It's Your House....
Hosting an event is like hosting a party at your house. In the prep stage, there are hundreds of details to think about...and, as my wife has taught me, they are all important.
But, once in showtime, you can't be too prescriptive.
You want your guests to feel comfortable. You want them to have a good time. As a host, you'll never talk to anyone for a long period of time, but you can introduce people to each other.
Same is true for an event. I don't have data to back this up, but I bet people go to events as often to meet other interesting, cool people as they do to listen to you...and I would also bet that they'll get more value from meeting their peers than listening to you (or me!)
BUT....and here's where it is cool. If you are the person who helps facilitate that intro, then you have a place in your customer's mind as a connector, a value-adder, someone who helps them.
It's not Us versus Them. We're here to have a good time. You're just the host.
