Tips for New CodeMash Attendees

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Jason Follas

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Jan 4, 2012, 12:03:49 PM1/4/12
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After crunching numbers, the final headcount is right around 1360.
That's way more than last year, and every year before that!

That also means that there are A LOT of new attendees this year who
may not know what to expect. So they can get the most out of the
conference, let's list some tips for the newcomers.

I'll start off with these:

0. Talk to people in the hallways! CodeMash has an incredible lineup
of sessions, but *you* also have personal access to an incredible
audience of really smart people. When you're wandering around the
hallways, or eating your lunch, look around - everyone that you see
has something to contribute to your CodeMash experience. Don't be shy
if you run into a speaker, author, or "developer celebrity". They
enjoy talking with random people, too!

1. Stray from your comfort zone! CodeMash's biggest strength is the
variety of topics. We're not just a .NET or Java or Ruby conference.
We have a little bit of everything under one roof. As such, there's a
lot that you can learn about your own platform by seeing how other
technologies solve the same business problems that you do. If you're
a .NET developer, attend a Java or iOS session. If you're a iOS gal,
see what Windows Phone or Android has to offer. Ruby folks - those
Python hackers might teach you a new trick that you can use.

2. Visit sponsors, and thank them! Really, thank them. Spend a
minute to hear their elevator speech. Enter into their contests
(there's some really sweet prizes to be won!). CodeMash is one of the
cheapest conferences of this scale because of all of the companies
that you'll see with booths in the hallways. We can have afford to
heat a large conference center in Sandusky, Ohio during the middle of
January because sponsors have given us money just to have the chance
to say hello to you.

3. Go to a Vendor Session! There are two 20-minute time slots
(Thursday and Friday afternoon) when Vendor Sessions take place.
These are not marketing sessions, but actually add value to CodeMash
by explaining solutions to business problems. Plus, there are often
giveaways to people who attend.

4. Attend the Attendee Cocktail Mixer and Waterpark party! Even if
you don't drink (and you will not be alone), it's a great opportunity
to interact with people at the Thursday evening parties. There will
be live music by talented CodeMash audience members at the Jam Session
in Crown Palm (if you play an instrument or sing, then you are
welcomed to participate, too!). And, CodeMash takes over the
Waterpark after it closes to the public at 10pm. Throw on your
swimsuit and check out the Swahili Swirl - it's a fun ride. Or, drift
on a tube down the Lazy River. Or, just show up in street clothes and
hang out at one of the sponsored Cabanas. Did you bring family or a
significant other with you to the conference? They are welcomed to
attend our parties, too!

5. Check out the Game Rooms! CodeMash is a technology conference, and
most attendees are in front of their computer the majority of the
time. But, there's plenty of fun to be had while offline, too! Have
you ever played Killer Bunnies, Dominion, or The Settlers of Catan?
Check out the Game Rooms (Ironwood and Banyan) on Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday to see who's around and sit in on the fun.

6. CodeMash Families! CodeMash has had a wonderful aspect to it from
the start: many attendees bring their
families, friends, or significant others to the event. Be sure to have
your non-geek traveling companions check out CodeMash Families, a
casual group of spouses, friends, and children who gather together for
various fun aciviies around the Kalahari. Looking to do some pottery
with other folks? CodeMash Families can hook you up!
Interested in hanging out at a private cabana at the
waterpark? CodeMash Families has you covered!

7. Attend an Open Space! Open Spaces are self-organized sessions that
take place during CodeMash. If you have something that you're
interested in, then you are permitted to convene a session on that
topic (even if you are not an authority). There will be a board where
sessions are posted - just show up at the scheduled time and
participate. (Interesting story - at one of the first CodeMash
conferences, somebody had convened an Open Space to discuss Amazon Web
Services. It just so happened that developers from Amazon were at
CodeMash that year as sponsors, and they were able to attend that
impromptu Open Space to provide expertise!)

