First Timer Tips?

Miki Martin

This is my first year attending bbcon in person (as well as many others, from what I have seen), and honestly it's my first work conference ever. What are some must-knows for a newbie coming to bbcon?

Marie Stark

@Miki Martin I have a couple of tips. If you are coming in the day before, walk over and register so you don't have to wait on lines in the morning. Prepare your agenda ahead of time so you know where you are going. Things can get chaotic during change of session breaks. Also have some ideas of alternative sessions in case your session is overcrowded or is not what you thought it would be. Also download the app whenever it becomes available.

Miki Martin

@Marie Stark thank you! I was hoping to get in Saturday but with a commitment here at home now I have to fly in EARLY Sunday morning. Looks like I'll be heading straight from the airport to the convention center!

Marie Stark

@Miki Martin Good luck! it looks the first session will not start until 10:30.

Lauren Fardella

@Marie Stark agree with the APP! It helps so much. Bring charging cords for phones, laptops, tablets everywhere you go and make sure to drink a lot of water because the elevation in CO (if you aren't from somewhere with a high elevation) can make anyone dizzy!

Miki Martin

@Lauren Fardella yeah, I am a bit worried about the elevation since I cannot get there early to adjust. Greater Cincinnati is not very high. Luckily I typically drink water almost constantly. ?

Briget McAninch

@Marie Stark Great tips! I'm also a first-time attendee. What is the app called?

Marie Stark

@Briget McAninch They have not released the app for this year but there should be more information on the website once it is ready.

Rob Price

@Marie Stark @Miki Martin

These are great tips. Always have an alternative session planned in case the one you walk into isn't what you want. Don't be shy about walking out, it won't hurt anyone's feelings.
Wear comfortable shoes, the convention center covers 6 city blocks. Bring a sweater, rooms are cold. Join strangers at a table for lunch. Spend some free time in the vendor area collecting free stuff.
Don't be too worried about altitude. Drinking lots of water is key and be careful drinking alcohol since it will probably affect you more. But if you're not going to the mountains or doing vigorous activity, you should be fine. Have Asprin handy.
Take the train from the airport to Union Station then Uber or walk to your hotel. The train is easy and runs every 15 minutes. Takes about as long too. There is a free downtown shuttle that will get you to your hotel, but it can be a bit confusing.

Marie Stark

@Rob Price Thank you!

Faith Murray

@Miki Martin, having gone to a few work conferences (thought not bbcon), here are my tips:

• Plan something fun to do in the evening when the conference is adjourned. Look for an interesting attraction within walking or uber distance from your hotel, so you can make some memories.
• Ask your long-distance associates and vendors (ie, print companies, acquisition houses, etc) if they will also be attending. Sometimes they will treat you to dinner or drinks on their dime.
• Tylenol/motrin, comfy shoes, and a spare shirt are a must when packing. Hotel shops are expensive.
• Definitely visit the vendor displays. You can get some great ideas to bring back to your office.
• As others have said, go through the program ahead of time and pick out what sessions you want to attend. Ask your coworkers who cannot attend if there is anything they would like you to scout if you have an open space in your conference schedule.
  

Brenda Diaz

@Miki Martin It's worth repeating - bring a sweater! These conference halls are always so cold. And once the app is available, use it to find your people. I attended the 2019 K-12 user conference alone and met another group of solo attendees through the app. We ended up going to dinners and seeing the sights after our sessions together. Even if not attending alone, it's a good way to connect with others who work in similar capacities as you, which is honestly the main reason I attend this conference.

Miki Martin

@Marie Stark, @Brenda Diaz, @Faith Murray, @Rob Price, @Briget McAninch and @Lauren Fardella thank you so much! These are some great points. I am attending alone from my school so finding others who are there on their own will be nice. I will definitely be bringing a sweater and water bottle! And wearing comfy shoes! ?

