Want a fun, easy way to learn how to make money doing what you love from people who are doing it?
Every year literally hundreds of thousands of conferences large and small happen all over the world – some may even in your own backyard.
I’ve put together a fun list of don’t miss conferences on a host of topics.
Obviously, not all of these conferences will speak to everyone.
But just knowing what’s out there serves as a powerful reminder that there are endless alternatives to having a job-job.
And next week, I’ll tell you how to find the right conference for you and your unique interests.
Romance Writing
I met writers in genres I didn’t even know existed…There’s western romance, young adult, Christian, para-normal, historical, interracial — even Amish romance.
Romance writers come from all walks of life. Some didn’t finish high school and others have PhDs. I met homemakers, physicians, even a former senior official in the White House!
Next week’s annual RWA conference in happening in Denver. It features scores of educational sessions on everything from writing technique to period costumes to building a social media following. In addition to networking with highly successful published authors you also get to pitch your book to potential agents and publishers.
RWA isn’t the only game in town.
There are upcoming conferences around the world.
Not quite ready to commit to an entire conference?
Start by attending a meeting of your local RWA chapter.
You’ll get to know published authors in your area and get a ton of information and support from people who genuinely want you to succeed.
Dog Trainer
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers convention this October in Memphis is also jam packed with educational sessions.
(Once you go to the site, click on the conference brochure to see the full agenda.)
If you’re not a professional dog trainer, this session called Do What You Love for a Living is for you!
Here’s the description:
Calling all long-term “weekend” dog trainers, hobbyists, and new trainers:
If you fantasize about making a good living as a dog trainer, but instead find yourself training nights and weekends while working your “real job” Monday through Friday, this session is for you.
If you’re a new trainer trying to figure out how to start and transition into a full-time dog training business, you’ll want to attend this one, too.
Veronica and Gina of dogbiz (formerly dogtec) will show you how to turn your part-time or hobby business into your full-time career by building a personalized step-by-step transition plan. (Yes, it really is possible!)
We’ll cover all the pesky paperwork you’ll need to get out of the way, too. (Don’t worry—it’s as easy as training a Border Collie to sit. Almost.)
Find Your Tribe and Learn at the Same Time
Blogging, Pinterest, Podcasting
There is no shortage of blogging conferences happening in the US, Canada, and the UK.
And there’s something for everyone including the Beer Bloggers conference, the Wine Bloggers conference, the Women in Travel conference, and a conference for entrepreneurial Pinterest users
In a few short weeks the largest conference for podcasters, Podcast Movement Conference, is happening in Philadelphia.
One of this year’s keynotes is also my favorite radio show host (which is after all the original podcast) Terry Gross of NPR’s Fresh Air.
For a more general marketing-oriented conference for power bloggers check out the interestingly named Type A Parent conference.
And if you also happen to be Latino, head to the annual Hispanicize conference is in Los Angeles this October.
Hispanicize is the parent company of the Latina Mom Bloggers network, Being Latino, Hispanicize Wire, and the Hispanic PR Blog.
This massive 3-day event is billed as “the iconic, largest annual event for Latino trendsetters and newsmakers in journalism, blogging, marketing, entertainment and tech entrepreneurship.”
History and Ale Lovers
Every year Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia offers conferences on a host of topics related to early American history and crafts.
The one that caught my eye was Ale Through the Ages happening October 19-21.
The organizers of this weekend of beer and history described the event as follows:
Beer is the oldest recorded recipe in the world. The ancient Egyptians first documented the brewing process on papyrus scrolls around 5,000 B.C.
Then, beer eventually made its way from the Middle East across the Mediterranean to Europe, where it became an integral part of life and was valued both for its nutritional value and as a safe alternative to contaminated drinking water.
Beer arrived in the New World with the first European colonists and Americans have been brewing ever since.
Ales through the Ages offers a journey through the history of beer with some of the world’s top beer scholars. We will explore ancient ales and indigenous beers of the past, examine the origins of brewing and discover the ingredients brewers have used through time.
If you dream of opening your own micro-brewery…
Or you’d love to be the next “Indiana Jones of Beer” — this may be right up your alley!
Yes, most beer scholars have fancy degrees.
But there’s no reason why you can’t become a self-taught beer expert!
You could partner with area bars and restaurants to host events where guests sample different micro-beers while you delight them with fascinating stories about the history of beer.
Get Creative
Tiny Houses and More
While not technically a conference, there are tiny house festivals happening all across the US.
As with any conference, you want to go with an eye for entrepreneurial opportunities.
What kinds of businesses are currently operating in this space?
What products or services do tiny house owners need?
You could teach people how to build their own tiny house.
Design tiny houses for companies looking to use them as marketing.
Rent tiny houses to vacationers looking for a unique experience or rent land to people with tiny houses on wheels.
So, what other ways could you monetize a tiny structure?
Maybe a unique meeting space for groups of 10-20?
Add a second tiny house with full kitchen and dining area, another for massage or other spa treatments or a business center, add some lovely gardens and you’ve got yourself a tiny retreat center!
Or, you could bring a tiny chapel to the happy couple.
That’s what this retired pastor with a passion for tiny houses did.
For $500 the minister will provide the chapel and officiate the wedding or re-commitment ceremony.
He charges less if the couple comes to him.
Not all tiny chapels need to be on wheels. The concept could also work well as a permanent rental at a location popular for outdoor weddings.
Click here to see the inside of one chapel for sale in Texas.
Still Trying to Find Your Calling?
Since 1995 I’ve helped thousands of people go from confusion to clarity.
If you’re still trying to find a way to connect the dots between what you love to do and how you can get paid to do it, schedule one of a limited number of Work at What You Love consultations today.
To find out if a Work at What You Love consultation is right for you call 413-203-9754 eastern.
Outside the US send an email to Valerie@changingcourse.com with your Skype ID and I’ll get back to you with a meeting time.
Whether you want to make an extra $500-$1,000 a month, replace your entire paycheck, or grow an empire — it all begins with a great idea!
