Contacting people after conferences

[Borden]

So I, and I assume other people, spent a lot of time at CAA gladhanding and let's be honest brown nosing people whose papers were presented or chaired panels or who are generally Very Important Nerds. What is protocol for emailing them post-conference to reinforce your name in their mind or ask further questions? Does anyone else do this? I'm pretty proud of the sheer number of people I managed to meet and there are a few I want to cultivate further. A few also have given me new suggestions and validation and I want to thank them slash follow up on them- but also don't want to come across as a total eager beaver creep stalker groupie.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Borden

[elisewin]

Let me ask you first--how do you approach someone at a conference? I always think I'm gonna bother them and end up hiding or running away!

[qwer7890]

I think only email if you have something concrete and specific to say -- and keep it super short: "dear X, I was so glad to have the opportunity to meet you and hear your paper/session [insert a brief specific]. I want to thank you for your [comment/suggestion] which was helpful in such and such way. I'm looking forward to keeping up with your work [be specific]."

[Borden]

Ugh double posts, doing this on my phone is a pain and I can't delete.

Edited February 16, 2014 by Borden

[Borden]

I just go up to them afterwards and say HI IM LIZZIE BORDEN AND I REALLY LOVED YOUR PAPER and then that usually starts it. Even if it's just a really brief interaction it's something. They're used to it, especially if they're super important or have been around for a long time (this is also what I do when speaking to musicians or performers or whatever, most people like compliments).