London Calling
Posted under: It’s the capital of the UK and potential host of the 2012 Olympics – and home to just about every affiliate event under the sun – which is a pain in the butt for those of us in live anywhere but close to London.
One of our main merchant partners is having a social event on a Thursday evening in July – it’d be a great evening and we’d love to be able to attend, but it’s not straightforward as popping over and popping back. Travel to London takes the best part of four hours, hotel stay is required and then there’s travel back the next day – so to attend a social evening we’re talking taking two days off work (it’s on a Thursday) and a few ££ (which the company would pay for) just to have a few social drinks.
The first affiliate association meeting (or the first meeting to discuss an affiliate association) is – guess what – also in London – and a mid week date too! Another meeting we will not be able to attend. I guess London has been chosen as those putting the thing together are in that region.
Personally, I think an initial meeting should be in a place where as many as affiliates (not merchants, not networks, not agencies) as possible can attend – is that London? Who knows! Associating affiliates under the same umbrella will be a bit like herding a bunch of pigeons – so I guess any start is better than nothing!