![\"registration](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/registration.jpg\")
Let\u2019s start with what you can expect when you get to registration. After a brief journey through the registration queue and a conversation with the volunteer at the registration table, you\u2019ll find yourself the proud owner of a lanyard, a name tag, and an amazing shirt with a cow on it<\/a>. You might wait for a private room before you change your shirt, but be sure put on your lanyard right away. Without it, you are a nameless face in the crowd. With your name badge on, everybody knows your name.<\/p>\nMeet the Sponsors<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/Screen-Shot-2018-03-26-at-4.59.29-PM-300x241.png\")
Now that you have a name, it\u2019s time to start meeting people. There are a few strategies here, depending on who you\u2019re talking to. I always like to start by exploring the sponsor booths.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Our sponsors make WordCamp possible. This is a great opportunity to thank them.<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re sponsoring WordCamp because they think that their product or service might help you<\/em> run your<\/em> business. It\u2019s probably worth hearing them out.<\/li>\n
- The WordPress community is\u2026 a community<\/em>. Sponsors are just as much a part of that community as WordCamp attendees and speakers. While they\u2019re at WordCamp to sell something, they\u2019re also there to build connections, get feedback, and make friends. They would love to hear about you, your business, your problems and frustrations, and what solutions you\u2019re using to solve those problems.<\/li>\n
- Pick up some swag: t-shirts (for yourself or your kids), stickers, pins to decorate your lanyard, product brochures, sunglasses, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Introduce Yourself<\/h2>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/meetsomeone.jpg\")
Now that you\u2019ve met all of our sponsors, take a look around you. You\u2019re in a room full of people, all of them wearing name tags. Some of them are having conversations, but a lot of them have pulled out their smartphones to check that \u201cimportant\u201d message from their cat. This is where those magic words come in. Walk up to someone\u2014anyone, alone or in groups\u2014and say, \u201cHi, I\u2019m Jonathan.\u201d (But don\u2019t say \u201cJonathan\u201d unless that\u2019s really your name; it could lead to some awkward situations later.) Moments later, you\u2019ll know their name, too (or you\u2019ll both be using the \u201cJonathan\u201d pseudonym, which is perfectly valid), and you have the opening to start a conversation. Here\u2019s a small list to help you get started:<\/p>\n- \n
- What do you do?<\/li>\n
- Where do you come from?<\/li>\n
- How long have you been using WordPress?<\/li>\n
- What are you hoping to get out of this conference?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It especially helps if you know your own answers to those questions. Why are you at WordCamp? Are there questions you\u2019re hoping to answer? Are there people you\u2019re hoping to meet? Are there skills you\u2019re hoping to learn? Write those down before you come; give yourself a checklist to complete before the weekend ends. Every one of your interactions is an opportunity to move toward those goals.<\/p>\n
Learn Something<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/womanlearning.jpg\")
Interspersed with all of these conversations, you\u2019ll want to attend many of the informative and entertaining sessions prepared by our cast of talented speakers. You might treat this as an opportunity to relax and soak in the information. Or you might be furiously recording the torrent of vital information that was obviously prepared specifically for you to revolutionize your business. Either way, consider what to bring to make sure you\u2019re comfortable and able to make the most of your time.<\/p>\nBe Prepared<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/wifi-150x150.jpg\")
If you want to take notes on your laptop, make sure your battery is fully charged at the start of the day. You might not always find a working power outlet nearby, and they\u2019re often in high demand. Consider bringing an extension cord or power strip that you can share with your neighbor (and look! You just made a new friend).<\/p>\nA backup battery battery or power bank can help your phone last through the day. Turning on airplane mode when you\u2019re not using it can also help stretch your battery life. If you can\u2019t function without an Internet connection, consider bringing your own.<\/p>\n
There should be WiFi at the venue, but even the best routers struggle when a hundred laptops and two hundred phones all try to connect at the same time. A personal cellular hotspot can help you connect when it\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n
Take Care of Yourself<\/h2>\n
- The WordPress community is\u2026 a community<\/em>. Sponsors are just as much a part of that community as WordCamp attendees and speakers. While they\u2019re at WordCamp to sell something, they\u2019re also there to build connections, get feedback, and make friends. They would love to hear about you, your business, your problems and frustrations, and what solutions you\u2019re using to solve those problems.<\/li>\n
![\"stylized](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/smileysun-150x150.png\")
If you need a break from the sessions, stop by the Happiness Bar (![\"people](\"https:\/\/2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org\/files\/2018\/03\/lunch.jpg\")
Conferencing isn\u2019t exactly backbreaking labor, but it\u2019s still important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Carry a water bottle with you, and maybe pack a few of your favorite portable snacks to get you through that last session before lunch.<\/p>\n