Most of this is really common sense stuff and aimed toward 1st time vegas / pubcon visitors, but there are definitely some keys to having a great time and getting alot back from your trip to Pubcon 2011. This post should really be titled, “How to get the most out of your 2011 Pubcon Vegas Trip” but I think you get the point. I learned a valuable lesson last year. Sleep is good. 5 days in Vegas, just trying to muscle through a 105 degree fever due to dehydration and lack of sleep is no fun. The plethora of information I came back with however was priceless, and that’s why this post is here; to help you learn how to get the most of your 2011 Vegas Pubcon trip (and not kill yourself).
SET YOUR VEGAS PUBCON 2011 SESSION SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE
Look at the session grid: http://www.pubcon.com/pubcon-vegas-2011/sessions and plan out the sessions you want to attend. You don’t want to be scrambling around last minute trying to figure out what is the best thing to see for your company.
LUNCHES
Guess what, lunch is a great way to meet new friends, but if you’re really hungry for decent food (the conference food sucks and lines are horrible) hook up with a few new friends and walk over to the Marriott Rennisance hotel next door to the convention center. They have a great little café and a full service restaurant, and it’s a bit more intimate so you can really talk to your new found friends! Too bad they don’t take tickets. Usually no lines or wait there either unlike the 30 mintues you’ll spend waiting for food in the expo hall only to see all the tables are full.
BRING AN IPAD OR LAPTOP
Take plenty of notes during each session, you’ll be glad you did. The conference CD you’ll receive is a great resource, but you can only really use it for recaps. You’ll get plenty of cool links to great tools you never knew about that aren’t included in the presentation CD.
HYDRATION.
Vegas is fun, it can almost be too fun. There’s plenty of alcohol flowing (remember, this is PubCon) so you really need to make sure you drink at least a glass of water every hour or two. You’re gonna need the pre-hydration for the parties at night.
SLEEP.
Again, Vegas is fun, I never want to sleep, but this is absolutely a requirement to get the most out of your sessions. Plan at least 6 hours of sleep each night before the conference. Try and be in your room no later than midnight on Monday – Wednesday. The lack of sleep I had last year was a major contributing factor to the eventual 105 degree night fevers I had.
SET AN ALARM / WAKE UP CALL
Sure, you may blow your curfew one night with a couple new friends, but make sure you get up for the keynote the next morning, if this is your first trip, the keynotes are always great and a must-see.
SET A DAILY GAMBLING BUDGET
Don’t blow your wad on the first night. You don’t want to be stuck in your room the rest of the week while everyone is out having fun. Set a realistic daily gambling budget, and STICK TO IT! If you lose it, stop playing. Don’t forget… When you say to yourself “I should quit” – QUIT!
LAY OUT AN ADGENDA
Sure there are always last minute after-parties you’re invited to. However you should still layout a rough plan on what you want to do. Dying to eat at a certain restaurant, make plans for a certain night and call for reservations beforehand. Want to check out a certain nightclub? Call the host of that club NOW and get on the guestlist, It will usually save you an hour wait in line. A great resource for nightclub host names and contact info is here: www.jackcolton.com
MAKE DINNER RESERVATIONS
Vegas is known for its world-class food and wine, this year at MGM there are a few notable dining experiences I’ve been to that are a must.
$$$$ – Craftsteak, a five star steakhouse by Tom Colicchio of Gramercy Tavern in NYC
$$$ – Shibuya, The ultimate sake, sushi and teppanyaki experience.
$$ – Diego, An authentic Mexican countryside menu with over 100 different Tequila’s.
Of course there are many others in Vegas. For off premises dining try:
$$$ – Battista’s, An old-vegas style hole in the wall you’ll be glad you went to, complete with Accordion player.
$$ – Peppermill, Diner-style breakfast, lunch and dinner where the rat pack used to dine.
KNOW YOUR ALCOHOL LIMITS
Feeling a bit too tipsy? Time for bed. Sure, were in Vegas, but get the most out of Pubcon by not being hungover. Drink a glass of water right before sleeping to help keep you functioning in the morning. Stay a few extra days if you want to drink it up like crazy. That’s my plan!
BONUS!
You know what they say: “What happens in Vegas, doesn’t stay at Pubcon” – You’ll probably be photoed, tweeted, facebooked, and much more. Remember, we’re all internet marketers. Just a good FYI so you don’t arrive home to a dear John letter. Also if you find yourself in a dead conversation with a new friend. Just say “So what about Panda this year?”
That’s pretty much it. Sure it’s mostly common sense stuff, but Vegas is Vegas, and our inhibitions are usually put on the backburner. Stay for the weekend, and turn it into one of the greatest trips to Vegas you’ve ever had. Stay tuned for more great PubCon Vegas afterparty tips coming later this week!
UPDATE: Pubcon Afterparty List
