Robert Brelsford
Downstream Technology Editor
One perk of serving as OGJ’s downstream technology editor is that the position is often afforded the luxury of avoiding the logistical nightmare of attending the Offshore Technology Conference, held every year in Houston during the first week of May.
Just because one may be lucky to dodge the dilemma of having to park at and navigate the downtown Houston complex at which the event is held, however, doesn’t mean one is privileged enough to avert the general hullaballoo the annual gathering generates in the surrounding locale.
At the time of this writing, OTC 2018 has just wrapped. But with 61,300 people in attendance this year, the impacts stretched far and beyond the downtown blocks at which the event takes place.
Houston has a great deal to offer visitors, and businesses around the region look forward to the conference itself as an annual economic stimulant.
But going off site of the conference doesn’t mean one can shed her or his identity to behave in a manner that reflects poorly on oneself, either personally or professionally. At any conference, the two identities are linked, especially when in the company of an OGJ editor.
Dos, don’ts
This editor lives in the Rice Military-Washington Corridor area of Houston. It’s not downtown, but it’s not far; and with nearly the highest concentration of bars and restaurants just a stone’s throw away from the front door, this year it may as well have been the center of everything.
Case in point: Wednesday is always a good night for takeout. It’s the middle of the week, and with a restaurant practically next door, it’s easy enough to make happen. Phone the order in at 7:00 p.m., walk a few yards away to pick it up, and done, right?
Yes, typically. Tonight, however, no. Crowds are lined out both entrances, the patio is overflowing, and most of the patrons still have badges on identifying their OTC status. This isn’t so unusual.
What is unusual is a rather aggressive yank on this editor’s shoulder as he fights his way to the to-go counter.
“I know you!” a tall, slightly older gentleman screams down at me. “You’re at the Journal!” While his face looked familiar enough, placing why it was familiar was another matter. Upon an attempt to reintroduce myself, however, this editor realized the futility of the gesture. Before I could even extend my hand, our friend in question keels over like a felled redwood into a table of people beside us.
This was beyond sloppy drunk, and quite possibly, get-me-to-the-hospital inebriated. Worse yet, his associates—all from the same major operating company—were in nearly the same state as they rushed over to help him.
Uncomfortable, mortified, and—by now—speechless, this editor quickly signs his tab, grabs his bag, and rushes for the door to flee the scene. Before he can escape, though, he’s stopped by a hand around the ankle of his boot. Looking up is our drunken friend, smiling, and on his second fall, with a crushed cigarette between his teeth.
“Hey, guy,” he yells up at me. “You know where me and my pals can find surrrm nice ladies? But, shhhhh, shhhhrrr, shhhh…you won’t tell our wives, will ya?”
Conference etiquette
Just to be clear, we’re not talking about any moral high ground here. This editor gets it. You’re away from a conference, you’re out with colleagues and buddies, you’re having a good time. That’s all fine and great.
What we’re really talking about here, instead, is maintaining a semblance of professional decorum.
With OTC attendees coming from destinations far and wide, one presupposes there will be the occasional clashes of culture, whether they be little things like pedestrian-traffic laws or more complex interactions, such as respect (or lack thereof) for one’s personal space. One can steer through these hurdles rather effortlessly.
The more difficult challenge is unseeing and unliving encounters that change one’s opinion of another. This becomes complicated when the other is one with whom you deal or have dealt with in a professional capacity.
There’s a time for work, a time for play, and even a time for a little bit of both. But whatever time it is, it’s always the time to keep it classy.