So you’re going to WordCamp! Here are some tips to help you make the most of the experience. One of the very best things about WordPress is its vibrant local and international community of developers, designers and bloggers. There are so many ways to be a part of it!
- Make sure you know what to bring – travelling lightly means less to keep track of.
- Challenge yourself to meet at least two new people per hour – around meals, in the sidebar areas between sessions, and the people sitting next to you. Make a point to sit next to someone new and to introduce yourself — as tempting as it may be to sit alone and check your mail.
- Read through the program in advance and look up any new terminology
- Ask questions! If you have a question about something, chances are good that others do too. Or, if you have another solution to doing something, offer your ideas for discussion.
- Take a moment to recharge and refresh yourself, especially if you’re less of a “people person” than others – you might take a break or two to stretch or walk around outside.
- Ask for recommendations of ways to solve WordPress or business problems you’re experiencing. It flatters people to be consulted for their expertise! The Happiness Bar is a great place to start, and you might also find another attendee with just the specialty you want to know about.
- Consider volunteering to get more of an inside view of what goes into a WordCamp – and/or be sure to thank a volunteer!
- Did you find a talk especially valuable? Tell the presenter. 🙂
- Be adaptable – sometimes schedules change or rooms become overfilled so that you can’t make a session you’d planned to attend, or you’ve gotten into a great conversation that you’re not ready to conclude. Remember that presentations and slides are usually made available online soon after the conference ends.
Check out https://make.wordpress.org/ in advance of WordCamp and identify areas of interest to you – you will not only become familiar with some of the leading-edge developments in WordPress, you may also meet people on those teams or who share your interests at WordCamp – you could invite them to meet up later to pursue some of those interests in tandem.- Connect with, follow and contribute to our WordCamp PDX social media channels, both before, during and after the event.
- Join the Portland WordPress Slack Channel to connect in advance and to stay in touch with local attendees and up to date on local happenings — look for more info on joining coming soon, in the meantime you can contact us for an invite.
- Remember to set up your out-of-office mail, and schedule time within the next few days following the conference to follow up on what you’ve learned, whether contacting new connections or researching a new tool or skill.