PDC2005 - We have lift off
The Professional Developer’s Conference has kicked off
today and looks to be as good as I’d hoped for.
I flew in on Saturday and have been working hard doing loads
of email, etc. OK… OK… to tell the truth, we did go surfing on Sunday
and did the typical English bloke thing of thinking it wasn’t *that* hot and turning a lovely shade of
scarlet by the evening. I still can’t carry my bag on my shoulders, which
is a bit of a bummer at a conference this size! Still, at least I’m not
quite as ‘challenged’ in the hair department as some of my esteemed
colleagues!
Like Eric, I’ve
been to a few of these events over the years and have my own secret approach to
making the most of the occasion. My top 3 suggestions in addition to Eric’s
are:
- Go to
sessions based on the presenter (if you have the choice). While you’re
bound to have core areas technology you want to make sure you cover, the
presentation skills of the presenter probably has the biggest impact to
you getting the most from the sessions. This is especially true just after
lunch!
- Go to
things outside your normal focus areas. These conferences are one of the
best ways to go broader than you would normally and usually yield a few
nice surprises
- Make
the most of the time in the event – speak to everyone! You’ll
never get a better opportunity to network with the guys on the product
teams and other developers who are looking to push the boundaries than at
a PDC. If you know someone who is here and can the questions on your
behalf, give them a call J
