April 21, 2015

Countdown to Ignite Ep. 12: The One about What to Pack and What’s New, Two Weeks Out!

By Scott Ladewig Microsoft, TechEd, Technology 0 Comments April 21, 2015

Two weeks and counting! Episode 12 of the Countdown to Ignite Show is here to help you get ready with some packing tips and the inside scoop on Ignite 101 and more. Keep reading for my summary, but make sure you click over to the Ignite blog for the video and full blog post.

Ignite 101

We’ve talked about Ignite 101 before, but as a reminder, there will be two sessions of Ignite 101 with Rick and Joey on Sunday. The first session is at 9 AM and the second is at 1 PM. I’m a TechEd veteran, but I’m going to be at the early 101 session because there’s always something new to learn. If you can’t make either of those sessions, the guys will be recording a special edition just for you so that you don’t miss out on any of their suggestions, tips, and best practices for attending Ignite.

Getting Ready

Check out the post from “Vecna” in the Channel 9 forums that covers a number of great ways to get ready for and get the most out of Ignite (and really any conference).

Packing

Rick and Joey are way ahead of me on this one. I have not started packing yet, but I need to get going on that. They touch upon…

Shoes – Don’t bring new shoes. You’re going to be walking… and walking… and walking. You want comfortable footwear.

Tech – Organize what you’re brining that needs power, cords, etc. I’m a fan of the GRID-IT! organizers from Cocoon, so you may want to check those out. Mini-power strips are great for conferences (and any travel), and you can never have too many portable chargers. Conferences like Ignite are the great battery killer.

Clothes – I wear Hawaiian shirts to work normally, so my work dress code is pretty casual, but the great thing for all of you who have to wear business casual or… shudder… a coat and tie everyday, leave those at home. It’s casual Friday all week at Ignite.

Luggage – This tip is from me, but I always bring a small duffel bag that folds up nice and compact, and I throw all my clothes in there to leave room in the suitcase/carry-on for swag and conference goodies.

Airport Transportation

Train, train, train. CTA is going to be your best friend. Don’t get a car and don’t pay for a taxi. $28 gets you a 7 day pass on CTA. I ordered mine and received it yesterday, so I’m ready to hit the ground running. If you want to get one, but are running out of time to get it at home, don’t worry, you can buy it when you get there.

Theater Sessions

Hearing from Microsoft and outside experts are great, but we’re all experts about something. Theater Sessions are your opportunity to hear from your fellow attendees about real-world issues and solutions they’ve encountered. These will be held in the Expo Hal, and you can find specifics in MyIgnite.

New Session Tag

A new tag was added recently to the Session Builder. Look for “New Sessions” to find sessions that are new to make sure you don’t miss any late additions to the schedule.

Attendee Directory

Community is the best part of a conference like Ignite, and if you opt in and share your info, you and other attendees can find each other and possibly setup meetings and discussions. Rick and Joey demo his capability by setting up a meeting with someone who looks vaguely familiar. I’ve always wanted to be on the Countdown Show, and I’ve finally made it! Well, my online profile has at least.

Wrap-up

So there you have it. Another episode with a lot to take in. We only have 13 days to go, so start packing and get ready for a week like no other. See you in Chicago!

You can watch the show over on Channel 9, but why not just watch it here?

Looking to be a part of the conversation? Interact via the following channels: