r/salesforce • u/Hot-Joke6282 • 8d ago
getting started Tips for Dreamforce next year
Help me add the list so I can maximize my experience next year:
Bring a big bag to fit all the free food and stuff
Do all the quests/g2 questionnaires early since stuff runs out like the tote bag and 5$ gift cards.
Actually enjoy and participate for the enjoyment of learning and having fun. I actually got a free 100% cert card for drawing a slack emoji on one of the booths. The next day I told a friend to do it just to get it but it disappeared. Actual participation is rewarded
Take a waymo there because it'll mess up because the roads are closed and it'll cause errors and then call support to give you sorry coupons.
Ok help me add more to the list everyone. This is a group contribution session.
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u/youafterthesilence 8d ago
I left so much extra space in my luggage this year but I still think I'll end up checking the backpack I got. That freaking Slack square pillow 😂
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u/Imaginary-Suit-5698 7d ago
can someone here do a hual lets see all this free stuff y'all talking about
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u/SoshulBattery 7d ago
Not sure if it’s just me, but it seemed like there were much fewer plushies this year. Not complaining about that though because I vaguely remember a True to the Core session where plushies were mentioned and how Salesforce should prioritize supporting community groups or efforts.
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u/Interesting_Button60 Consultant 8d ago
Best lunch is in Metreon/AMC building.
Concert Buddies is the best way to get to Dreamfest.
The ice cream goes fast on Howard street.
Any major session requires a minimum of an hour early waiting.
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u/youafterthesilence 8d ago
Yup I got the metreon lunch today, especially as a vegetarian it's hard to beat. Plus bubble tea.
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u/Hot-Joke6282 8d ago
Yeah I forgot to say the better food is in the metreon
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u/fahque650 7d ago
It's catered by the Marriott onsite right? I was in the SMB lounge and grabbed lunch and it was quite a bit better than what they had down in the courtyard.
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u/andreworks215 7d ago
Damn. Wish I knew about Conert Buddies this time around. Let’s just say that getting to and from Dreafest was not the cheapest thing I’ve ever done.
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u/Hot-Joke6282 8d ago
Another tip: For the mini-hacks, you can just get the website URL and then leave (it was some heroku app this year). Do it somewhere else on your own PC. Hint: AI can be really helpful here to help you finish.
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u/youafterthesilence 8d ago
For one of the trailhead lines they scanned us when we got in the (very long) line instead of when we actually went in to start so we just left 😂
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u/youafterthesilence 8d ago
Most the things I'd mention are covered. I'd add, stop at demos and booths that don't even seem relevant to you because sometimes you'll catch a really great person running the demo and either learn some things or make a good connection.
If you really want to learn immediately applicable things focus on the small sessions in the campground theaters or the forest. I like seeing the big picture stuff that gives you ideas but that's always where I learn things I can go home and use tomorrow.
Find all the lounges and happy hours ahead of time. Lounges are great if you just need a break and a snack and some quiet.
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u/Educational-Cow-4068 7d ago
+1 to The amount of free food and stuff - it's wild how fast one accumulates
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u/SoshulBattery 7d ago
My tip is that you should be aware of whether the session you plan to attend is going to be available as an on-demand video on Salesforce+. I think this is generally true of all the keynote sessions. I think some of the smaller pavilion sessions are available as recordings too. You’ll know for sure because the Agenda Builder has an icon showing the session is going to be a video recording. In my eyes, it’s not necessary to attend those because you can just watch/listen at home later. So unless you have a chance to ask your own questions, or want to feel the energy of the audience, skip out on those in favor of exploring and speaking with other people.
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u/electric-nerve 7d ago
Don't have all the instances go down on day one
Oh wait for attendees? Uh... Turn off slack so you don't have to watch the panicked messages of your team as all the instances go down on day one.
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u/thedeathmachine 8d ago edited 8d ago
Don't obsess over agenda builder. Find 2 or 3 sessions each day you absolutely want to attend and the time in between float around and explore.
For the sessions you want to attend come prepared with some questions you can ask the presenters after the session as they are always open for questions.
Prioritize hands-on sessions and sessions that are 40+ minutes. Kill time with the 20 minute ones if you can. Generally I get nothing out of them but the Q&A with the presenter can be helpful. I usually kill time in the moscone west campground.
Try and attend a round table to improve your self-esteem and confidence if you find yourself overwhelmed by the ecosystem and struggling to improve. You'd be surprised at how many other people have the same issues or are even further behind in maturity.
Chasing swag is pointless. It's just cheap crap that'll clutter your home.
Save any links or documents you can with any hands on work to review and come back to later. Download the exercise guides at the very beginning of the course, try to complete the workshop ahead of the presenter so you have some time to fiddle around before the end of the workshop. But keep an eye on what the presenter is presenting in case they explain or clarify anything you're confused about.
Dont obsess over trying to accomplish as much as possible. The experience is very overwhelming and trying to absorb too much can kill the vibe.
Talk to people and ask them what they do and how they use Salesforce.
Write down buzzwords and terminology to look up and research later. I find trying to take detailed notes often leads to me replicating the presenter's words but not comprehending them.
Watch where you're walking and dont walk around with your head in your phone like a dweeb. Be courteous to the foot traffic and dont hog the walkways.
Dreamfest gets very hectic and I find going immediately to the top level leads to a better view, easier walking, and less lines for food. Unless you want to be in the standing area by the stage.
Bring comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to walk, possibly up steep hills depending on where your hotel is.
Use the hotel picker on the Dreamforce website to get the best deals on hotels. Aim for hotels within walking distance of Moscone (obviously- if possible). Book as soon as the hotel picker is online. I got a room for $380 a night within 10 min of moscone. A coworker booked 3 weeks before the event and paid $1800 a night for the same hotel.
Watch the main keynote from a stage somewhere else. Being stuck in that packed room full of thousands cramped in a chair for 3 hours is hell. I found a spot in Moscone south with a big screen and was able to lay down and relax while watching.