HippoCamp 2018: Overall Conference Survey

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* 1. Please rate the following aspects of the conference center, the Lancaster Marriott.

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	N/A
Conference Venue Overall (Lancaster Marriott)	Conference Venue Overall (Lancaster Marriott) Excellent	Conference Venue Overall (Lancaster Marriott) Good	Conference Venue Overall (Lancaster Marriott) Fair	Conference Venue Overall (Lancaster Marriott) Poor	Conference Venue Overall (Lancaster Marriott) N/A
Conference Hotel and Banquet Staff/Service	Conference Hotel and Banquet Staff/Service Excellent	Conference Hotel and Banquet Staff/Service Good	Conference Hotel and Banquet Staff/Service Fair	Conference Hotel and Banquet Staff/Service Poor	Conference Hotel and Banquet Staff/Service N/A
Opening Reception	Opening Reception Excellent	Opening Reception Good	Opening Reception Fair	Opening Reception Poor	Opening Reception N/A
Saturday Breakfast Buffet	Saturday Breakfast Buffet Excellent	Saturday Breakfast Buffet Good	Saturday Breakfast Buffet Fair	Saturday Breakfast Buffet Poor	Saturday Breakfast Buffet N/A
Saturday Lunch Buffet	Saturday Lunch Buffet Excellent	Saturday Lunch Buffet Good	Saturday Lunch Buffet Fair	Saturday Lunch Buffet Poor	Saturday Lunch Buffet N/A
Snacks and Beverage Breaks	Snacks and Beverage Breaks Excellent	Snacks and Beverage Breaks Good	Snacks and Beverage Breaks Fair	Snacks and Beverage Breaks Poor	Snacks and Beverage Breaks N/A
Sunday Breakfast	Sunday Breakfast Excellent	Sunday Breakfast Good	Sunday Breakfast Fair	Sunday Breakfast Poor	Sunday Breakfast N/A
Sunday Lunch	Sunday Lunch Excellent	Sunday Lunch Good	Sunday Lunch Fair	Sunday Lunch Poor	Sunday Lunch N/A
Session Room Atmosphere (comfort, size, etc.)	Session Room Atmosphere (comfort, size, etc.) Excellent	Session Room Atmosphere (comfort, size, etc.) Good	Session Room Atmosphere (comfort, size, etc.) Fair	Session Room Atmosphere (comfort, size, etc.) Poor	Session Room Atmosphere (comfort, size, etc.) N/A
Hotel Rooms (if applicable)	Hotel Rooms (if applicable) Excellent	Hotel Rooms (if applicable) Good	Hotel Rooms (if applicable) Fair	Hotel Rooms (if applicable) Poor	Hotel Rooms (if applicable) N/A

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* 2. Please rate the helpfulness/friendliness of conference organizers and volunteers.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Comments (such as, was anyone particularly helpful?)

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* 3. Please rate the following general sessions/panels.

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	N/A
Orientation	Orientation Excellent	Orientation Good	Orientation Fair	Orientation Poor	Orientation N/A
Friday Author Readings - Friday	Friday Author Readings - Friday Excellent	Friday Author Readings - Friday Good	Friday Author Readings - Friday Fair	Friday Author Readings - Friday Poor	Friday Author Readings - Friday N/A
Debut Author Panel - Friday	Debut Author Panel - Friday Excellent	Debut Author Panel - Friday Good	Debut Author Panel - Friday Fair	Debut Author Panel - Friday Poor	Debut Author Panel - Friday N/A
HippoCamp Story Slam - Friday	HippoCamp Story Slam - Friday Excellent	HippoCamp Story Slam - Friday Good	HippoCamp Story Slam - Friday Fair	HippoCamp Story Slam - Friday Poor	HippoCamp Story Slam - Friday N/A
Flash Sessions - Sunday	Flash Sessions - Sunday Excellent	Flash Sessions - Sunday Good	Flash Sessions - Sunday Fair	Flash Sessions - Sunday Poor	Flash Sessions - Sunday N/A
Publishing Panel - Sunday	Publishing Panel - Sunday Excellent	Publishing Panel - Sunday Good	Publishing Panel - Sunday Fair	Publishing Panel - Sunday Poor	Publishing Panel - Sunday N/A
Closing Remarks	Closing Remarks Excellent	Closing Remarks Good	Closing Remarks Fair	Closing Remarks Poor	Closing Remarks N/A

Any other comments?

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* 4. Did you enjoy Lancaster Story Slam's HippoCamp edition?

LOVED it!

Liked it!

It was OK.

I did not enjoy it.

No opinion

NA/Did not attend

Comments

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* 5. Please rate our keynote speakers.

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	N/A
Beth Kephart - Opening Keynote	Beth Kephart - Opening Keynote Excellent	Beth Kephart - Opening Keynote Good	Beth Kephart - Opening Keynote Fair	Beth Kephart - Opening Keynote Poor	Beth Kephart - Opening Keynote N/A
Abigail Thomas - Headlining Keynote	Abigail Thomas - Headlining Keynote Excellent	Abigail Thomas - Headlining Keynote Good	Abigail Thomas - Headlining Keynote Fair	Abigail Thomas - Headlining Keynote Poor	Abigail Thomas - Headlining Keynote N/A
Amma Marfo - Closing Keynote	Amma Marfo - Closing Keynote Excellent	Amma Marfo - Closing Keynote Good	Amma Marfo - Closing Keynote Fair	Amma Marfo - Closing Keynote Poor	Amma Marfo - Closing Keynote N/A

Any other comments?

