Countdown to DreamForce 19
So… you have a pass to Dreamforce this year. Given that’s its own achievement, you should pat yourself on the back.
With barely weeks to go, the countdown to the world’s biggest tech event is underway.
It isn’t over for you yet, though.
Dreamforce is a remarkable cocktail of work, networking, and fun rolled into a single week. Prepping to hit the right notes at the event is vital. With that in mind, we bring you some MVP takes on the event besides our pointers to help you tick off some bare essentials.
The Last Word:
MVP perspectives on prepping for Dreamforce:
Fabrice Cathala
Salesforce MVP, Tech Lead ( Appirio – EMEA ), United Kingdom
Q. “How do you prepare ( your case ) for your first Dreamforce attendance?”
Fab. “There are quite a few posts written on the subject. A good old Google search should help you find the right kit to take with you. Having said that, the general advice is not to bother with your laptop, whereas I always take mine. So, I would recommend you filter whatever you read and adapt to your circumstances. In any case, reading these posts will help your preparation.”
Q. “How do you prepare ( your brain ) for your first Dreamforce attendance?”
Fab. “Go to https://trailhead.salesforce.com, create an easy to remember user/password ( you can reuse it at Dreamforce ) and walk your way through the collection of the badges… Have fun along the way.”
Q. “How do you prepare ( your body ) for your first Dreamforce attendance?”
Fab. “It’s a bit late in theory, but the DF week is famous for walking up and down more than usual. I would suggest giving your body a bit of a warning and walk your way around ASAP ( starting this weekend? ).”
Peter Lyons
Salesforce MVP, Senior Associate ( Huron Consulting )
Peter. “The best advice I can give is good time management. Whatever you think you can do in a day is probably double what you really can. Don’t try and attend 3 sessions before lunch.”
Our Own Take
Befriend the Agenda Builder and the Events App
First off, get to know and love your Dreamforce apps
If you haven’t already, jump to the ‘Sessions’ section of Dreamforce webpage’s ( or the Agenda Builder ). Here you can sift through 1000’s of sessions by categories like roles, products, industries, discussion themes, and skill level. Zeroing-in by theme allows you to cut session-search effort ( This is because Salesforce worked intimately with content creators to ensure they marked sessions accurately ).
Then, download the events app to familiarize yourself with the venue. This should save you time on navigation.
Managing attendance
It’s Dreamforce! Don’t sweat anything, especially any missed sessions.
There’ll be repeats, similarly themed sessions, and further still, one-on-ones. The latter’s one of the great things about Dreamforce. You can always walk up to community members and ask about where you could find out more, or even share notes with someone else.
Also, Salesforce blocks 25% seats ( except for a few workshops here and there ) for walk-ins. For the most part, you should probably be able to get in if you make it there in time.
Although to follow through with this, you’ll need to be aware of the keynote speakers presenting. You’ll also need to know the layout of the Dreamforce campus like it was tattooed to you( the Salesforce Events App is a less painful alternative )
Plan ahead
With keynotes, breakouts, and parties planned one after another, fail to plan, and Dreamforce could fly right past you. An early tuck-in could mean missing out on some quality networking and memorable entertainment.
It’s only for four days. It’s alright to burnout a little bit. Besides, you’ll see the extent of the Salesforce ecosystem in all its expanse and glory. Here’s a list of things you’d do well to check off.
Save Time for the Expo!
Meet product experts and Salesforce partners. The best and brightest of what Salesforce has to offer will be here. Use this to peek at upcoming functionalities and meet with partners of the most interest. It’ll help you stay ahead of the curve.
Cap out at 4 sessions per day
Peter makes a compelling point here. The effects of repetitive walking, notetaking, and networking exchanges will probably compound over subsequent days. And positively, you can’t do those on an empty stomach. More so, if you’re not a conference person.
Drop the Laptop
Ditch the laptop just like Fabrice says. A clunky laptop will probably weigh you down and keep you on edge about losing any work in it. Besides, Dreamforce curates appealing mobile-centered content, so you won’t miss it anyway
Don’t go out without the events app
Overall, the Salesforce events app is the most intuitive way to connect to everything happening around you
Invest in a portable charger
Carry the charger and the mobile on your person at all times. You don’t want to be tied down to a port if something noteworthy comes up.
Co- attend !! ( But, only if you can manage it )
Find someone else for accompaniment if your schedules and interests sync up. Better yet, find someone who knows the Dreamforce venue better than you. You could use forums to your advantage for this.
But, this only works if the sessions you attend are the same – else you could get sidetracked bad.
Pack in the right shoes with you
Expect to walk – a lot.
All things considered, most trailblazers find it easier to walk their way to a seminar. But it leaves them feeling spent.
Events are spread over the expanse of the entire Moscone Campus. Even so, understanding the layout of the Campus should let you get around easily.
Make sure you break-in the pair you take with you. It’ll let you know if they fit, as well as warm you up before the exposition.
Stay centered
In the end, Dreamforce is about finding partnerships, tailored insights, and inspiration to last you for years. It’s where you get in on what’s fresh, and transformative.
While it’s easy to be swept up by everything around you, it’s important to let your hair down too. And year-after-year, the biggest names in music turned up to let you do just that. You’ll regret not indulging yourself at Dreamfest, so don’t keep to yourself once networking’s done with.
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