Going in Blind
No, this isn’t about my pansting tendencies…I’m about to hit my first conference. In fact, I leave a week from tomorrow (Tuesday).
And no, I’m not going in blind-blind. The super wonderful and most excellent Lynn Raye Harris has seen that I’ve been given a full rundown, and I will be rooming with the awsomely fabulous Lisa Hendrix (Check out her Immortal Brotherhood series…wow!) and she’s a conference veteran. But, no matter how many tips I read, no matter how many conference survival lists I peruse…the fact is, I’m about to be the country mouse in the big city, so to speak.
I’ve squeezed a lot of life into my twenty-four years. Five years of marriage, three gorgeous kids and four books sold, but something I haven’t done a lot of is…traveling. (can a Presents writer even admit that?)
Combined with the fact that I’m leaving my hubby and kids for the first time, and the fact that it’s my first conference…well, it’s a lot of new!
So here’s Maisey’s newbie survival guide, by someone who has no idea what’s going to happen, for someone who has no idea what’s going to happen:
1. Clothes: Uh…I might wear these. Oh, and these are cute too. And I like this…I’ll bring them all. (this ends with me putting the entire contents of my closet into a bag)
2. Airports: I looked them up. And there are maps. I studied the maps so I know where my gates are, how to get to the shuttle etc (remember now, I live in a town with a one terminal airport…so Orlando and Denver? Whole new world) And when I get to the airports I’ll know exactly where I…*snicker* no, this is where I’ll realize I was looking at the maps upside down and I’m now all disoriented. Then I beg someone for directions.
3. Getting there and interacting with people: Okay, this I’ve got, people are my thing. And in some ways, I may have exaggerated the country mouse thing, since I went to a church that had 5,000 memebers for…well….19 years. So lots of people in a small space? Great. I’m the rare writer extrovert.
Anyway, be nice. To everyone. This is usually followed up by “Because they could become the next Nora, or the next big acquisitions editor”. But I say, be nice just to be nice. Also, don’t talk about people behind their backs, because, inevitably they’ll be standing behing YOUR back when you say it. This is something I learned in jr. high.
Also, don’t fawn all over the big name authors. They’re just people. But you can fawn over me, and you can bring me a fruity drink. And five dollars. (ha…I’m sure you know…I’m absolutely kidding)
4. Disneyworld: Have mouse ears, will travel. And I’ll be eating lunch in Cinderella’s castle.
5. Enjoy. If the tight schedule stresses you out…loosen it a little bit. This is supposed to be a great networking/learning/social experience, and if you’re too strung out to enjoy it and take it all in, it won’t be worth much of anything but…well, a week of post-conference hangover, so to speak.
Hope to see many of you there!
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Nice! I’m also going to Nationals for my first big writing conference. And also going to Disneyworld. 🙂 Looking forward to meeting you and lots of other people there whom I follow on Twitter.
Thanks for a great post, Macy.
-@beck_a_tron 🙂
Can you eat lunch in Cinderella’s castle? Fab. Your photo is gorgeous, have fun at the conference. I can almost the hear the theme tune for Dirty Dancing echoing in my ear “I’ve had the time of my life….”
Your book is in the stores in UK and I bought it yesterday. Boy it looks good, looking forward to reading it!
Yeah! Bec, hehe…nice to see you here! And hopefully I’ll see you there. If you see me standing around looking lost/spaced out, please, rugby tackle me and say hi. I promise, I will never snub anyone…but I may miss you in the chaos!
Susan, YES YOU CAN EAT LUNCH IN THE CASTL!! *squee!!*
And I had no idea it was in shops! The official release is August 6th! Thanks for buying one and I hope you enjoy it!
Enjoy nationals. I’m soooo jealous! Ahhhh, one day. Conferences are extremely inspiring!
You’ll be fine, fine, fine! And I know you’ll come back with awesome stories for us.
PS – Love the pic of the little munchking. Soooo cute!
After attending six conferences for PartyLite (5,000-8,000 guests, depending) I have an idea of what you can expect. It also was always the hottest weekend of summer in the hottest place (Atlanta, Houston… etc).
Here’s my tips:
*Bandaids – for blisters. It happens, if not to you then to someone else and you’ll forever be their hero.
*Sweater/jacket – for indoor A/C that tips to 60 degrees even in the heat
*Granola bars – I don’t know about you but I must be with snack at all moments.
You are going to have so much fun! Ask for directions @ the airport, I always did. And, there will be a lot of RWA peeps with tags around their necks, I presume – so just hook up with them. I once went to Chicago with PartyLite all by myself (I’d won a trip) and ran into fellow consultants who invited me to lunch with them.
No doubt, Romance Writers are equally nice. 😀
Jackie, you know I wish you could be thre. But it is a bit of a trek from good old NZ. 🙂
Maya, thanks! Yep, I’ll have fun, but I don’t want to leave said adorable munchkin. I’m wondering if anyone will notice if I bring her…
Jessica, solid advice (bandaids! Yes! great!) and yes SNACKS. (I like snacks!!)
Looking forward to meeting you, Maisey! I’m in a bit of a panic about leaving my kids, esp as they’re all sick this week!! But it’s worth it… can’t wait to get there!
Kate, me too! And me too! LOL. My kids aren’t sick but the idea of leaving them is really getting to me. Tough with the baby. But hey, we get to eat lunch in a castle!
The kids are small enough to fit in your carry on aren’t they? I say give it a go (probably not in front of hubby).
Great post but I WANNA GO TO DISNEYWORLD *strop*. I’ve never been but I’ve seen about fifty pictures of Cinderella’s castle and now that I know you can eat lunch there…
Hey, the baby could fly free if she sat on my lap!
*pats* Don’t be sad.
I’ve never been to Disneyworld either. Been to Disneyland several times and I hear they’re very similar. But never been in Cinderella’s castle so…YAY!
Okay, if I run into you at Denver (my layover stop, too) or Orlando airport, I am SO bringing you a fruity drink and five dollars!
Amy
It’s gonna be a blast! Hope I gave you enough info, LOL. But there’s always the little tidbits, like Jessica said: snacks and bandaids. Oh, and I use this thing from Band Aid called Friction Block. It helps keep shoes from rubbing.
Just a few days now! You’ll make it through the airport just fine. 🙂 A fruity drink sounds good, btw. And I would never turn down five dollars, LOL.
Amy, I will take the fruity drink…and the five dollars. When are you flying in and what time will you be in Denver?
Lynn, one should never turn down five dollars…it’s bad manners. And thanks for the info, and for the vote of confidence in regards to the airport…I’m not so sure. 🙂