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* 6. Now we'd like to ask about the programming, specifically on the amount of sessions and options.

HippoCamp had too much on the schedule.

HippoCamp had just enough on the schedule.

HippoCamp didn't have enough on the schedule.

Comments

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* 7. What are some reasons you chose to attend HippoCamp? (select all that apply)

Location (convenient, somewhere you wanted to visit, etc.)

Priced right

Amount of programming

Variety of programming

Focus on creative nonfiction

For a specific speaker or session (please notate below)

Its association with Hippocampus Magazine

Friends/Colleagues also attending

Opportunity to speak or volunteer

Comments

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* 8. We're priced competitively for a conference of our size with the amenities included (meals, snack/beverage breaks, three keynotes, reception), and we'd like to know your thoughts about the value of the registration for this conference as compared to others in this niche market.

HippoCamp was underpriced for the programming and extras included.

HippoCamp was overpriced for the programming and extras included.

HippoCamp was priced just right for the programming and extras included.

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* 9. I would recommend HippoCamp to a friend or colleague:

Yes

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* 10. Say you were available and had the funds: would you attend HippoCamp 2019?

Yes

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* 11. What was the highlight of HippoCamp for you?

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* 12. Conference Communication: We sent emails to registered attendees filled with information leading up to the conference, including one month, two weeks, one week. Please let us know how we did.

HippoCamp sent too many conference-related emails. I was overwhelmed.

HippoCamp sent just enough conference-related emails. I felt ready and informed.

HippoCamp did not send enough conference-related emails. I wanted more information.

I registered too close to event to receive these notifications.

NA/No opinion

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* 13. Conference Communication: Once registered for the conference (meaning not promotional messages) how do you prefer to learn about conference updates and reminders? We added some methods we're considering using next year. You may choose more than one.

Conference website

Conference blog

Twitter

Facebook - Hippocampus Magazine official

Facebook - Private conference group

Instagram

Postal Mail

Text

Phone

Other (please specify)

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* 14. We're exploring keynote speakers for next year. Is there anyone - in or outside publishing - that you would like to hear from? If so, please share your idea below.

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* 15. In our call for proposals, we'd love to list a few "wish list" ideas based on what our attendees want. List up to three topics ideas you'd love to see at HippoCamp. (For example, this year's Quiet Memoir, Dialogue and After 40 topics came from last year's suggestions for the wish list.)

Idea 1

Idea 2

Idea 3

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* 16. Please share any other conference feedback in the space below.

Next, we'd like to ask some general conference questions. Your answers will helpful as we make plans for future years.

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* 17. What type of conference programming do you enjoy? Select all that apply.

Breakout sessions (60-min. lecture-style sessions led by peer in field, smaller in size)

General sessions (sessions for all attendees at once)

Panel discussions (several people answering questions, led by a moderator)

Flash sessions/lightning round talks

Keynote events (higher profile individuals speaking on a topic in his or her expertise)

Author readings

Attendee readings - open mic

Workshop-style sessions (smaller, intimate hands-on sessions)

Story Slam

Peer-to-peer workshopping

One-on-one critique with agent or editor

Free-writing time

Other (please specify)

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* 18. How many multi-day writing events do you attend in a typical year?

One

Two

Three

Four or more

Other (please specify)

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* 19. What others writing conferences do you attend/have interest in? This will help us choose the best, non-conflicting dates as possible.

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* 20. What are some of your writing goals and/or reasons you may attend a conference; you may select more than one.

Book Publication

Essay/Article Publication

Find Agent Representation

Pursue Writing Degree (MA, MFA, etc.)

Improve My Craft

Grow My Personal Network

Grow My Professional Network

Learn More About Marketing/Platform

Write for Personal Satisfaction/Enjoyment

Write to Supplement My Income

Writing as Main Source of Income

Other (please specify)

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* 21. From the list below (same as above), which is the MOST important to you?

Book Publication

Essay/Article Publication

Find Agent Representation

Pursue Writing Degree (MA, MFA, etc.)

Improve My Craft

Grow My Personal Network

Grow My Professional Network

Learn More About Marketing/Platform

Write for Personal Satisfaction/Enjoyment

Write to Supplement My Income

Writing as Main Source of Income

Other (please specify)

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* 22. As we plan for 2020 and future years (we already have 2019 booked), we'd like to know how you feel about our location. You may check more than one answer.

Keep it in your hometown of Lancaster, PA. The current location is important to me.

Keep it in the Mid-Atlantic region. The current general region is important to me.

I'd follow HippoCamp wherever it goes if the dates/budget fit my needs.

Consider the west coast.

Consider the southeast.

Consider the southwest.

Consider the midwest.

Consider New England.

Comments:

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* 23. Hippocampus may host other types of learning events. Which of these might you have an interest in? You may select more than one.

Multi-day writing retreat, limited to a dozen or so attendees.

One-day "HippoCamp Minis" in locations around the country - some panels and break-out sessions.

Online, live presentations or webinars.

Off-site readings at AWP.

Other (please specify)

Thank you for attending and for your feedback!