apr 24, 2007 at 15:17
Good to see you haven't entirely given up on the blogosphere Marcus. And the smoking doesn't really matter to me (as long as you only do it in Germany).
Posted by: davidthedesigner | Apr 24, 2007 at 15:37
Nearly gone David. Nearly gone. Just got to sort this nonsense out before I finally pop off.
Posted by: Marcus | Apr 24, 2007 at 15:46
My students always sit at the back and then I have a go at them. All my colleagues complain that students sit at the back.
Go to an academic conference and guess what? Everyone sits at the back.
The trick is to
a) kick all the empty chairs out of the way and move forwards (I did that once - worked a treat)
b) take the podium to the back of the room
Posted by: Jonathan | Apr 24, 2007 at 19:04
Johnathan - useful advise, for academics and brilliant for showing who is control. Although, I must point out, that attendance is such a situation is probably more important than actually listening to what is beng said.
No, I'm sorry, sitting at the back is the only sensible thing to do regarless of where the podium is.
[cue arguments for the round]
Posted by: Marcus | Apr 24, 2007 at 19:16
there's something excruciating about the...well the effrontery of sitting right at the front. for someone as stupidly English as me. i don't want to be like that. so i love it when people like Ben make me sit at the front. love it and hate it. and spend my whole time trying not to catch speakers' eyes.
Posted by: beeker | Apr 24, 2007 at 20:46
Sitting right at the front is a hazard to your neck. Sitting at the back is better, but as long as I can see and hear, I'm fine.
Posted by: Ben H | Apr 25, 2007 at 07:14
Ben, not sure if you've seen this:
http://earz-mag.com/2007/March/Why_Ban_Comic_Sans.html
Oh, and always the back - exit strategy. Unless I really, really want to hear someone speak - in which case, it's the front.
Posted by: Will | Apr 25, 2007 at 10:06
erm, sit where you want. unless your boss is a nazi
Posted by: free | Apr 25, 2007 at 17:34