How to get $1,000 for a cup of coffee

26 replies
Hi All,

I attended an all day seminar today. It went from 9am to 5pm.

The presenters were very enthusiastic and energetic and I did learn some great things.

They announced at the beginning of the class that they would be serving a "working lunch" which was a surprise as lunch was not advertised as part of the deal.

The one thing that was missing, NO coffee or tea. Not even with lunch.

In the morning the first presenter did pretty well, I estimate that he made at least $20,000.

The second presenter did well also.

By the end of the day the last two presenters did not do that well and I attribute that it was due to there being no coffee in the room. I'm serious.

As a matter of fact in the middle of the 4th presenters presentation when he got an answer to his question from an attendee who yawned in the middle of his answer the presenter noted to the attendant in the back of the room. "Next time get the coffee service."

A couple of attendees walked a block for the $2 coffee and a couple went to the hotel cafe for the $5 coffee but most just sat there and yawned through the last two presentations.

NOTE to self: If I ever do a seminar, serve Coffee and Tea.

George Wright
#coffee #serve #stupid
  • Profile picture of the author CurtisN
    This secret alone could be worth thousands of dollars or more to someone's business. You should be selling this as a one page report for $97 or something!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chiayee
    curtis.. you are funny. Still, I can't agree more !
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Ambrose
    Very interesting view George. If I ever get to host a seminar and mine is towards the end of the day, I will have coffee served (as well as something to get the audience involved at the start to switch them back on again!)
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Grish
    It is important to keep your audience awake.

    Much like how a casino pumps in O2 like crazy to keep the gamblers wide awake and kickin..
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Stanley
      Originally Posted by Steve Grish View Post

      It is important to keep your audience awake.

      Much like how a casino pumps in O2 like crazy to keep the gamblers wide awake and kickin..
      They may pump in scent, but certainly not oxygen. Imagine the fire hazard with all of those people lighting up.
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      • Profile picture of the author Charles E. White
        Originally Posted by Eric Stanley View Post

        They may pump in scent, but certainly not oxygen. Imagine the fire hazard with all of those people lighting up.
        Actually, many casinos have went to non-smoking.....against my wishes!


        George, you are absolutely right! Wright, in your case! Coffee would have probably done wonders especially as the day wore on.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
      Originally Posted by Steve Grish View Post

      Much like how a casino pumps in O2 like crazy to keep the gamblers wide awake and kickin..
      Casinos don't actually do this. I assume you were just kidding around.
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    • Profile picture of the author danweb
      Banned
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  • Profile picture of the author salesmanger
    I would love to know some details on how that all went... or even better would have love to have been there sounds like a good way to learn some killer tips
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    • Profile picture of the author Martin Luxton
      George,

      Are you going to do some split testing?

      Colombian coffee drinkers conversions vs. Kenyan coffee drinkers conversions

      Seriously though. It's also about the time of day and concentration. Two seminars a day is enough for anybody and most people have an energy dip in the early afternoon.

      Martin
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      • Profile picture of the author adamv
        Originally Posted by Steve Grish View Post

        It is important to keep your audience awake.

        Much like how a casino pumps in O2 like crazy to keep the gamblers wide awake and kickin..
        Originally Posted by Eric Stanley View Post

        They may pump in scent, but certainly not oxygen. Imagine the fire hazard with all of those people lighting up.
        I don't know about O2 or scents, although I've heard both of these but they certainly do have techniques for keeping people playing.

        The color selection in their decorating is supposed to effect your mood.
        The crazy designs on the carpets send your eyes back up to the gaming tables.
        There are no clocks anywhere, so you lose track of time.
        From most tables there are no windows or doors in sight.

        The casinos put you in your own little world where nothing else exists. I'm not sure if one or more of those techniques can be applied to online business but I think the OP's suggestion of supplying coffee and tea is a good idea.
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        • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
          Originally Posted by adamv View Post

          I don't know about O2 or scents, although I've heard both of these but they certainly do have techniques for keeping people playing.

          The color selection in their decorating is supposed to effect your mood.
          The crazy designs on the carpets send your eyes back up to the gaming tables.
          There are no clocks anywhere, so you lose track of time.
          From most tables there are no windows or doors in sight.

          The casinos put you in your own little world where nothing else exists. I'm not sure if one or more of those techniques can be applied to online business but I think the OP's suggestion of supplying coffee and tea is a good idea.

          I was just checking out Steve Wynn's new Encore casino/hotel yesterday (CES conference nearby) and yup -lots of colors going on - red,purple,yellow were the main colors...with butterfly designs - almost 'Gaudi' -ish!

          One thing I do notice every time walking thru the casinos here in Vegas, I swear they put something in the air to make you thirsty (if more people drink their free alchohol -more gambling) - because I'm always needed some water after walking thru the casino and my eyes are dry...

          Can't believe someone had a whole day seminar and never served coffee! wow!

          Imagine their ROI if they hired someone at $10 an hour for 2 hours to go get those big cartons of coffee the coffee houses sell and bring them for serving....wow! Or if one of the speakers offered to cover the costs and on the sleeves of the coffee - branded their website on it (I've done that before works real nice)

          Cheers, Maria Gudelis
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          • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
            Mmmm..coffee.