8. Attend the Wednesday Evening Panel! Wednesday evening has always
been an informal kickoff. It's after the PreCompiler has ended, but
before the conference actually begins on Thursday. As such, CodeMash
schedules some activities for those people who are already in town.
At 7pm, there will be a Panel Discussion in the main dining room.
And, around 8:30pm, local musical guests The Womack Family Band and
Chris Castle will be performing in the Grand Hall.


(And now, this is the part where other CodeMash veterans provide their
own $0.02)

Mike Eaton

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Jan 5, 2012, 9:29:08 AM1/5/12
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My tips:

- While there's a lot going on, don't feel like you have to
participate in all the extra activities.
- Sessions are awesome, but hallway conversations can be just as good,
so don't worry if you miss a session
- Don't be a fanboi (or girl) - if you see a so-called "celebrity",
remember, they're just like you, so don't stalk them. ;-)
- If you're in sessions, turn your phone on vibrate or silent so we
don't have to hear your Lady Gaga ringtone
- If you're in a session and receive a phone call, wait until you get
OUT of the room before answering
- Make sure you thank the organizers for all their hard work
- During meals, sit at a table with people you don't know

That's all I have for now.

mike

jay

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Jan 5, 2012, 10:14:13 AM1/5/12
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My Tip:

- Don't be afraid to talk nerdy.
So when you do sit down at a table full of strangers for breakfast or
lunch, feel free to grill everyone about whatever you want. We are all
passionate developers about something (or else we wouldn't be at
CodeMash). Another way to think about it: I regret not asking at all
more than I regret asking a question that turned out to be a silly
question.

- Don't be afraid to talk about your side projects.
When I do sit down at that table full of strangers, I do want to hear
about how you spiked some code for yourself outside of work and how
you loved XYZ and hated ABC.
--
j

Dave Swersky

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Jan 5, 2012, 10:15:19 AM1/5/12
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+1 for the "developer celebrity" comment!  I was at CodeMash 2009 and wandered around with my mouth agape, wondering at how many people I was seeing from my Twitter feed and Google Reader stream.  In that regard, CodeMash 2012 will make 2009 look like a local UG meeting (not that there's anything wrong with local UG meetings!) 

Prepare to get your geek fanboy/fangirl fix!

Dave Swersky

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jeff mcwherter

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Jan 5, 2012, 11:26:37 AM1/5/12
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My Tips:

-Make sure to wait one hour after eating before going into the water
park :)
-Bring a swim suit, even if you don't think you want to go to the
water park
-Be prepared to walk, the place is huge, you will be doing a lot of
walking
-Check your ego at the door, its ok to be opinionated, but try to
foster an environment for learning
-Don't get into religious wars. If you think C# is better then Ruby,
explain why but remember there will be people who think Ruby is better
then C#
-Step out of your comfort zone. Be prepared to learn new things to
take back to your job
-Do what you need to do to get the most out of Code Mash....meaning if
there is not a session you want to attend at a given time, talk to
someone in the hallway
-Sit with people you don't know at meals, its great learning from
others.
-HAVE FUN!!!

Keith Elder

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Jan 5, 2012, 3:44:55 PM1/5/12
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Ditto to what everyone said and I'll tack on:

  1. Be sure to hug a CodeMash organizer daily. 
  2. Dress comfortable. Leave your ties and business stuff at home. Break out the flippy floppies, shorts and Hawaii shirts. You are in a resort so get jiggy with it.
  3. While a lot of people will eat in the evenings at the resort (and they do have some good food) a lot of us like to hang out in the suites to continue the conversation. Watch twitter for the #Codemash hash tag to see which suite(s) everyone is hanging out in. 
  4. Sponsors throw some really cool suite parties every night. Some of these have been rumored to go until 4:00 AM and one time there was a mule involved. Long story. Anway, a quick stop by a sponsors booth would probably give you a heads up. 
  5. If you do go to the water park, don't spend too much time in the outdoor sauna / hot tub. You will get the CodeMash Flu as we've named it.
  6. If you have a Segway bring it so I can borrow it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw 
--
Keith Elder
Sharp Axe Training - http://sharpaxetraining.com - Next classes Jan. 9th - 10th in Sandusky, OH
Deep Fried Bytes  (A Boy Howdy Production)
Microsoft MVP
INETA Mentor - AL, LA, MS
Mobile: 601.467.9744
Blog: http://keithelder.net
Podcast: http://deepfriedbytes.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/keithelder


Alex McFerron

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Jan 5, 2012, 3:48:31 PM1/5/12
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very funny! the codemash flu. i'm scared. bringing vitamin C.

