Post-Seminar Checklist

by Mike

This article is a companion to Seminar Checklist.

* Do your notes make sense? 

You did take notes, didn't you? Depending on your familiarity with the material, taking notes can be either simple or trying to describe something entirely new to you. With time, you'll figure out a shorthand system that works for you, but for most people, the closer you get to the end of the seminar (especially if it's a multi-day seminar), the less sense your notes tend to make. 

If you can't make heads or tails of them (or just can't read a word somewhere inside) go to the next item:

* Do you have any questions? 

This should actually go into the "Just before the seminar's over checklist" but...you're paying the presenter for their expertise and they're accepting your  money in order to teach you. To make sure you get your money's worth, make sure you get any areas of confusion cleared up. Most seminars that I've been to will have a Q&A session at the very end where you can get the finer points of the techniques ironed out. If you have any questions, be sure to speak up so you don't end up with some new moves that you can't use because you forgot a step in the middle. 

Also, don't be an idiot and write in your notes, "not sure about this, remember to ask Robson" and then forget what technique that question went with. Not saying that I've done that because I forgot my notebook and ended up writing a day's notes on the back of random scratch paper then lost the scratch paper....

* Do you have someone you can compare notes with?

I've yet to meet someone who can take perfect notes. But I have met groups of three or four that can go over even the most complex lockflows and work them out with a high degree of accuracy. Make sure you find someone to help you. Guaranteed that even if you don't have questions at the end of the seminar, you will a week later when you review your notes. 

* Have you set up a time to review and practice the material?

This is completely unscientific, but I like to tell people that you'll remember some stuff if you pay attention to the seminar and practice the techniques diligently. You'll remember 10x more if you take [good] notes. You'll remember 100x more if you take notes and review them. You'll actually assimilate the material if you take good notes, review them and practice the techniques. 

* Do you have all your gear? 

You'd be surprised what people leave behind. Be careful that you leave with everything you came with, especially if the seminar is at a faraway school. 

* Did you thank the instructor (and the host)?

It's only good manners. 

* Did you have fun? 

If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right.

Photo from Degerberg Academy