An institutional investor and a hedge fund manager walk into a bar.
The investor hands the hedge fund manager a $20 bill.
"Get me a drink that meets my needs. If I like your choice, I'll buy the drinks all night," says the investor, before leaving for the bathroom.
Confused by the demand, the hedge fund manager shrugs and orders them each a pint of Guinness.
The barman pours the drinks, takes the money, and then tells the hedge fund manager, "You know what? Should have got him a vodka."
"Really? Why vodka? Why not Guinness?" asks the bemused fund manager.
"More transparency, greater liquidity," replies the barman. But it was too late. The investor had already gone.
Terrapin Ltd. cracked the joke in an e-mail ad calculated to grab the attention of potential conference goers in a market jam-packed with hedge fund conferences. The Sydney-based company was advertising hedgefundsworld.com's March 13-15 Managed Accounts USA conference in New York. Terrapin is a global business media company that organizes conferences and trade exhibitions, provides financial training and print and electronic publications.