Joel Clermont

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Jan 5, 2012, 3:52:33 PM1/5/12
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Vitamin C is unnecessary when there's heaping plates of Vitamin B(acon)

Keith Elder

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Jan 5, 2012, 3:54:31 PM1/5/12
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Or vitamin A..A..A..A..A..Al...cohol....

Jim Holmes

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Jan 5, 2012, 4:14:27 PM1/5/12
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One note about the infamous “CodeMash Grunge:” We will be having hand sanitizer dispensers at every buffet line as well as at other strategic spots throughout the venue. We’re hoping this will help reduce the post-CodeMash Tweets from sick folks.

Greg Huber

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Jan 5, 2012, 5:06:14 PM1/5/12
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I can personally relate to the "Codemash Flu" but I didn't spend any
time in the hot tub. I think it may have been from the hot sauce
(sitting next to the bacon). I had the 24 hr version last year and
spent a solid day in the hotel room. I'm going to be loading up on
vitamin C and trying to get well rested before hand. At least I
managed to make the prize raffle last year and took home a few books.
Oh, and I'll be staying away from the hot sauce this time around...


On Jan 5, 4:14 pm, "Jim Holmes" <j...@IterativeRose.com> wrote:
> One note about the infamous "CodeMash Grunge:" We will be having hand
> sanitizer dispensers at every buffet line as well as at other strategic
> spots throughout the venue. We're hoping this will help reduce the
> post-CodeMash Tweets from sick folks.
>
> From: code...@googlegroups.com [mailto:code...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
> Of Alex McFerron
> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 3:49 PM
> To: code...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: [CodeMash] Tips for New CodeMash Attendees
>
> very funny! the codemash flu. i'm scared. bringing vitamin C.
>
> On Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 3:44 PM, Keith Elder <ke...@keithelder.net> wrote:
>
> Ditto to what everyone said and I'll tack on:
>
> 1.      Be sure to hug a CodeMash organizer daily.
> 2.      Dress comfortable. Leave your ties and business stuff at home. Break
> out the flippy floppies, shorts and Hawaii shirts. You are in a resort so
> get jiggy with it.
> 3.      While a lot of people will eat in the evenings at the resort (and
> they do have some good food) a lot of us like to hang out in the suites to
> continue the conversation. Watch twitter for the #Codemash hash tag to see
> which suite(s) everyone is hanging out in.
> 4.      Sponsors throw some really cool suite parties every night. Some of
> these have been rumored to go until 4:00 AM and one time there was a mule
> involved. Long story. Anway, a quick stop by a sponsors booth would probably
> give you a heads up.
> 5.      If you do go to the water park, don't spend too much time in the
> outdoor sauna / hot tub. You will get the CodeMash Flu as we've named it.
> 6.      If you have a Segway bring it so I can borrow it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw
>
> --
> Keith Elder
>
> Sharp Axe Training -http://sharpaxetraining.com
> <http://sharpaxetraining.com/>  - Next classes Jan. 9th - 10th in Sandusky,
> OH
> Deep Fried Bytes  (A Boy Howdy Production)
> Microsoft MVP
> INETA Mentor - AL, LA, MS
> Mobile: 601.467.9744
> Blog:http://keithelder.net
> Podcast:http://deepfriedbytes.com
> Twitter:http://twitter.com/keithelder
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "CodeMash" group.
> To post to this group, send email to code...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> codemash+u...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:codemash%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com> .
> For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/codemash?hl=en.

