Brain Dump
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These people are the coolest mother(shut your mouth!) you'll ever run across.
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It's really cool to have a whole conference focused on SQL Server. I like TechEd quite a lot, but this aspect of the Summit – which Sean has the opposite opinion on – makes it extra appealing to me.
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Bad karaoke is the best karaoke evar, unless we're talking about "I'm feelin good" or "Love in the Club".
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It is MUCH more than six blocks to Bush Garden karaoke bar, but it's all downhill. Walk down, eat at Ho Ho Seafood restaurant after, and take a cab home.
Getting the Absolute Most
Fully 3/4 of the conference experience is being a part. I kept calling SQLPASS "summer camp", because it is. You have pen pals beforehand, you pack your bag and go stay all in the same place…you have fun and learn new things all day, you get awards for volunteering and participation, you're directed to the right places by camp counselors, you stay up late giggling with friends. It's all true, but just like summer camp, it SUCKS if you don't know anyone, don't meet anyone, and don't feel sad to leave a new friend when it's over. In that vein, here are the absolute requirements for attending SQL Pass Community Summit 2010 and beyond:
1. Go to your local SQL Server User Group meetings. Some of them, if not all. Get on the board, or hang out with the board. Bring swag if you have it, get swag from them if you don't. Volunteer for the meetings and SQL Saturdays and code camps, if you have them. Sure, it takes time, but (a) not all that much, (b) it can be an awful lot of fun, and (c) you'll likely start seeing yourself hanging out in groups of MVPs, authors, and speakers…the kind of people who can show you the way to fun and profit.
2. Get on Twitter. It may seem pointless or stupid, but it's not. SQL professionals all over the WORLD use Twitter to trade tips, websites, free resources, troubleshooting, and yes: jokes and whatnot. I got on Twitter for my own personal updates, and then I opened a Twitter account for MidnightDBA. I posted blog announcements and followed peers and authors, and found myself in discussions with people I'd never heard of, and SQL celebrities I'd never dreamed of being in contact with. Another benefit: It kind of gets you over being starstruck, if that's a problem with you (it was for me). Yet another benefit: it was through Twitter that I heard of the SQLServerPedia.com contest, where I entered and won this very trip to PASS Summit 09, AND the HP mini netbook I'm typing this on. Membership has its priviledges, babycakes.
3. Go to sessions, but don't be afraid to miss sessions – even really good ones – for the chance to chat with your peers and mentors. Get into the chalk sessions, spotlight sessions, troubleshooting, contests, special interest breakfasts and lunches. You're going to be tired, sure, but that's summer camp!
3a. Make a point, by the way, to hit the Women in Technology lunch. If you're rolling your eyes, even mentally, I understand…I did too (sorry WIT folks!). But it's not really what you expect…it's really impressive what these people – men and women – are doing, the message they're getting across. I'm going to get involved when I get back, and be sure to bring my daughter to a meeting or two. Like I said in my blog post about WIT, she needs to see that what I do – being a technogeek – is really something cool and worthwhile.
3b. Also make a point to get the conference DVDs. You can't attend all the sessions, and you'll want to revisit the ones you DID attend. Maybe you could get your company to spring for them as a training aid, or split the cost with a friend, or get funding from your user group.
4. Talk to people. Talk to peers, authors, Microsoft reps, speakers, MVPs, chapter leaders, organizers, and vendors. Everyone there is there largely to talk to other people. Some of these people may dwarf us with their insanely detailed knowledge of SQL Server, but it doesn't mean they're assholes. Every single person I spoke to was extremely approachable, friendly, and accomodating. A couple may tell you to RTFM (Hi Joe!), but they'll do it kindly, and only if it's a very basic question. Don't be afraid to ask questions in sessions, either. There's a very, VERY good chance that you're not the dumbest person in the room (especially if I'm in the same room), and most likely several other people have the same question and are afraid to ask it. I can't count the number of times I've asked a question, or heard someone else ask a question, and seen several people nodding before the speaker started their answer.
Traveling
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Use SeatGuru.com to get the best seat on any plane. Be sure to actually log on and GET the best seat once you have your reservations, and as early as possible.
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Eat well, eat light, hydrate, take your vitamins. And if you ask me, don't overindulge. I know it's fun to drink yourself silly, but come on – we're all getting too old for that, and you'll hate yourself in the 8:30am session.
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Charge phone and laptop and phone as often as possible. If you use them half as much as I do, you'll find yourself out of power in the middle of a GREAT Kim Tripp session.
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The Sheraton has a gym, pool and hot tub on the top floor. Hot tub often, eh?
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Your employer will assume that the conference goes for the whole week. If I were you, I wouldn't correct them.
Spending
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Splurge on the hotel and the DVDs.
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Save on the food and drink – conferences are getting MUCH better about serving healthy stuff, even if breakfast gets a little repetetive. And between the demos and parties and receptions, you can find something catered for almost every meal. If you really feel like it though, or if the company's footing the bill, the Sheraton Daily Grill is a VERY safe bet; I ate there four times, and every single thing I had was very good.
The Taphouse is a popular haunt, too…good food, and something like 100 beers on tap. -
Bring business cards. If you have a website or a business to promote (or even if you dont'), I'd recommend putting some thought into some cute/attractive/funny stickers to hand out…they were the hot ticket item this year.
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Don't bother renting a car. There are plenty of ways to get from airport to hotel – arrange with friends on Twitter to meet and split a cab, even – and you'll have NO time to sightsee if you do things right.
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Pre and Post cons are completely up to you, I have no recommendation. They can be well worth it, but then again, it is an extra $X you might not have.
Final Wrapup
A big shout-out to all the folks I met (and didn't get to meet – I'm lookin at you, Jorge!)…you guys rock, and you know that. An even BIGGER (if possible) shout-out to the MVPs and authors that took the time out to sit down with me and Sean for our little interviews; it means a lot to us. Big big hugs to Paul Randal, Kim Tripp, Andy Leonard, the canook, Grant Fritchey, Buck Woody, Cindy Gross, Peter DeBetta, about a zillion others (sorry, I'm still running on 4 hrs sleep), and especially Allen and Cindy White…great big heartfelt hugs to you two.
Watch this space (and Twitter, of course)…we'll be publishing our celebrity videos over the course of the next several days. I've also started a page for the MVP Deep Dives book launch photo shoot here: http://midnightdba.itbookworm.com/midnightdba/SQLPASS09/ (Go buy the book!!) I'll get all those photos and vids up as soon as possible.
Watch this space, too, for some big expansion. PASS Summit inspired us to do several new things with the site that you're gonna love.
See you next year, so practice your karaoke. I'll be online till then…
-Jen McCown, http://www.MidnightDBA.com
Blogging for http://www.SQLServerPedia.com