Amy Dana

@Miki Martin Keep an eye out for Happy Hours and dinners sponsored by vendors or BB verticals. They're usually pretty chill about trying to sell to folks (it's nothing like a time-share pitch) so if you might be interested, sign up. It's a fun way to meet new people and have a place to go instead of just wandering around.

Also, there aren't any dinners on the agenda because there is food at the evening events. I was SUPER confused about that my first time and ate a full meal the first night only to find a room full of food and me too full to eat.

Amy Barker

@Miki Martin bring comfortable shoes and layers! Sometimes the AC gets to be a lot, sometimes not enough. Comfy shoes are super important, you will walk a LOT. Don't forget to take breaks to recharge. Also, bring preprinted labels with your name, email, where you work, phone number, etc. to make entering drawings much easier!!!

Miki Martin

@Amy Barker @Amy Dana thanks! I would never have thought about the labels. I have plenty of business cards but will have to do the labels for sure. The networking things with vendors will be a very good exercise for this introvert to get out there to meet new people. Since I'm traveling alone, though, guess that's the only way it's going to happen! Good to know I might not have to feed myself, too. ?

Amy Dana

@Miki Martin The only reason to feed yourself is if you don't like what you find at the conference. And to be honest, with this year's event being in downtown Denver, you'll have a LOT of great options so don't be afraid to treat yourself to a tasty treat (or beverage) from a local restaurant.

Amy Barker

@Miki Martin if you're an introvert DEFINITELY give yourself time, space, and permission to unwind. I am (no one ever believes me, but it is true) and BBCon can really wear out your batteries! And welcome to the wacky world of BBCon. It's a lot of fun and you'll come away with a whole bunch of new contacts and friends to bounce ideas off.

Monica Curl

@Miki Martin
I am also a first time BBCON introvert traveling alone so I have appreciated you question and am following the answers. Maybe see you there?

Miki Martin

@Monica Curl absolutely! I would LOVE that!

Austen Brown

@Miki Martin - As a fellow introvert, my hack is to scope out a quiet place to regroup for 10-15 minutes so when I start feeling overwhelmed have a place in mind to go. This could be a corner off a main throughway or if the convention center is multi-leveled a higher floor with less foot traffic.

Amy Dana

@Austen Brown:

@Miki Martin - As a fellow introvert, my hack is to scope out a quiet place to regroup for 10-15 minutes so when I start feeling overwhelmed have a place in mind to go. This could be a corner off a main throughway or if the convention center is multi-leveled a higher floor with less foot traffic.

As an extrovert, I second this! There is a lot of noise and stimulation, even for someone who thrives on that. The days are really long and there's a ton of data coming at you so don't be afraid to call a time out, even for a few seconds. Sometimes I like to have a meal where I just sit by myself and that's ok, too. People are usually fine if you decline conversation because you just need to collect your thoughts (as long as you let them know).

But on the other hand, speak up if you want to connect! The dining hall is HUGE so if you don't have anyone to sit with, just find a table with an open seat and ask if you can join them. I've met some pretty cool folks that way.

Miki Martin

@Amy Dana thanks for this! I must say, that's a tall order if you think I'll walk up to a complete stranger and ask to sit with them. ? Stepping outside my very comfortable comfort zone for sure, which I know I need to do. Maybe I (and others like me) will get in some practice while there.

Keith Wilson

@Miki Martin @Austen Brown @Amy Dana –
?‍♂️Solo attendee.
?‍♂️First in-person BBCon.
?‍♂️Introvert.

Would enjoy meeting others, collaborate, share ideas, experiences, meet new friends. (Kinda wishing other guys would chime in as well so this post seems a lot less “creeper”!?) My org is a Faith based org, not a school, so meeting others in this vertical would be great.

Dana Smith

@Keith Wilson
If you log into the bbcon page and click on the In-Person tab you'll get a dropdown menu. Select Networking and Meet Ups … then you can search by Faith Communities and it will provide you with a list of attendees that you can reach out to and set up a chance to meet.