Expo Survival Tips!
Macworld Expo is the biggest event in the Mac Universe each year. And each year, we veterans try to teach the new showgoers what to do and not to do during the week.
If you are bringing your computer to Expo, BACK IT UP! The Computer Gods are a fickle lot and they could choose to pick that week to have your HD crash. :(
Getting to the Moscone Center is farily easy - One of the YML'ers posted this note - "Traveler's Tips for San Francisco" that's a good start.
The Moscone is at:
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 974-4000
But any cab driver in town can get you there.
The weather in San Francisco is usually fairly mild (50 degrees). Check the week's forecast before you go but, as always, dress in layers and bring along a travel umbrella. Rare is the week it doesn't rain at least once. YML listener Virginia lives near the Mscone and she says "Assume cold and rainy".
Be organized. You can waste a lot of time on the show floor/conference sessions just running around trying to find stuff. Take some time before the show starts or each morning to "game plan" your week/day. Know where the vendors are you want to talk to and have specific goals to accomplish each day.
Rock Norris' Pixelography site and the nice folks at IDG both have iCal and web based Calendars for you to manage your hectic Expo Schedule.
Show registration/Badge Pickup is in both South Hall & West Halls, depending on who you are and what day it is (for example, there is no registration in the West Hall on Tuesday morning, Keynote Day). It is open Monday to Friday at 8am. The actual Show Floor in the South Hall is down the escalators (not sure where the Show Floor is in the West Hall - this is the 1st year that hall is being used for Expo Show Floor). The Conference Sessions are held through out the building. Keep in mind, the show floor does not open until Tuesday at 11am.
Steve Jobs Keynote:
The Keynote is the highlight of the show. Special access is required - a regular Exhibit Hall Pass will *not* get you in to the Keynote. You must be an Apple VIP, a Conference Speaker, a Conference Attendee or registered as Press to get into the Keynote. And even then, you are not guaranteed a seat, so line up early!
Show Floor:
Remember - you *must* have an Expo Badge of some sort to get on the show floor. By now, you should have already registered at Macworldexpo.com. The show floor opens on Tuesday shortly after the Keynote is over.
WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES/SHOES! This cannot be stressed enough. The show floor is bare concrete with a sliver of carpeting over top - murder on your feet and legs. Every year, we see people hobbling around on Thursday and Friday. Leave the 4" heels in the hotel room - save them for the parties afterwards!
Stay hydrated - drink as much water as you can stand. Bring along a refillable bottle and fill it from the bathroom taps.
Bring hand cleanser - you are entering one of the most germ filled environments imaginable, outside of an actual cholera zone! Every year after Expo, we talk about who caught the "Creeping Expo Crud". You'll be meeting lots of people, shaking lots of hands and breathing in lots of air coming out of strangers. Don't make it obvious but keep the hand sanitizer close.
Eat! Expo can be exhausting and you need to keep your strength up. There is (expensive) food on the concourse outside the show floor and several restaurants within easy walking distance of the Moscone. There is also a Starbucks on top of the South Hall.
Once on the show floor, go to the back of the Halls first. Everyone else will be crowded into the big booths in the front and it will be a madhouse. But the products will be there all week so avoid the crowds. And you'll often find the coolest companies/products/software at the back in the smaller booths.
Please - do *not* harass the booth personnel! Every year, there are horror stories of the guy who goes into a booth only to berate the staff there. Keep in mind, in the larger booths, the people manning it may only be hired guns, brought in just for the Expo. In the smaller booths, try not to monopolize the time of the people there. Remember, you are one of 40,000 and they all want their questions answered. :)
The amount of swag (gifts/goodies) is increasing but don't just grab the tchotkes and leave the booth. Make sure it really is something you want - otherwise, you're carrying it around all day for no reason. And at least pretend you're interested in the company. :)
*Don't* grab every piece of paper handed to you! You'll either be carrying it around all day (and then back home) or end up dumping it in the trash - not environmentally friendly! 99% of any information that handout has is available on the company's web site. Better to grab something small like a business card, and write a note on the back.
Bring *lots* of business cards and carry them with you! They don't do any good "back in the room".
Look for show floor learning sessions. You can sit down, relax and learn a few things - but *nothing* beats attending the actual conferences. Macworld Expo's conference track is 2nd to none - and I'm not just saying that because I'm teaching a class. :)
Remember - there *is* stuff to do outside the Moscone Center! You will be in one of the most beautiful cities in the world - take advantage of it. I always recommend taking at least one afternoon/morning off and visiting exploring San Francisco (BTW, notice I don't call it "SF" or "San Fran"? Natives *hate* when you refer to their city that way!). Get yourself a good guidebook and go wandering!
Several of the hotels near the Moscone also have car rental available if you'd like to visit a certain company in Cupertino or head up to the Napa Valley for a wine tasting tour. Keep in mind, Apple does *not* have guided tours nor allow visitors in the building without an escort. There is an Apple Company Store next to the main entrance though where you can buy clothes and gear not found in any other Apple Store.
