Dreamforce is back and better than ever after a brief pandemic hiatus. For many of us, this is our first Dreamforce and maybe even our first major work conference. As day one wraps up in San Francisco, here are ten things I wish someone had told me before I arrived.
Sessions fill up fast and the line for the keynote starts forming well before doors open. My dad told me there was no substitute for being in the room when Marc Benioff takes the stage. He was right. We arrived 45 minutes early and still ended up in a fourth or fifth satellite room where no one clapped when the presentation ended. For keynotes, plan on arriving at least an hour ahead.
Check in the day before Dreamforce officially begins and walk the campus. There are multiple buildings spread across several blocks that all look remarkably similar. When you have ten minutes to reach your next session and 40,000 people are between you and the door, knowing exactly where you are going is the difference between making it and missing it entirely.
Brands like Lululemon and DYM Athletics make pants that look like dress slacks but are built from athletic material. Wear them. Add sneakers designed for walking or running. You will cover far more ground than you expect and your feet will remind you of that choice by the end of day one.
Dreamforce hosts over 1,000 sessions and 40,000 people who want to attend them. Plan for one to two sessions on day one. You need to arrive 30 minutes early for smaller sessions and a full hour for keynotes. Sessions are spread across multiple locations and trying to pack your day will cost you more than it gains.
Conference food has a poor reputation for a reason, but Salesforce reimagined what it should look like. The options are healthy, genuinely delicious, and accommodating of dietary restrictions. Take advantage of it rather than going off-campus and losing time.
A small bag is enough to hold a notebook, your phone, any swag you pick up, and stickers from the expo floor. A large bag will get in your way during sessions, security checkpoints, and crowded walkways. Keep it minimal.
Security is tight and moves quickly. Keep your badge on at all times with the front facing outward. Do not be alarmed if a security officer grabs your badge as you move between sessions. It is standard procedure and not a cause for concern.
You will meet a remarkable number of interesting, accomplished people over three days. Get their social media handles and connect before the energy of the event fades. This is a professional conference and the relationships you build here are part of what makes the trip worth taking.
If large crowds and forced small talk sound like a special kind of discomfort, you are in good company. Nearly everyone at Dreamforce is navigating the same nerves. A genuine smile and a simple opening question are enough to start conversations that can change the direction of your career.
Dreamforce is information overload and sensory overload at the same time. That is intentional. Salesforce has built an event filled with world-class entertainment and groundbreaking technology. Attend what you can, absorb what you are able to, and let yourself enjoy the experience. You earned the trip.
Blaze on, Trailblazers.
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