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Wow, can you believe it? The SharePoint Conference in Las Vegas is just over a month away?! I hope you have your tickets purchased and travel booked for what promises to be an amazing few days. I’m extremely excited, honored, humbled, and overwhelmed to be speaking again this year with my cohort in crime Eric Harlan. We had an absolute blast speaking last year, and can’t wait to do it all over again. Be sure to check out our session SPC207: SharePoint 2013 – Fun with SharePoint Social, CSOM and Windows 8.
I still remember my first trip to Las Vegas in 2009 for what was also my first Microsoft conference (Yes, I had a very sheltered life). The SharePoint Conference in 2009 was a lot of firsts for me, and for those people not prepared it can be a bit overwhelming. So, I decided to throw together this quick “Survival Guide” for all those who have yet to experience this spectacle of geeks, galas, gambling, and games that will occur that week. Well, maybe “Survival Guide” is not the right word choice… How about “Lessons learned from #SPC09”
Top Ten Lessons Learned from #SPC09
10. If you see Andrew Connell or Matt Bremer playing blackjack, don’t even think of sitting down at the table unless you know what you are doing.
9. Bring those comfortable shoes. The Luxor may be “Next Door” but it is still a 1 1/2 mile walk, all indoors, to the conference. It’s the Mandalay Bay for me this year.
8. Don’t expect to get any sleep. I swear they do something to the air. I have never had such trouble sleeping in my life.
7. On that note, make sure to bring Ibuprofen, 5 Hour Energy, and Sleeping pills. Just don’t take them all at the same time.
6. If someone asks you “Hey, you wanna go to Area 51?” Your response should be “Yes”! It doesn’t matter how late it is, when you will be back, or even if you will come back.
5. If you fall down, make a fool of yourself, or get injured in any way your friend’s SECOND response will be to help you (first response is of course to take a picture). What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but those Twitter pictures live on forever!
4. Remember the swag. Go ahead and spring for checked luggage and bring a bigger bag. Vendor swag tends to be the best at these large conferences and if you show up when they are closing down the exhibit hall the vendors love to get rid of whatever they have left. I’ve not had to wash a t-shirt in 3 years.
3. Sessions are recorded for viewing at a later date… for refreshing your memory of course… not because you can’t make it to them…
2. The Hoover Dam looks much bigger and more impressive in “The Transformers”
1. Keep your hands to yourself. It is possible to get banned from a hotel/casino.
So, as you can see, in addition to learning all about SharePoint 2013, Networking, and the “Work” you’ll be doing; You also need to be prepared for so much more. Get ready for a spectacular event and make sure to attend whatever bash Microsoft puts together for the attendees. Let’s see if they can top Huey Lewis and The News…
Vegas Baby… VEGAS!!
See you next month!!
