Two months after my heart surgery, I fly to Boston for the annual conference of the International Bar Association.
It proves to be the easiest IBA conference I've ever been to. My hotel is connected to the conference centre by a covered walkway. I can get there from my room in ten minutes. Lunches are at another hotel, adjacent to the conference centre. I could stay under cover all week, if I wanted to.
The IBA conference is massive. It has a dozen concurrent sessions morning and afternoon for a week. This year there are 6000 delegates.
On the Tuesday morning I attend a panel discussion for which I've agreed to write a report for the Committee newsletter. During this session I notice a beautiful pair of high heeled shoes alongside me. They are attached by ankle straps to the long, slender legs of a woman of about my own age, with blonde curls. She is from Sao Paolo in Brazil. During question time she asks "What is the point of a meaningless exchange of business cards? I want to have proper conversations with the people I meet here." Everyone agrees that a meaningless exchange of business cards is...meaningless. But I know what she means. Lots of people at this conference deal out their cards as if in a casino. Her question is honest and direct. It promotes discussion in the room.
At the end of the session I see Alessandra in discussion with a small group. Ironically, they are all exchanging business cards. I march up and say "Can I be part of this meaningless exchange of cards?" They all laugh. And now I've got her card.
From there I go to the Latin American Forum lunch. By the time I arrive, the only free table is the one at the back near the door, and I grab a seat there. One of our panel members sits two places to my left. Alessandra arrives and takes up the last empty seat next to him. We all have a pleasant conversation.
As the lunch ends, I angle for a chat with Alessandra. To break the ice, I say "I have a secret first name that is very similar to yours - it's Allissande". Then I say "Shall we have a meaningful discussion?" We sit down and I tell her of my plans to have a concert in Rio. We chat about this for a while.
I've been wondering how I'm going to set up a show in Rio. I'll need to hire a theatre. How do I make a booking and enter into a contract with them? How will I engage musicians? How will I deal with the language barrier? Now I ask Alessandra "Could I hire you to help me?"
She suggests that one option would be to hold a free open-air concert, and that if it was promoted properly, lots of people would probably come to hear the crazy Australian with a passion for Brazilian music. She says "I have a friend in the entertainment business. We will make it happen."
That evening, I attend a cocktail party at the Massachusetts State House. It is a large and grand building with a gold dome, on Beacon Hill. It is just as grand inside. I introduce myself to people and hand out lots of business cards.
Then I hear the music. I trace it to another room, to a guy with an acoustic guitar, seated near the buffet table. I stand nearby and listen for a while. Finally, I approach him and ask "Do you know any Brazilian songs?" I'm halfway through singing "The Girl From Ipanema" when Alessandra appears and says "Ah, you are already practising!"
There are 6000 people at this conference, and numerous concurrent events, yet I've seen her three times today.
It is meant to be. We will make it happen.
It proves to be the easiest IBA conference I've ever been to. My hotel is connected to the conference centre by a covered walkway. I can get there from my room in ten minutes. Lunches are at another hotel, adjacent to the conference centre. I could stay under cover all week, if I wanted to.
The IBA conference is massive. It has a dozen concurrent sessions morning and afternoon for a week. This year there are 6000 delegates.
On the Tuesday morning I attend a panel discussion for which I've agreed to write a report for the Committee newsletter. During this session I notice a beautiful pair of high heeled shoes alongside me. They are attached by ankle straps to the long, slender legs of a woman of about my own age, with blonde curls. She is from Sao Paolo in Brazil. During question time she asks "What is the point of a meaningless exchange of business cards? I want to have proper conversations with the people I meet here." Everyone agrees that a meaningless exchange of business cards is...meaningless. But I know what she means. Lots of people at this conference deal out their cards as if in a casino. Her question is honest and direct. It promotes discussion in the room.
At the end of the session I see Alessandra in discussion with a small group. Ironically, they are all exchanging business cards. I march up and say "Can I be part of this meaningless exchange of cards?" They all laugh. And now I've got her card.
From there I go to the Latin American Forum lunch. By the time I arrive, the only free table is the one at the back near the door, and I grab a seat there. One of our panel members sits two places to my left. Alessandra arrives and takes up the last empty seat next to him. We all have a pleasant conversation.
As the lunch ends, I angle for a chat with Alessandra. To break the ice, I say "I have a secret first name that is very similar to yours - it's Allissande". Then I say "Shall we have a meaningful discussion?" We sit down and I tell her of my plans to have a concert in Rio. We chat about this for a while.
I've been wondering how I'm going to set up a show in Rio. I'll need to hire a theatre. How do I make a booking and enter into a contract with them? How will I engage musicians? How will I deal with the language barrier? Now I ask Alessandra "Could I hire you to help me?"
She suggests that one option would be to hold a free open-air concert, and that if it was promoted properly, lots of people would probably come to hear the crazy Australian with a passion for Brazilian music. She says "I have a friend in the entertainment business. We will make it happen."
That evening, I attend a cocktail party at the Massachusetts State House. It is a large and grand building with a gold dome, on Beacon Hill. It is just as grand inside. I introduce myself to people and hand out lots of business cards.
Then I hear the music. I trace it to another room, to a guy with an acoustic guitar, seated near the buffet table. I stand nearby and listen for a while. Finally, I approach him and ask "Do you know any Brazilian songs?" I'm halfway through singing "The Girl From Ipanema" when Alessandra appears and says "Ah, you are already practising!"
There are 6000 people at this conference, and numerous concurrent events, yet I've seen her three times today.
It is meant to be. We will make it happen.
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