            It has been shown in tests that coffee can give an instant attention/concentration boost. So, good point.

            Has anyone else recognized the other lesson in this thread; namely, that a simple change of heading can often result in a greatly increased response?



            Frank
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            • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
              Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

              Mmmm..coffee.

              It has been shown in tests that coffee can give an instant attention/concentration boost. So, good point.

              Has anyone else recognized the other lesson in this thread; namely, that a simple change of heading can often result in a greatly increased response?



              Frank
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            • Profile picture of the author Mark Kaye
              Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

              Mmmm..coffee.

              It has been shown in tests that coffee can give an instant attention/concentration boost. So, good point.
              I'm just going to start doing my presentations at the local Coffee Bar...maybe for open mic night!
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            • Profile picture of the author George Wright
              Frank,

              I see you had your coffee today.

              Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

              Mmmm..coffee.

              It has been shown in tests that coffee can give an instant attention/concentration boost. So, good point.

              Has anyone else recognized the other lesson in this thread; namely, that a simple change of heading can often result in a greatly increased response?



              Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author winebuddy
    coffee - it's 11am and I am on my second pot.

    coffee - the KEY indgredient to an "energetic" meeting
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  • Profile picture of the author Tortue
    I find that absolutely incredible that no coffee or tea was served!! Please tell me the seminar wasnt hosted by someone in the IM business, because I am pretty sure we are all jacked up on the caffine 90% of our day...lol
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    • Profile picture of the author George Wright
      GREAT point Tortue,

      Here are some more details that will interest you.

      The major presenter in the morning was selling house/foreclosure flipping. The second presenter was selling Tax Lien Info.

      There was no lunch originally scheduled. When the announcement was made about there being lunch after all it was announced that the lunch would be bought and provided by the third presenter who was selling an INTERNET MARKETING product.

      Most there were AMAZED and he created a lot of buzz in the room because this was a Real Estate crowd and they for the most part had never heard of Internet Marketing.

      WOW! You mean there is a way to sell our houses on the INTERNET besides eBay and Craig's List !!! And this guy must be GOOD because He Bought Lunch!

      Granted, even he forgot coffee. But, you all should be proud to know that the IMer brought the lunch

      George Wright, P.S. By the way he called it a "working lunch" and to get it we had to stay in our seat and were served right there in and during the seminar.

      Originally Posted by Tortue View Post

      I find that absolutely incredible that no coffee or tea was served!! Please tell me the seminar wasnt hosted by someone in the IM business, because I am pretty sure we are all jacked up on the caffine 90% of our day...lol
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      • Profile picture of the author Tortue
        Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

        GREAT point Tortue,

        The second presenter was selling Tax Lien Info.
        LMAO! I can't even imagine getting my kids off to school in the morning without the java injection let alone sitting through tax lien info without it!

        *reaches for her 3rd cup already today and has only been awake 3 hours*
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    But I drink neither coffee nor tea! Would their be a hard liquor cart available?
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas
    Secret #50 in Robert Cialdini's book, "Yes! 50 Secrets From The Science of Persuasion" is about caffeine: Researchers who spiked drinks with the equivalent of 2 cups of Expresso found that those who drank it and were exposed to a set of strong arguments for a certain position on a controversial issue were 35% more favourably disposed to that position than those who drank non-caffeine drinks.

    Alas, it's not a simple as doping your prospects up on coffee though: the same research found no such effect when the arguments themselves were weaker.

    Tommy.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    No coffee? Where's the refund line?


    One of the smartest things I ever saw done at a seminar was a speaker had a juicer brought in and had a server squeezing fresh juice right there and passing small cups around to the audience during his presentation.

    Not kidding -- fresh juices can pick people up in a way that coffee won't - and I say that as a certified coffee addict. The truth is that after enough coffee people's systems can get a bit fussy - but if you put a juicer there so they can get a quick splash of some nutrients, you suddenly have people who are willingly taking a drink of something that will make them feel energized - but in a great way that coffee can't muster - and, of course, they will attribute it to the speaker.

    I really like the 02 idea, too - there isn't any smoking allowed in these seminars so it seems that just a percentage or two boost to the oxygen in a room might actually help a speaker out. It's worth a try for anyone speaking to arrange for the release of a tank into a room during their presentation I would think.
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  • Profile picture of the author newbie@CPA
    that's funny!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeannie Crabtree
    I was going to host a health professionals seminar years ago for someone. I checked intothe cost of the the hotels, the presentation rooms.

    Though it has been a while, I think things like drinks and snacks were an extra charge. So maybe someone forgot, or maybe someone was being cheap.

    It is all a business expense, and would be a mistake to leave it off your list when setting up a seminar.

    The IM'er who provided lunch was working smart!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Fenty
    When I saw this title I thought you had been reading The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford . Excellent book.
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  • Profile picture of the author SuiteJ
    Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

    By the end of the day the last two presenters did not do that well and I attribute that it was due to there being no coffee in the room. I'm serious.
    George Wright
    LOL. That cracked me up. Not sure if it's because I'm reading it at 2am, or because I'm addicted to coffee....probably both, I guess.

    Funny story.
    Cheers!
    Jay
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