September 5-7, 2012 - Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino - Las Vegas
Janine has shared some great tips from the seasoned veteran POV, but I wanted to share some thoughts about Photoshop World from a newbie’s perspective. I know there a lot of us that are attending Photoshop World for the first time and I want to be sure that we all arrive in Vegas with everything we need to ensure we have a FIRST CLASS Photoshop World experience.
First off, have you started packing yet? I am not suggesting that your suitcases be loaded up and sitting next to the door. Have you gathered up all your laptop travel gear and checked your camera bag to make sure you have all the lenses, batteries, memory cards, card readers, power cords, etc. While you won’t “need” your laptop to get the most out of your classes, chances are you will want to stay on top of email and upload all the great images you will capture while in Vegas. Quite honestly, I am more concerned about my gear than I am about the clothes I am bringing.
But you have to wear clothes, right? So start thinking about that too. Think about the items in your closet that are most versatile. If you are packing a lot of gear make sure you pack your clothes intelligently (airlines do charge now to check bags). Choose the right shoes, don’t pack several pairs, just pack the two that will work best for you. Don’t forget a lightweight jacket for the convention center rooms (I have been to plenty of Kelby Training Live sessions and they keep the rooms COLD).
You’ve got business cards? Don’t leave them at home and make sure you bring plenty. It’s not to late to place an order to ensure you have enough. There will be plenty of people you will want to share cards with, don’t miss out on the opportunity to keep in touch with the new friends you meet.
Have you checked out Dave Cross’s Photoshop World Planner? No newbie should head to Vegas without it. Dave has created something that everyone can benefit from. And yes, I think you should fill it out in it’s entirety. With Dave’s planner, you can rest assured that you won’t miss the classes that you want to check out; however, make SURE when you check in at registration, you write down the room numbers for your classes and you become somewhat familiar with the layout of the rooms — otherwise, Dave’s planner won’t work!
Finally, make sure you check out all Vegas has to offer. Sure, you are attending Photoshop World for all the photography and Photoshop information any human can possibly handle in three days, but don’t forget that Vegas is open all night long. Hit the Tweet-up to mingle with your Twitter friends, sign up for a photowalk (there are several happening in Vegas), and get out of the hotel. The Mandalay Bay has the BEST pool in Vegas, check it out!
Hopefully, you found my thoughts of some value. This can be the trip of a lifetime, but you’ve got to do some planning to get the most out it.
Kristopher Saim is an Experiential Marketing Executive and Photographer in Kansas City, MO. On the interwebs you can find Kristopher on Twitter @ksaim and check out his blog The Kansas City Wedding Photographer.
Posted in Classes, Fun, Guest Post, Pre-PSW Planning, Thoughts on PSW
4 Comments
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I’ve done the Boston hotel for Photoshop World thing before. Seriously, staying in one of these hotels is well worth the money. You’ll be right next to the convention center which is priceless at the end of a long day or when you forget your badge in your room first thing in the morning. And if you’re like me and do the late night and early bird activities, you’ll be glad for the 2 minute commute. I stayed at the Weston at my last PS World and it was great.
At another conference in downtown Boston, I decided to save money by staying in Cambridge. It was a terrible idea. The rail lines look short on the map, but 30+ minutes each way made me late several days and I decided to sit out some evening activities because of the extra train ride.