Conferences. How and Why

Ever thought of attending a conference, but decided it would be too much effort and overwhelming with so much great content already available online to give it a try? It is even more difficult to decide on attending if you have had a negative experience in the past.

My first attempt many years ago wasn’t bad. A full day of going from one talk to another. Plus, feeling sleepy due to an early start. However, after attending the conference I didn’t feel I’d want to do it again. Something was missing. There is no guarantee that your visit will be successful as there are too many aspects to take in account, but there are things you can do to increase the chances. I’ll share with you my approach on how to do that.

First Step: Choosing

My view on the conferences changed significantly in 2019. At that time I was working on a solo development project and wanted to clear my mind. I heard a lot of good things about the Spring I/O conference in Barcelona. Nice location and a suitable place to learn more about the framework I use daily. It sounded like a perfect option. This leads me to the first tip:

When making a decision you can also think of a conference as a holiday extension. If you want to visit a specific place and there is a conference in or nearby, you can check it out. 

And yes, I prefer in person events. When joining remotely, you can’t fully appreciate the energy. You are just constantly looking at your monitor screen. Having said that, online conferences are a good alternative, especially if you have found one matching your interests or prefer not to travel for whatever reason.

Second Step: Before the Event

To get the most of it, some preparation is useful. What I would recommend doing:

• Check the schedule beforehand and mark sessions you would like to attend. It can be several sessions at the same time.

The goal is to have favourite things highlighted to save time during the event. When there are 5 sessions in parallel and you have narrowed your choice to 2/3 most appealing, it helps making the final decision quicker as you don’t need to go through all 5 again.

Important: The session list created is not a strict plan. Use it as a guide. At the same time, allow yourself to change your mind.

• Pay attention to what is recorded and what’s not. Workshops almost never are. Don’t miss the opportunity if you want to attend any of those.

Step Three: During the Event

So you are at the conference. You have registered and got your badge. What’s next? People are buzzing around. 

Back to my Spring I/O 2019 story. I do vividly remember myself standing there watching people around me and trying to figure out my plan for the day. At that moment a guy came by and said:

“Hi, first time?”

I replied, “Yes”.

He said that I shouldn’t be just standing like that, it is not how conferences are done.

Then he explained and showed me his way. Just use this simple question to break the ice like:

• Where are you from?
• Is it your first conference “A”?

Don’t forget that you definitely have some common topics with other participants like sessions’ content and technology you are using. If you are at a Java related conference, you can always talk about Java. 

For introverts like many developers are, this could look scary, but trust me, it is worth it. I had the most interesting conversations and made the most valuable connections by using this technique and being open to talk. The so-called halfway track is memorable and will contribute to your unique experience. 

Going to conferences nowadays I try to be that person to someone else by sharing tips like I’m sharing with you.

Besides the networking way I have mentioned earlier, there are a couple more tips regarding the sessions. 

I always wonder when the majority is pushing quickly to the door of the auditorium at the end of the session. Finding courage to ask questions on camera might be challenging, but going and asking afterwards is good both for you and a speaker. Maybe you will inspire their next talk or you find yourself hacking with them trying to solve your problem. Also, listening to others’ questions could be interesting. If you rush to the next thing you will miss this chance. Slow down a bit. That fear of missing out is your enemy. It also could cause your mind to block due to too much information. 

Tip: Skipping a session is perfectly fine. You might be simply tired. Why push yourself if you are no longer paying attention? Or you are engaged in active discussion. Why stop it?

Step Four: After the Event

When the last session ends many think that the conference is over. In reality it is not like that. The final step is still to be done.

One of the things I always try to do is structuring my notes into summary. What I have seen, what my takeaways are etc. It helps me better to remember things and reach out for exact pieces of data when I need it to solve a task at hand. The final result can be:

• Just a summary for yourself.
• Post in your internal company format to share with colleagues.
• Public blog post.
• Source for the presentation for your colleagues or local community. 

If sessions are recorded, watching ones that you couldn’t attend or were highly rated by others, could be a nice touch.

Final Thoughts: The Why

Now you know all these things, let’s try answering the question: why treat yourself to a conference?

For me it is:

• Networking. Most efficient at in person events.
• Possibility to ask questions – you can’t do that when watching recorded content.
• Learning new things in a focused and fun way.
• Changing scenery and being out of your comfort zone from time to time is healthy for you.

Joining a conference will broaden your horizons and teach you new skills in the areas you haven’t imagined it could. Participating in a knowledge sharing event can be exhausting and at the same time exciting and rewarding. Give it a try.