We are about 70 days away from the start of #TC18, also known as the most amazing data party on the planet. For the first timer it can be an overwhelming experience. There have been a few blog posts about what to bring to conference, and how to plan your week. Considering these some ‘Alternative Tips’ for maximizing the conference before you arrive, while you are there, and when you go home.
Before the Conference
Networking
When I attended my first Tableau Conference I knew a few names of people, but I didn’t really know anyone. As I walked around the conference I felt like I was stargazing… “OH! There is Matt Francis!” but I didn’t really approach anyone… I was shy. No, really… I can be shy!
If I knew then, what I know now, I would have changed my approach. It’s never to early to reach out to people and say “hi”. If you aren’t on Twitter, I highly recommend to get on Twitter and start interacting with people you’d like to meet. There are plenty of opportunities to interact with folks including in between sessions, at meals, in the Data Playground and at Data Night Out. Take advantage of these times!
If Twitter isn’t your style, find people on LinkedIn and connect with them there. Be sure and include a quick note in your invitation and mention TC18. Having a few loose connection going in to New Orleans will help you as you navigate the week.
Planning
What do you want to get out of the conference this year? Every year depending on what’s going on you may have different goals. Some popular themes include:
- Hands-On Marathon – All Hand-on Sessions All The Time!
- Story Time – Hearing from Tableau Customers about their journeys
- Ideation and Inspiration – Learning about specific areas from Tableau employees and Community Leaders
- Exposure to Excellence – Attending sessions by some of the greats in the community (Zen Masters, and all around amazing people)
- The Mix – A little bit of everything.
Going in with a goal in mind is a great way to maximize your investment. Be sure and have a talk with your leadership and try and fit their goals in as well… it’s a good way to help yourself return to the conference next year. (..and you will want to return, trust me.)
Once the Conference App is released, download it. This is not optional. This is the essential planning tool for attending the conference. Start marking sessions you have an interest in seeing. Mark all the sessions you are interested in seeing… don’t limit yourself… you’ll make some cuts later. Don’t pay attention to the times of the sessions either… just mark what you want to see.
There are different ways to search the app for sessions. You can go by track, topic, experience level and speaker/presenter. Be sure and utilize what is going to best meet the needs to achieve your goal.
Once you’ve got your first pass in the app complete, you can start to whittle down the list and plan out the day. Be sure and check for sessions that are repeated during the course of the week. Once you get a solid schedule in place, plan out your backup sessions. If for some reason the room fills up, or you can’t attend for some reason having a back up plan it essential so you aren’t sitting around wondering what to do next!
Don’t forget that many sessions are recorded, and the hands on activities will be available to download after the conference!
Be sure and plan to attend all the “Main Stage” events; Keynote Speakers, Devs on Stage, and Iron Viz. Also, attend Data Night Out, any industry Meetups, and Tableau User Group Meetups
A few other things you should check out include Makeover Monday Live, Workout Wednesday Live and the Data Playground/Vendor booths.
During the Conference
You’ve Arrived! Now what? Depending on the day you arrive you’ll have a few options. If you come into town on Monday, try and attend Makeover Monday Live if you aren’t in the training classes. The welcome reception will happen Monday evening and it’s your fist real change to mingle with the community in all its glory. Everyone will have a name tag, so don’t be shy… just walk up to someone and say hi. I remember my first conference I did do this a couple of times at the welcome reception. I saw a guy who worked at Southwest Airlines and I jokingly thanked him for getting my plane to arrive 30 minutes early. It broke the ice and we had a good chat. I wish I would have done more of that the first time around.
If you arrive late on Monday or Tuesday morning you will more than likely attend the opening Keynote first. After that you’ll be off to your sessions and you’ll be in full conference mode. Be sure and grab snacks in and drinks in the hall… it is easy to forget to eat at times… having some snack in your back and a bottle of water can keep you going.
Keep your phone charged! Between the Conference App, text messages, WhatsApp, Twitter, and more selfies than you can shake a stick at it will die fast. Bring a battery pack, and charging cable and a brick. In hands-on sessions you can plug the phone in to the laptop and charge while you learn. In other sessions, if you need some juice, sit near the wall or in the back if possible. There will be charging stations scattered around the conference, but those will be busy.
Take care of your feet! Be sure and pack comfortable shoes and good socks as you can potentially walk 5 or more miles a day as you move between the hotel, the conference sessions and the night time events. There is no shame in raiding your ice machine and night and icing your feet down after a long day.
Take notes! Whether you are on your phone, tablet, laptop or good old fashioned pen and paper be sure and take notes as you uncover the many knowledge nuggets that you will uncover during the session, and even random conversations. I highly recommend a Rocket Everlast Notebook as it is pen and paper, with an app that allows you to snap a photo of the page and then ERASE the page with a damp cloth and reuse it! The app and notebook allow you to deliver the scanned pages to multiple destinations which makes it really easy to share the content with team members and co-workers upon your return to work.
Just Do It! Don’t be afraid to approach people as I have found this community to be one of the most open and welcoming groups of people I have ever associated with… by far! I recommend starting a conversation online with a one or more people, plan to meet at conference, then network from there. Make a friend or two at Makeover Monday Live and/or Workout Wednesday. These two events you will sit at a table with 6-10 other people… this is a great small group opportunity to make some introductions… or be introduced to that group by someone else! I understand that everyone is different and not everyone is comfortable in these situations and if you fall in to that group, come find me and I will do my best to introduce you to a few friendly faces and get your network-ball rolling.
After the Conference
Home! You will go through 6 phases of grief upon your return home.
- SHOCK & DENIAL! How did a week go by that fast?
- PAIN & GUILT! Man, my feet hurt! Did I take full advantage of all the opportunities I could?
- ANGER & BARGAINING! I can’t believe it’s over! I will do even more next conference!
- “DEPRESSION”, REFLECTION, LONELINESS! What great week, and I miss all those cool data nerds I met in New Orleans.
- ACCEPTANCE & HOPE! That week was amazing, and I hope I can go again next year!
Review your notes! If you took good notes, be sure and review those notes, and see where you can apply what you learned at work. Share these notes with colleagues and host a lunch and learn or two to share your new knowledge.
Download extra content! After the conference, don’t forget to download all the hands on activities you were interested in but didn’t attend, and watch the videos of the recorded sessions you didn’t get in to during the conference. This is a great way to keep the conference going and continue the benefits of all the conference has to offer.
Connect with the community! I have found so much value in the greater Tableau Community and you will too! Keep in contact throughout the year, get involved in a community project or two, jump in to an Iron Viz feeder. Whatever you do, don’t disappear! The community is better and more vibrant with your voice included! Start a blog! Tweet! Answer questions on the Tableau Forums! Go to a TUG meeting! Find your voice and use it!
Final Thoughts
If you have questions, please let me know and I’ll either do my best to answer it, or I will find someone who can answer it better than I can… either way, I’m happy to help. Here are a few more blogs to help with your conference planning, so be a sure and give them a read!
Sarah Loves Data – Top Tips for Tableau Conference Newbies
Datasaurus-Rex – Tableau Conference Tips
DataBlick – Padawan – Getting the Most out of Tableau Conference