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How to Rock a WordCamp (Updated): Miami WordCamp Presentation

How to Rock a WordCamp (Updated): Miami WordCamp Presentation

In this presentation, I cover 14 steps to help you rock your WordCamp. While it is directed toward new attendees, I have been told that there are some points in here that even seasoned veterans had not considered.

This presentation was the first one done using WPPresenter; a theme developed by @trishacodes built upon the increasingly popular reveal.js open source presentation maker and makes it as easy as installing a WordPress theme and configuring it to make it sing and dance. You can find out more and get involved with the development of this theme at https://github.com/ServerPress/wp-presenter

Marc Benzakein

May 30, 2015
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Transcript

  1. HOW TO ROCK A WORDCAMP EVEN IF YOU'RE A TOTAL
    N00B

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  2. OK... THE IMPORTANT STUFF ABOUT ME
    What I Am
    Opinionated
    Father of Two (But Usually Five)
    Husband of One
    WordCamp Milwaukee Co­Organizer
    WordPress Fanatic
    Attendee at over 25 WordCamps
    Part of the Serverpress, LLC Team

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  3. OK... THE IMPORTANT STUFF ABOUT ME
    What I Am Not (aka "Disclaimers")
    A party animal
    Terribly filtered
    Always right (just ask my wife and kids)
    Overly serious
    A very creative presentation slide maker
    An expert (at anything)

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  4. MY FIRST WORDCAMP
    HOW MY FIRST TATTOO WAS THE WORD "SUCKER" WRITTEN ON MY
    FOREHEAD

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  5. FOR THE GEOGRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED

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  6. SOME QUICK MATH
    6 Hour Flight (Each Way)
    $350.00 Airfare
    TSA (Need I Say more?)
    California Traffic
    TOTALLY WORTH IT!

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  7. ANATOMY OF A WORDCAMP
    WORDCAMPS GENERALLY ENCOMPASS THE FOLLOWING (IN NO
    SPECIFIC ORDER):
    Learning
    Teaching
    Volunteering
    Networking
    Socializing

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  8. OVERHEARD
    @WORDCAMPS

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  9. "MY BRAIN HURTS"

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  10. "I WOULD LOVE TO CONTRIBUTE BUT HAVE NOTHING TO
    GIVE."

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  11. "WHERE ARE THE BOOTHS?"

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  12. "THESE PEOPLE ARE SO SMART AND I FEEL SO
    INADEQUATE."

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  13. HOW TO ROCK WORDCAMP IN 14 E-Z STEPS

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  14. STEP 1
    SKIP A SESSION OR TWO
    (OR THREE OR FOUR)

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  15. STEP 2
    ASK QUESTIONS

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  16. STEP 3
    REMEMBER THAT IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT

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  17. NOT A CONVENTION

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  18. STEP 4
    DON'T BE AFRAID TO LEAVE A SESSION

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  19. STEP 5
    SMALL CAMPS CAN BE AS INVIGORATING

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  20. AS THE BIG FANCY CAMPS

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  21. STEP 6
    TWITTER IS YOUR FRIEND

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  23. STEP 7
    DON'T BE INTIMIDATED

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  24. STEP 8
    DON'T BE AFRAID TO SWITCH TRACKS

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  25. STEP 9
    DON'T SIT BY YOURSELF AT LUNCH

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  26. STEP 10
    MEET PEOPLE!!
    Seriously...

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  27. DO IT!!!

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  28. STEP 11
    IF THERE IS AN AFTER PARTY...

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  30. GO!!!

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  31. STEP 12
    VOLUNTEER

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  32. STEP 13
    HAVE FUN!!!!!

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  33. STEP 14
    STAY IN TOUCH (and Stay Engaged)

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  34. CONCLUSION
    aka: Quick­Reference Guide
    (aka: Cheat­Sheet)

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  35. OVERHEARD @WORDCAMPS
    These people are so smart and I feel inadequate
    Steps 2 (Ask questions), 3 (It's a community event), 7 (don't be
    intimidated), 9 (Don't sit Alone @ Lunch), 10 (Meet people), 11 (Go to after
    party)
    My brain hurts
    Steps 1 (Skip a session or two), 4 (Don't be afraid to walk out), 8 (Switch
    tracks), 10 (Meet people), 13 (Have fun)
    I would love to contribute but I have nothing to give
    Steps 2 (Ask questions), 10 (Meet people), 12 (Volunteer), 14 (Stay in
    touch and stay engaged)
    Where are the conventions booths?
    Step 3 (Remember that it's a community event and not a convention)

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  36. EXTRA CREDIT
    A FEW WAYS TO MAKE YOUR WORDCAMP EXPERIENCE
    EVEN BETTER!
    Thank the Organizers
    Thank the Volunteers
    Thank the Speakers
    Thank the Sponsors
    Fill out Satisfaction Surveys

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  37. THE END
    Contact Information:
    Marc Benzakein
    [email protected]
    @MarcBenzak
    http://serverpress.com
    If you'd like to learn about our family and fostering to adopt,
    you can follow our shenanigans at www.twotofive.us
    Presentation Theme: WP­Presenter built by @trishacodes
    upon reveal.js (github.com/hakimel/reveal.js)

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