Jason Follas

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Jan 5, 2012, 5:10:55 PM1/5/12
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For the record, I have never been sick after any CodeMash!

Though, it makes me wonder if Cafe Press sells logo'd surgical
masks.... :-D

Dianne Marsh

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Jan 5, 2012, 6:57:50 PM1/5/12
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Me neither but I seem to be getting a cold tonight. Bummer.

Rich Dudley

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Jan 6, 2012, 1:53:55 PM1/6/12
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One more tip: Put your Twitter ID on your name badge.  I follow a lot of people who don't use their real name, or have a common name.  I always like meeting people I follow, and finding new people to follow.

Steven Smith

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Jan 6, 2012, 2:55:23 PM1/6/12
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And write big and on both sides of your badge.

--
Steve Smith
http://SteveSmithBlog.com/
http://twitter.com/ardalis

Charley Baker

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Jan 6, 2012, 4:58:55 PM1/6/12
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I'd agree with just about all of this. Also leave your laptop in your room, meaning: 

* Conferences are mostly about the people and the ideas, bring a notebook and do some sketch notes: http://rohdesign.com/weblog/category/sketchnotes
* Talk to new people, I'll say hi and talk if you need someone to talk to, I'll also introduce you to a boatload of people
* Come to the conference and take notes on your laptop and leave not having met anyone aside from people you work with is a losing proposition :)
* If you need your laptop for some of the sessions, obviously bring it, but otherwise consider alternatives, it's only a 2 mile walk to get it 


Cheers, 

Charley

Carol Smith

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Jan 6, 2012, 5:14:21 PM1/6/12
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Adding to the idea of Skechnotes - here is a new (FREE!) book just out this month on the topic by my UX colleague Binaebi Akah and Charlene McBride:

Jim Weirich

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Jan 6, 2012, 5:50:02 PM1/6/12
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On Jan 6, 2012, at 5:14 PM, Carol Smith wrote:

> Adding to the idea of Skechnotes - here is a new (FREE!) book just out this month on the topic by my UX colleague Binaebi Akah and Charlene McBride:
> http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/sketchnotes-a-field-guide-for-the-busy-yet-inspired-professional/18796228

That little book is awesome! Thanks for the pointer.

--
-- Jim Weirich
-- jim.w...@gmail.com


Charley Baker

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Jan 6, 2012, 6:02:14 PM1/6/12
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That's super cool, they should link to Mike Rohde and his vids as well as the sketchbook army. :) I've just started looking at the book, but it's fun. :)

Cheers, 

Charley



Joe Kuemerle

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Jan 6, 2012, 6:28:24 PM1/6/12
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I definitely recommend leaving the laptop behind. Last Codemash every attendee got an awesome Moleskine pocket notebook. I hope that some kind sponsor will do the same this year.



-- Sent from my Palm Pre


Jim Holmes

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Jan 6, 2012, 6:53:42 PM1/6/12
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The CodeMash Moleskines will be back for 2012!

 

From: code...@googlegroups.com [mailto:code...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Joe Kuemerle
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 6:28 PM
To: code...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [CodeMash] Tips for New CodeMash Attendees

 

I definitely recommend leaving the laptop behind. Last Codemash every attendee got an awesome Moleskine pocket notebook. I hope that some kind sponsor will do the same this year.


Charley Baker

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Jan 6, 2012, 7:18:09 PM1/6/12
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There you go for good reason to leave it behind. I'm an amateur, but willing to talk about sketchnotes. 

Cheers, 

Charley

MaggiePlusPlus

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Jan 7, 2012, 10:33:13 AM1/7/12
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Just because there is bacon at breakfast doesn't mean have to eat
it.:)

+1 on no laptops during sessions. Most precompilers will require them,
but after that not.

Please don't whisper and have side discussions during a session.
Believe me, you are distracting to others no matter how quiet you
think you are.

Like others have said, do sit with people you don't know at meals. If
no one is talking, start the conversation.
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