BTW, there are *many* parties happening at Expo - some are open to the "average" showgoer for free, some have a price and many are "Invite Only". Some of the Invite Only ones are "crashable" but don't be a PITA about it - if you can't get in, don't make a scene at the door. Word will get around and your name/face will become known to others in ways you won't like.
The "Party Scene" is where it really pays to make "Expo Friends" - the more friends you have, the greater your chances of finding out about parties and/or getting invites to them! :) The Hess Events List, while annoyingly commercial, is a good place to start.
Jeff Berg says, "The 3 or 7 day Muni Passports are a terrific value if you plan to ride the cable cars and streetcars-Work for buses too. And the Cable Car Museum is well worth an hour or so Free and easily accessed from the Powell Cable Car lines."
And check out Tips for Travel 101 for more information.
This list is by no means comprehensive! Add your on in the comments or ask questions - we'd love to help you make this Macworld Expo the best one ever!
--
Shawn King
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
If you are bringing your computer to Expo, BACK IT UP! The Computer Gods are a fickle lot and they could choose to pick that week to have your HD crash. :(
Getting to the Moscone Center is farily easy - One of the YML'ers posted this note - "Traveler's Tips for San Francisco" that's a good start.
The Moscone is at:
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 974-4000
But any cab driver in town can get you there.
The weather in San Francisco is usually fairly mild (50 degrees). Check the week's forecast before you go but, as always, dress in layers and bring along a travel umbrella. Rare is the week it doesn't rain at least once. YML listener Virginia lives near the Mscone and she says "Assume cold and rainy".
Be organized. You can waste a lot of time on the show floor/conference sessions just running around trying to find stuff. Take some time before the show starts or each morning to "game plan" your week/day. Know where the vendors are you want to talk to and have specific goals to accomplish each day.
Rock Norris' Pixelography site and the nice folks at IDG both have iCal and web based Calendars for you to manage your hectic Expo Schedule.
Show registration/Badge Pickup is in both South Hall & West Halls, depending on who you are and what day it is (for example, there is no registration in the West Hall on Tuesday morning, Keynote Day). It is open Monday to Friday at 8am. The actual Show Floor in the South Hall is down the escalators (not sure where the Show Floor is in the West Hall - this is the 1st year that hall is being used for Expo Show Floor). The Conference Sessions are held through out the building. Keep in mind, the show floor does not open until Tuesday at 11am.
Steve Jobs Keynote:
The Keynote is the highlight of the show. Special access is required - a regular Exhibit Hall Pass will *not* get you in to the Keynote. You must be an Apple VIP, a Conference Speaker, a Conference Attendee or registered as Press to get into the Keynote. And even then, you are not guaranteed a seat, so line up early!
Show Floor:
Remember - you *must* have an Expo Badge of some sort to get on the show floor. By now, you should have already registered at Macworldexpo.com. The show floor opens on Tuesday shortly after the Keynote is over.
WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES/SHOES! This cannot be stressed enough. The show floor is bare concrete with a sliver of carpeting over top - murder on your feet and legs. Every year, we see people hobbling around on Thursday and Friday. Leave the 4" heels in the hotel room - save them for the parties afterwards!
Stay hydrated - drink as much water as you can stand. Bring along a refillable bottle and fill it from the bathroom taps.
Bring hand cleanser - you are entering one of the most germ filled environments imaginable, outside of an actual cholera zone! Every year after Expo, we talk about who caught the "Creeping Expo Crud". You'll be meeting lots of people, shaking lots of hands and breathing in lots of air coming out of strangers. Don't make it obvious but keep the hand sanitizer close.
Eat! Expo can be exhausting and you need to keep your strength up. There is (expensive) food on the concourse outside the show floor and several restaurants within easy walking distance of the Moscone. There is also a Starbucks on top of the South Hall.
Once on the show floor, go to the back of the Halls first. Everyone else will be crowded into the big booths in the front and it will be a madhouse. But the products will be there all week so avoid the crowds. And you'll often find the coolest companies/products/software at the back in the smaller booths.
Please - do *not* harass the booth personnel! Every year, there are horror stories of the guy who goes into a booth only to berate the staff there. Keep in mind, in the larger booths, the people manning it may only be hired guns, brought in just for the Expo. In the smaller booths, try not to monopolize the time of the people there. Remember, you are one of 40,000 and they all want their questions answered. :)
The amount of swag (gifts/goodies) is increasing but don't just grab the tchotkes and leave the booth. Make sure it really is something you want - otherwise, you're carrying it around all day for no reason. And at least pretend you're interested in the company. :)
*Don't* grab every piece of paper handed to you! You'll either be carrying it around all day (and then back home) or end up dumping it in the trash - not environmentally friendly! 99% of any information that handout has is available on the company's web site. Better to grab something small like a business card, and write a note on the back.
Bring *lots* of business cards and carry them with you! They don't do any good "back in the room".
