It is that time of year again! The Early Bird PASS Summit tickets are available now. If you are a newbie, we wanted to share some insights our engineers learned from the many years of attending this conference. Here is our take on what to do, what to expect, and how to gain the most from this valuable experience.

The PASS Data Community Summit usually occurs during the first half of November. Next year’s conference is no exception, announced for November 4 – 8 in downtown Seattle, WA, at the Convention Center. The conference website has resources regarding travel and accommodations. In addition, emails with additional tips and information are sent to registrants. 

Consider taking the pre-cons

The first two days of the conference consist of longer pre-conference sessions, which run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. These sessions are a deep dive into specific topics, ranging from automated deployments and infrastructure as code to security best practices and performance tuning and analytic platforms, such as PowerBI. They are a great way to take a deep dive and practice a skill set you need to pick up or have become rusty at.

Stay within walking distance

Since the conference is at the Convention Center in downtown Seattle, staying within walking distance will also put you within walking distance of many Seattle attractions. A little walking is welcome after a day of sitting in sessions for around eight hours. Speaking of which…

Be prepared to walk everywhere

Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes! Yes, you can use Uber or Lyft to get around. However, about 20 minutes is the most you would probably have to walk at one time. It is a great way to decompress after information-dense sessions and allows you to think deeply about what you have learned.

Stay somewhere that will hold your luggage

You may arrive at your lodging location before check-in or after check-in. It is very convenient to have them watch your bags while killing time and taking in what downtown Seattle has to offer. If you do take advantage of this feature, be sure to tip your bellhop!

Arrive early

Whether you plan on attending the pre-cons on Monday and Tuesday or the welcome reception on Tuesday evening, getting to town a little early and getting your bearings is good. This will help you not feel so flat-footed when moving about. Additionally, it may allow you to check some things out that will only be open while in sessions during the conference.

Stay for the whole conference

Many conference attendees can be seen hauling luggage around on the last day of the conference and leaving halfway through the day. There are still many valuable sessions that take place in the bottom half of the last day. Assuredly, a lot of this depends on  your travel needs. However, if you can make it work, do so. Also, don’t forget that your lodging provider may be able to hold your luggage for you, so you don’t have to drag it around the Convention Center all day.

Use public transportation

Again, Uber and Lyft are always options. However, if you can spare some time, you can save some dough! Seattle’s lite rail system is pretty good and not expensive. A one-way fare from Seattle/Tacoma International Airport to Downtown Seattle is about $3.00, and a round-trip ticket to ride the monorail to and from the Space Needle is $7.00.

Get a CityPass

The website citypass.com offers experiences at discounted rates for larger destination cities. Seattle happens to be one of the cities on the list. Grabbing a CityPass would allow you to visit 3 to 5 of Seattle’s main attractions and save a little money off the price of admission. There is certainly time outside of conference hours to take in a few things. Even if you don’t invest in a City Pass, consider exploring a few of the unique and unknown attractions that Seattle has to offer.

Dine at locally-owned restaurants

Yeah, you could eat at a national franchise. However, there is something to be said for looking for the favorite local coffee shop, nicer sit-down restaurant, or greasy spoon. Dining locally is a way to get a taste of the culture and soul of a city and region. Chances are you will eat one of the best-prepared dishes ever!

Don’t plan to do any work (you’ll be shot by the end of the day)

Sometimes, when we go on these conference trips, we think, “Yes! Now I can maybe work a bit ahead, as I have little or no distractions!” Umm… yeah, after taking in a day full of sessions, your brain will be tired, and you will be exhausted. In the best-case scenario, you get maybe 45 minutes in front of your laptop before your eyes start closing on you involuntarily. That is not to say that you cannot or should not try if you would like. Just be kind to yourself if you don’t get a bunch done outside conference hours. In addition, rather than breaking that laptop out when you sit down in a session, take your notes the old-fashioned way. There is something about handwriting notes that helps folks understand and comprehend new information. You won’t get sucked into work that way. Not to mention, the slide deck is available for download to conference attendees.

Sessions, Sessions, and more Sessions

With over 70 sessions on Wednesday and Thursday and over 50 on Friday to choose from, you will be busy from 8 am to 6 pm! Select some sessions that will help you with your everyday life, some that will help you deal with things you can see coming “just beyond the headlights,” and some that are just plain new and interesting. This is an opportunity to improve skills to help your business and learn something new for yourself.

Research the Presenters

When looking at sessions, sometimes it helps to dig into who will be giving the talk. Are they a personality? Do they work for one of the major sponsors? Are they a “work-a-day Joe” like yourself? The answers to these questions may help you decide between two sessions that share the same time slot.

Attend a session with your favorite blogger/personality

Who are some of your favorite SQL personalities? Whose blog do you find informative and enjoy reading? Brent Ozar, Erik Darling, Kendra Little, Paul White, Bob Ward, Steve Johnson, Pinal Dave, Hamish Watson, Olla Hallengren? Most years, one or more of the folks will present at a session, and they are also attending the conference. So go take in their session, and if you bump into them in the hallway or at a reception, don’t be afraid to ask for a selfie!

Be bold and ask questions

Ask anyone! Ask presenters and other attendees alike. Also, don’t be afraid to participate in sessions. It’s a great way to probe the presenter’s depth of understanding and one of the best ways to learn. At an event like this, questions are welcome and expected!

Capture your experiences and photos

With so many things to see and do outside of conference hours, it might be tough to recount it all as you regale your friends and coworkers with tales of your visit to the PASS conference. Make sure to take pictures of the neat things you experience and witness. It is a great way to remember your visit to the conference and show others what they can expect if they go.

Have Fun!