April 1, 2014
HomeGeneralTechEd 2014 Countdown Show Ep. 14: The One About Evening Events

TechEd 2014 Countdown Show Ep. 14: The One About Evening Events

By  General, Microsoft, TechEd, Technology  0 Comments April 1, 2014

You’ve had a long day at TechEd, attending sessions, doing hands-On Labs, taking certification tests, and more. Your brain is completely full, and you just can’t pack any more bits into it. This is the daily reality for most attendees every day of the week. How do you last all week without completely burning out? Easy. You take advantage of that daily activity that is the perfect way to do are set and clear things for the next day. They’re called… parties.

Who doesn’t like a party? This week, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) run down the list of a few of the parties that are going on all week.

I’m off at another conference, the Microsoft Exchange Conference, aka MEC, so I’ll let Rick and Joey to give you all the details (watch the video… link at the bottom of this post), but here’s a quick rundown of the events open to all attendees:

  • Monday
    • Welcome Reception at the Vendor Expo (aka Trash and Trinkets according to Joey
    • MS Learning’s Certification Nation for MCPs (bring your card or other proof that you’re certified)
  • Tuesday
    • Meet ‘n Geek (speed networking, an MMS favorite)
    • Ask The Experts (meet and chat with Microsoft experts about various topics)
    • Jam Sessions at House of Blues – great music from your fellow attendees
  • Thursday – Attendee Party at Minute Maid Park (wristband required for admission)

I do want to say one thing, however, before I go. Yes these are parties, often with adult beverages, and music, and plenty of opportunities for people to have a good time. That being said, they are also serious networking events. Some lean more towards the networking side of the scale while others send the balance in the other direction. In either situation, make sure you take advantage of these opportunities, even if you’re not the party type.

If you go and make the effort to meet a few people, you can find yourself leaving Houston, not only with a lot of great technical knowledge from sessions and other daytime activities (and t-shirts) but also with some new contacts. I’ve met some of the most amazing people at TechEd (and MMS and MEC) at all sorts of events. My life, both professionally and personally, is immeasurably better as a result. I know it may sound a bit dramatic, but trust me, it’s true.

So, pay attention to what Rick and Joey have to say, and get ready… We’re only six weeks away. See you in Houston!

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You can always find The TechEd Countdown Show over at Channel 9, but why not just watch it here? Enjoy!

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