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I know a few folks that are headed to their first MT conference. I thought it would be good to start a thread for things that would have been nice to know beforehand. Please add your own!
~KK
P.S. I can't remember dress code. Was it business casual?

Here's the start to the list:

- You'll have homework when you check into the hotel
- Be on time. If it starts at 8, be in your seat at 5 minutes 'til.
- Take more notes than you think you'll need.

tlhausmann's picture
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Dress is business casual.

Attend the evening dinner before the conference if you have time. It is a great opportunity to meet other MT fans.

Go through the MT basics casts if you have time before the conference. It is not necessary but more preparation lets you ask better questions.

Have a good time! I met many interesting people all with enthusiasm and desire to do better.

jhack's picture

Thanks for the insights!

And for those of us [b][i]not[/b][/i] checking into the hotel? How do we find out what the homework is?

John

tcomeau's picture
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[quote="kklogic"]... I thought it would be to start a thread for things that would have been nice to know beforehand. [/quote]

Hey, thank you for starting this thread!

What was the physical environment of the room like? We've been warned that it will be cold, and we should consider bringing Arctic gear. Is it set up with tables, or just rows of chairs? I'm guessing there won't be power strips for our laptops. :shock:

I really appreciate that the meals are included. Is there coffee and/or hot water for tea available? I notice the afternoon break is five extra minutes (15 instead of 10). Is that suggestive of munchies?

Thanks,

tc>

wendii's picture
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What a great idea for a thread!

Here's the thread about dress code: http://www.manager-tools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1247&highlight=packing

Tom... at Amsterdam we had rows of tables and chairs.. like being in school. I've seen pictures of other conferences and it looks the same. So tables yes.. power strips no. There were hot and cold running drinks all the time, not just in the breaks.

Whoever books the table for Monday night dinner expect 3 times as many people as sign up on the forums.

When they say 'cocktails' on Tuesay night - certainly in Amsterdam, my cocktail dress wasn't required :(

Open your minds, talk to everyone, and have a wonderful time. I wish I was going again.

Wendii

tlhausmann's picture
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[quote="tcomeau"] What was the physical environment of the room like? [...]Is it set up with tables, or just rows of chairs?
[...]Is there coffee and/or hot water for tea available?

tc>[/quote]

I attended the Chicago conference. Snacks and beverages (coffee, tea, soda, etc.) were provided both in the morning and afternoon. The breakfast and lunch were served buffet style. Logistics may vary by hotel. (TC, you're a high C and like details? :-))

Men, if you wear a sport coat you'll be warm enough.

The tables were set up with chairs all facing the front of the room. Three aisles (center, left and right) and Mark walked up and down the center aisle. Mike, Michael, Rich, would chime in from the side of the room as well.

Take notes. I have listened to all the casts at least twice. Mark and Mike do introduce material not covered in the casts -or- are refining an idea for future casts.

Energy, energy, energy! Ask questions. Contribute. You will walk away with a new appreciation for MT and professional management.

kklogic's picture

John,
I am completely unsure of how the homework will get to you. Perhaps you can get it from the front desk even though you aren't staying there? Also, I'm *assuming* they still do the homework. I was at the first conference. Maybe some others can chime in on that point.

Tom,
My recollection is that no one used laptops for notes. Honestly, it is VERY fast paced. I'm not sure you'd get good notes. You'll likely be better off with a steno pad.

I remembered another rule!

- No BlackBerry prayers! You know, that thing where you put your head down and think you're being uber-secretive about checking your BB, but everyone knows exactly what you're up to! :)

garyslinger's picture
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[quote="kklogic"]John,
I am completely unsure of how the homework will get to you. Perhaps you can get it from the front desk even though you aren't staying there? Also, I'm *assuming* they still do the homework. I was at the first conference. Maybe some others can chime in on that point. [/quote]
If I recall correctly, the joining instructions asked you to be at the conference a half-hour or so early if you weren't using the hotel, and you got your homework there - it doesn't (need to) take very long to complete.

G.

tcomeau's picture
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[quote="kklogic"]...
My recollection is that no one used laptops for notes. Honestly, it is VERY fast paced. I'm not sure you'd get good notes. You'll likely be better off with a steno pad. [/quote]

I don't take a lot of notes, and when I do I'm much faster with my laptop using Freemind than I am with paper. My handwriting is really pretty bad, so I have to slow down to take notes on paper. One of the reasons I use paper in one-on-ones is so that I'll slow down.

I know M&M are into topless meetings, so not having power is no surprise, and is not a problem. I'll do a battery conditioning test over the weekend. :-)

tc>

MattJBeckwith's picture
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[quote="kklogic"]...
My recollection is that no one used laptops for notes. Honestly, it is VERY fast paced. I'm not sure you'd get good notes. You'll likely be better off with a steno pad. [/quote]
I totally agree. From the DC conference I can imagine that noting on a laptop would make it difficult to follow.

[quote="tcomeau"]I know M&M are into topless meetings[/quote]
"Topless" meetings? That's the funniest thing I've heard all day.

It goes without saying for this crowd, but check the forums to see who's attending and get in front of those members you really want to meet. Stick your hand out, introduce yourself and meet some other great managers with perspectives that might be completely different than your own.

Get rest and don't stay out all night the evening before :-)

Enjoy the conference, all.

RichRuh's picture
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I'll second what Dave said- be well rested at the beginning of the conference. You will leave exhausted and elated!

As far as "sticking out your hand and introducing yourself" goes... There will be 105 people at the conference (100 attendees and 5 workers). If you are shy, you will learn from 5 of them... :wink:

Have fun!

--Rich

suedavis's picture
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[quote="kklogic"]- Be on time. If it starts at 8, be in your seat at 5 minutes 'til. [/quote]

Be there earlier than that if you want one of the really great seats (i.e. the front row). And you'll have some extra time to meet some of the other early birds.

bffranklin's picture
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I'd just like to second Wendii's note on reserving pre-conference dinner space for 3x the people that register on the forum. I reserved 1 week in advance with 5 people noting their attendance on the forums. We ended up filling 14 of the 15 seats reserved!

Spot on advice from Wendii, as usual. :)

suedavis's picture
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In Chicago, we overflowed the 15-20 seat table that was originally reserved, and wound up moving to a private banquet room, with a huge crowd spread across three long tables.

SZim's picture

Mike & Mark,
I will be attending my first MT conference in Atlanta next month.

Do you have any tips on preparation to be done before arriving in Atlanta?
The Trinity, Disc, and other material? What is must have knowledge for the successful attendee?

Very interested to be ready to make the best use of our time together.
Thanks,
Steve

tlhausmann's picture
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SZim,

If M&M follow previous plans you will be sent email invitations to podcasts covering logistics and how to prepare for the MT conference.