We are gearing up for our 8th Xerocon and thought our experience might help others
Here are our 8 top tips:
Wear comfy clothes
You’ll be walking and standing a lot, jeans sneakers and a branded tshirt (easier to be found in a crowd of 2,500) are the best options.
Pack light
You don’t need a bunch of stuff, but you do need room for swag and prizes on the way home. Maybe bring some express post bags and ship your laundry home, the postie won’t be tempted to pinch your dirty clothes!
At xerocon you’ll only need a phone and charger and maybe a jacket, everything else will be supplied.
Don’t arrive too late
Satellite events will go on around the main event, so come early and check with your app providers what they have planned. We’d highly recommend Heather Smith’s precon meetup (think speed-dating with apps).
And stay late – you’ll need time to absorb the info and plan how to attack your takeaways before you get back to the grind at the office. Give yourself some headspace and recovery time before you return to your domestic bliss.
Buddy Up
If its your first time and you are more of an introvert – find someone else in the same boat, you’ll both be more relaxed.
Xerocon will have concurrent sessions, so a having a buddy means you can swap notes.
Introduce yourself to someone you’ve only met online. Xerocon is about community.
Invite your crew
We all have to do CPE – doesn’t mean it has to be dry and boring! Reward your team after the EOFY slog with a fun conference. Get your team hyped up so they can get through to the Christmas break.
Getting the people who will do the work and implementation along to be inspired and make the right connections will make the whole process smoother – for you and your business.
Bring name stickers
2,500 people will have the same swag as you, and may want more!
Put your name tag on your drink bottle right away or kiss it goodbye at the lunch table.
Pace yourself
Most of us are introverts – so being ON and making small talk will take a toll. Find one of the quiet spaces for a recharge or go to the playground for a turn on the swing – no-one who values their safety will start a conversation there!
Organise a debrief session
with your buddies for the day after, you’ll consolidate your learnings by forming complete sentences!
You might want to implement the same things, you could create a mastermind group to support each other.
If you blog, write your blog to lock in the highlights.
Enjoy the event, the after party and the community atmosphere!
See you there!!
