SolidWorks World 2010: Sappy Self-Help? Nope, Just Get There

Two things prompted this post 2 weeks after the total obliterating coverage of SolidWorks World 2009. 1) Some people emailing me not knowing how to get there 2) the need to write another post.

Recently, Jeff Ray highlighted some things at SolidWorks World 2009. Out of all the incredible stuff that happened the best one by far was, the people that got there however they could. Jeff says:

Many of the attendees pulled heroic efforts to get there. You told me about paying your own way when your employer refused (and in at least one case, shut down only days before the event) and even took personal vacation time.

That’s huge. So what can you do to get to SolidWorks World 2010? Here’s some suggestions, cause now is the time to start plannin’.

The boss isn’t down
Ok, so your boss isn’t down with the whole SolidWorks World thing. He doesn’t care about charts, graphs, ROI, letters or the constant whining. Do it yourself time. Time to stop depending on others (although the US gov’ment is teaching otherwise..ahem) and put in a wee bit more effort. Some will have to make fewer sacrifices than others, but ya know, big deal, it’s about you doing something. Now, before this turns into a sappy, self-help column…

Do a presentation
People who are accepted to do a presentation at SolidWorks World get free conference passes. Get practice at your local user group. Get ideas for presnetations from this blog

Start/Get involved in a Users Group
User group leaders also get free conference passes. Although not the best reason to start one, if you’ve been thinking about it

Get a paper route
Seriously. From my calculations, you could do this for one month, two tops, and have the cash to pay for airfare, hotel and the conference.

Early registration
If you sign up early, you save $200 on the pass (this year it was $795 for early registration). You can also get 3 for the price of two – by far the best deal

Travel packages
If you’re going and planning on vacationing as well, you need to find a good travel or vacation package. Since Anaheim is the home of Disneyland there’s plenty to choose from.

Meal Plans
Make a meal plan. You’ll get some meals at the conference, but the after hours food and drink is liable to break you. This can be the meal plan… and extra $500 for food and drink… $600 if you’re hanging out with Al Dean and some of the other bloggers into the wee hours of the night.

Start a blog
True, some bloggers get free press passes, but the blogging, from my experience, is probably the hardest way to get there. However, if you’ve got a good thing going on the blog, it’s possible, you’ll be asked to attend.

Start NOW
Pretty common sense, but get it in your skull that you’re going and do the next step it takes to get there.

Things to plan for

• Airfare
• Hotel
• Conference Pass
• Extra Food
• Transportation
• Theme Park
• Shopping
• Wi-fi access

So, are you going or are you going?
What are you doing to get there next year? Have you started planning? Even though I went as press, I’m still going to change stuff for next year. We spent way too much on ‘extras’ – time for that paper route.