We attend forum after forum and at the end of it realize that most of them were �ho- hums' not forums. This is a checklist to classify the same before you attend one and then spare yourself the agony of another HO-HUM. Would request all organizers of these forums to take this in humorous spirit … after all you could use this as a checklist to ensure which side of the fence you are on …

1. If you are going to meet the same people the year before and it's likely that they will be wearing the same clothes then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

2. If you are going to get old problems redefined with new attractive jargon but you don't see a solution in sight then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

3. If the speakers in human form are the same as the speakers on the wall meaning lots of sound but no content then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

4. If it's a bee-hive of inactivity meaning it looks like it's going to change the world but it only changes the bank balance of the organizer then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

5. If key policy makers (read government) stay away with �valid excuses' (meaning fear of difficult questions) then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

6. If it happens only because it's that time of year and helps you remember a certain month in the year then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

7. If the awards are divided among all key sponsors equally to ensure next year's participation then it's a ho-hum not a forum

8. If you use it to ensure all your key people get together with the objective that they can finally remember each others names then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

9. If they say it's an industry event and only the industry attends with hardly any trace of clients/customers then it's a ho-hum not a forum.

10. If you feel your logo and brand was bigger than competition at the venue and you can sleep peacefully at night as a result then it's a ho-hum not a forum

There you go your very own checklist. Why don't we all attend a few upcoming forums and decipher the same for ourselves. I see another ho-hum coming…have to run now!

Vineet Singh Hukmani - Managing Director, Radio One 94.3 FM