Attending First Pub Con

Pub Con

[sinbad]

Hi guys, read these forums for a while now and will be attending my first webmasterworld pub con in Vegas Baby, never been to the US hoping ill get in,i am travelling from the UK, i feel i need some support to get the best advice i can, as i am nearing the launch of a new website and my needs are specific to making this work personally , optimization is the key for me , what sessions would you suggest i attend and also how much money should i bring to spend on beer, any other suggestions would be great.

[bhartzer]

Vegas can be as expensive as you want it to be. If you don't have a lot of money to spend then you can get by just as well.

As for the particular session to attend, I would concentrate on attending the sessions that are SEO-related since that sounds like what you're interested in--the paid/PPC sessions may not be for you.

Be sure to take a lot of notes, as well.

[pmac]

>>>>how much money should i bring to spend on beer,

Six thousand dollars. Assuming you are staying for 4 days.

[ncw164x]

sinbad, just relax and be yourself and don't go to bed too early, try and get into the company of other members and stay up talking and drinking till the early hours of the morning but still remain sober, as for the amount of money required that depends on how much you drink back home so maybe times that by 2 or 3 for the longer sessions which should also cover a few drinks you may have to buy for the tips and advice you will gain

<added>yeah pmac is right about 6k should just about cover it</added>

[ken_b]

Six thousand dollars. Assuming you are staying for 4 days.

hmmm... Looks like I'll only be there for 15 minutes or so!

[sugarrae]

LMAO... six? That's assuming someone is buying you drinks half the time pmac. ;)

[bhartzer]

Hmmm... as long as you're gambling the drinks are free, right? ;)

[sinbad]

so it looks like an expensive week as im staying until the 20th, as i read it, stay away from the imported beer and just make sure i have enough money for the beer for you guys as youll have the advice

[caveman]

Speak for yourself pmac. I can be had for half that price. We're talking per night, right? ;-)

[bhartzer]

I can be had for half that price. We're talking per night, right? ;-)

That figure sounds about right. Except that my fee is per hour. I charge hourly rates, not nightly fees. Time is precious.

[caveman]

What can I say? I'm easy. ;-)

[Go60Guy]

Since I'm not drinking any more, I'm deeply gratified to learn I'm saving $6,000.

[shri]

You lot are posh. I remember buying beers from the sports book at the Hilton for $2 last year... all night long.

On another note, I've opted out of this years conference.

I'm paying the price for slacking off for a couple of months and am way behind schedule on a christmas related project. Have two new sets of hands on board to help finish things off and cannot abandon them.

Definately be catching up with everyone in Sydney / Boston.

[grandpa]

Go60Guy, I don't imbibe either. But something tells me the 6 grand is what it will take to loosen up the best kept secrets. You better plan a budget just in case.

[tedster]

The best kept secrets would be held by people like Matt Cutts -- and he drinks Sprite. But, who knows, maybe enough caffeine would get him talking real fast and something would slip out.

[submitx]

... and he drinks Sprite. But, who knows, maybe enough caffeine would get him talking real fast ...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Sprite has caffeine. I bet he avoids caffeine intentionally. Maybe enough Sprite can give him a sugar high though?

[Hawkgirl]

Don't be fooled by all of the drinking talk ... sure, there are some marathon drinkers. But the smart webmasters at these conferences do more talking and even more listening than drinking.

I recall one PubCon where I sat quietly listening to a drunk competitor and learned at least three new things about the industry.

I recall another PubCon where I sat quietly listening (and sipping a club soda) ... and I ended up changing my mind about starting a new online venture based on what I learned from a few other folks.

Then, still, there was another PubCon where I had a screaming hangover and a gourmet McDonald's dinner in the same evening ... thus teaching me the lesson that I should drink less and network more.

[IsItUPYet]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I just signed up for a full membership and got my tickets for the PubCon!

I don't know what to expect but hope to come away with plenty of new inforamtion and new friends!

See you soon!

[sem_scotty]

if you're really good at your analytics, you can make the six Gs you need for drinks at the tables in less than an hour.

this is my first pubcon ever, but i've been doing SEO for 7 years (the old days) and PPC for 3-1/2. looking forward to it!

[grandpa]

I just signed up for a full membership and got my tickets for the PubCon

Hey, I just signed up too! Where are my tickets?!?

;)

[jatar_k]

>> what it will take to loosen up the best kept secrets

hopefully most that know secrets also know how to keep them that way, though I guess some could be persuaded

methinks string drink wouldn't be the key though ;)

who says that anyone you think just gave you secrets didn't feed you something to watch the results later

[lorax]

>> do more talking and even more listening than drinking

Each time I attend a PubCon I bring along a small notebook that fits in my shirt pocket. I take copious notes - especially while at the bar and in conversations. My notes are ideas and thoughts spurred by the thousands (literally) of ideas and options tossed around by so many geeks in close proximity to one another. Think nuclear chain reaction. Getting burned out by the end of the day is not uncommon. What constitutes the end of the day? When my brain is so full and my body so tired that I find I'm staring at the clock and realizing I have to get up in 6 hours. I can't do the 3 hour nights anymore but if you can - there are plenty of folks still up and talking.

Sip your beer - dive into the conversations!