The Good Experience Live (GEL) conference is hosted by Mark Hurst (author of my favourite must-read user experience newsletter) and Phil Terry of Good Experience out of NYC. This year GEL will be held on April 30 and May 1, and I believe there are still spaces open if you haven't registered yet.

This isn't a technical conference – it’s a showcase of stories and talks from people whose job it is to create good experiences for others. Speakers can be artists, actors, entertainers, technical people, engineers, volunteers... Really it wouldn't be surprising to see any occupation on the list. To me, it's purpose could be described as a forum for opening people's minds to new ideas and experiences, inspiring others to consider how they can create positive experiences in their own domain, and raising awareness for how people are connecting with others – literally, viscerally, emotionally – in the world today.

I attended in 2006 and was easily convinced that everyone at imason should have the chance to attend. After two days of inspiring workshops and stories, people leave brimming with ideas and new concepts to explore. We've been sending someone every year since.

No matter what your occupation is, if your job involves creating positive experiences for your customers then I strongly encourage you to attend. There are plenty of videos from past conferences to convince you. But watch a few of them and consider the variety of ideas that are being explored. Don't watch one in isolation of the others and make your decision based on it alone.

Oh, and it’s held in Manhattan if that makes any difference.