Any conference can be a great conference if you know how to navigate the experience.  With Dreamforce 2024 right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to do a little pre-conference prep work to ensure your experience is top-tier! 


Let’s take a look at our top tips for getting the most out of any conference.

#1 Travel Light and Leave Expectations Behind

Regardless of what you brought in your luggage, when it comes to lugging around items all day, it’s best to travel light. The day can be exhausting enough — you don’t want to have to carry around 20 lbs of stuff you’re afraid to set down or lose. Keep it simple with comfortable and lightweight items you actually need.

Understand the dress code by looking at photos from past events or asking people who have gone before. The tech world tends to be more casual than other kinds of conferences, but you still want to be professional and presentable. 

Do…

  • Bring a light jacket or sweater if you get cold easily
  • Consider smaller versions of medications you may need
  • Bring a battery pack and/or charging cable for your phone


Don’t… 

  • Bring heavy items like laptops and large water bottles (unless you have to)
  • Wear shoes that are uncomfortable for long days of walking
  • Forget a small bag to carry any little items or freebies you might get

You should also leave behind heavy ideas of trying to see and do everything! It’s great to have a goal, but don’t get stressed if you don’t make it to a session you wanted to see or just need to take a break away from the action.  The magic often happens in the in-betweens!

#2 Get Excited by Planning Ahead!

Watch social media for hashtags and posts of people you know that may be attending. Make sure to share with your network that you’re going to be there too!

Walking to a session together or comparing notes after a session can be a great way to connect with other conference attendees.

Picking sessions and events can be the hardest part of any conference. To narrow down your options, consider topics that interest you, can help grow your career, or might be valuable to take back to your team. 

  • Research the speakers and read abstracts for sessions
  • Consider topics that align with your current challenges and career goals
  • Look at going to something out of your comfort zone

After-parties and social events are a great way to strengthen new connections and build on the information you received in the day’s sessions and demos. Learn which ones might spark your interest by reaching out to others attending and looking up events from previous years.

Many conferences have a dedicated app for attendees that allows scheduling, navigation, networking, and feedback. These apps can help you stay on top of any alerts and changes.  If there’s an app for the event, it’s worth having it downloaded.

#3 Close the Feedback Loop

While it might feel like it makes sense to furiously scribble down notes during sessions and demos so you remember everything, it’s actually the opposite. Immerse yourself in the experience and brain dump information afterwards. Take pictures with your phone of key slides in presentations to help you remember or jot down simple notes that you can expand on later.

You’ll need time to absorb the vast amount of information being thrown at you. Leaving space to process information and discuss the topics around you can be better than taking notes.

Our tips for making the most of your time:

  • Take advantage of events outside of the regularly scheduled conference such as lunches, happy hours, or evening parties
  • Have your LinkedIn QR code ready to share with others to stay in touch after the conference ends 
  • Share your insights and top moments with your network at the end of the day or when you get back home

Make sure to  say hello to those you connected with after the conference and follow through on any plans and ideas you had while there. 

Hope to See You There!

Conferences can be an amazing part of connecting with like-minded people passionate about the things that drive you. They can be career-driving and life-changing, but it can also be a great time to just experience something new.

Have fun out there — and don’t forget to  stop by and say hello to your friends at Provar!