Look for show floor learning sessions. You can sit down, relax and learn a few things - but *nothing* beats attending the actual conferences. Macworld Expo's conference track is 2nd to none - and I'm not just saying that because I'm teaching a class. :)
Remember - there *is* stuff to do outside the Moscone Center! You will be in one of the most beautiful cities in the world - take advantage of it. I always recommend taking at least one afternoon/morning off and visiting exploring San Francisco (BTW, notice I don't call it "SF" or "San Fran"? Natives *hate* when you refer to their city that way!). Get yourself a good guidebook and go wandering!
Several of the hotels near the Moscone also have car rental available if you'd like to visit a certain company in Cupertino or head up to the Napa Valley for a wine tasting tour. Keep in mind, Apple does *not* have guided tours nor allow visitors in the building without an escort. There is an Apple Company Store next to the main entrance though where you can buy clothes and gear not found in any other Apple Store.
BTW, there are *many* parties happening at Expo - some are open to the "average" showgoer for free, some have a price and many are "Invite Only". Some of the Invite Only ones are "crashable" but don't be a PITA about it - if you can't get in, don't make a scene at the door. Word will get around and your name/face will become known to others in ways you won't like.
The "Party Scene" is where it really pays to make "Expo Friends" - the more friends you have, the greater your chances of finding out about parties and/or getting invites to them! :) The Hess Events List, while annoyingly commercial, is a good place to start.
Jeff Berg says, "The 3 or 7 day Muni Passports are a terrific value if you plan to ride the cable cars and streetcars-Work for buses too. And the Cable Car Museum is well worth an hour or so Free and easily accessed from the Powell Cable Car lines."
And check out Tips for Travel 101 for more information.
This list is by no means comprehensive! Add your on in the comments or ask questions - we'd love to help you make this Macworld Expo the best one ever!
--
Shawn King
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
Comment
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Comment by Aysha Webb on January 6, 2008 at 7:48pm - Thanks Shawn for directing me to this page. Lots of great information! Much appreciation to you for this.
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Comment by Peter Villevoye on January 5, 2008 at 8:13pm - Thanks to the iPhone, many telecom bozo's will also try to get a seat at the keynote. I bet it's the most popular trip for many AT&T manager. Let's hope they assume that showing up around 8 will get them into the Main Hall...
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Comment by Shawn King on January 4, 2008 at 8:04pm -
"if I see you." Seeing me is *easy* @ Expo. :)
We'll be on the Macworld.com Stage Tuesday to Thursday from 2-3pm and on the Main Stage for the Expo Wrap Up Session at 3pm with Adam Engst, Jason Snell and Leo Laporte!
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Comment by Ian Robinson on January 4, 2008 at 6:00pm - Yes that was me :-) I still have to thank you in person for that ticket. I'll do it this year if I see you. I'll see if I have a copy on an old CD or DVD backup somewhere. I may have deleted them all to protect future generations!
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Comment by Shawn King on January 4, 2008 at 5:52pm
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ARE YOU THE "SUPERPASS" GUY!?!? OMG - we hate you...We play that song every year and it drives people mental. :)
I don't suppose you have a "clean" copy of it, do you?
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Comment by Ian Robinson on January 4, 2008 at 5:42pm
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To see crowding you should have been at VMworld in Moscone North and South earlier this year. It was horrendous. They've split into an EMEA one and USA conference for this year.
I (and 2 colleagues) have a Superpass each for MacWorld. Apparently this gives priority seating for the Keynote. We still need to queue apparently. They are meant to come down the line and pick out the people with the appropriate badges.
The last Superpass I had was for MacWorld New York in 2001. I won that from Shawn's Internet radio show with a cheesy song :-)
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Comment by Shawn King on January 4, 2008 at 4:58pm
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I don't know who makes the decisions about who's "blessed" enough to be granted keynote access."
I'm betting someone at Apple is making that call. :(
"But my real response is, "If it's that crowded, perhaps you need a venue larger than Moscone?""
LOL There ain't nothing larger than the Moscone in SF. :) Crowding is a nice problem for Apple/IDG to have but I don't think they are handling it well.
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Comment by Shellie Hall on January 4, 2008 at 3:10pm - I have obtained - thank goodness - an overflow room spot (thanks you know who) - am I am thrilled to get that!
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Comment by Esther Schindler on January 4, 2008 at 2:07pm
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On the press badge thing... I got the same automated response as Shellie did. Since I work for IDG, I was able to contact the "right person" who apologized personally about the keynote access. I'm still not assured of access even though one of the articles I assigned has a link on the apple.com/business page. (Getting into the IT conference is more important to me workwise, though I do want to see the keynote.)
I don't know who makes the decisions about who's "blessed" enough to be granted keynote access. But my real response is, "If it's that crowded, perhaps you need a venue larger than Moscone?"
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Comment by Shawn King on January 4, 2008 at 12:40am
- One of my fave MacBU bloggers is Nadyne. She's got a great post - Nadyne's unofficial guide to working in a booth at Macworld Expo (part two) - it's a fun read!
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