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

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
    marc@serverpress.com
    @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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