This year will be my third Lotusphere and first IBM Connect. Compared with a great many people attending I am still a newbie.  I certainly was not as well prepared as I would have like for my first (or second) Lotusphere and so I would like share a few tips of some of the many things I have learnt in my preparation for this year.

1. The community itself exists all year round. Lotusphere is the only time in which many of us are together in the same place at the same time. When I try to prioritize the many things I could be doing with my time while I am Lotusphere I try remain focused on the things I can only do while at Lotusphere.
2. During the year I am helped by a great many people within the community. Lotusphere provides me with a chance to try and catch up with them in person, shake their hand and sometimes share a drink.
3. Lotusphere is a great time to meet new people. I usually try and sit down at a few tables where I know nobody and hear a few fresh perspectives on what brings people to Lotusphere and what they are doing with the products
4. Lotusphere is too short. To cram as much as possible into a few short days I try and spend as much time as I can preparing. I read all the abstracts the week before and decide ahead of time what presentations I must attend and those presentations I would like to attend if nothing better comes up. As opportunities present during the week I can quickly look at my calendar and quickly see where I stand. In previous years the presentations themselves were made available. Knowing the material before the session allows you to think beyond the basic concepts during the session. The slides for some presentations are so good that when a scheduling conflict occurs (as they always do) I can often skip a few presentations based upon knowing what is in the slides.
5. Read the abstracts for as many sessions as possible.  The titles can often be misleading. IBM sessions are often disguised because they relate to announcements at the OGS. But the clues are usually there. Ditto for viewing the presentations themselves. Consider attending a few presentations outside your core areas of interest. Expand your horizons while you can, especially if the topic is being presented one of those great presenters you only get the chance to hear once a year. E.g. As a Notes developer I try and attend at least one administration session and one Connections session.
6. BOFS are often a great way in which to connect with key IBM experts. Research the BOfs that are on offer and add these to the timetable. BOFs start before and after the break-out sessions and allow you to extend your day (assuming you can get up earlier in the morning).
7. The UX labs provide great ways to interact with some of the cools stuff that is coming soon. Not only that, but the sessions are usually designed to allow you to provide direct feedback to the people who are building these products. One session at a UX lab can usually be way more effective than a dozen bitchy blogs about what irks you with product X or posting the same ideas on IdeaJam. Go to the labs early to book time that fits in with your timetable.
8. Many of the prominent members of the community work for business partners who are demonstrating their products and services at the product showcase. The product showcase is a great venue not just to learn more about these products and services but also to meet these people and have a chat.
9. The social scene at Lotusphere extends well after the last slide has been shown in the break-out sessions. Some of the best conversations I have at Lotusphere each year take place at these social events. Not just because alcohol is often involved, but because groups of people that include IBM, business partners, and customers often come together in an unplanned manner and the conversations follow paths different to the standard conversation that usually takes online within the community on an ongoing basis.
10. The learning process need not stop at the end of Lotusphere. Collect business cards, e-mail addresses etc during the week. During the event or soon after returning update your social network details to include the people you met while at Lotusphere.
11. My last suggestion is to do some research online before leaving. Google the term “Lotusphere tips”. There are a lot of great articles that have been written over the years. Also Google the term “Lotusphere”. Discover the social forums that have been set up to promote conversation between attendees and those unable to attend. If you have a mobile device download the apps that have been developed for Lotusphere.

Now, excuse me as I need to get some sleep. Sleep is one thing that seems to be in very short supply at Lotusphere.

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