SQL Server Techniques: PASS Summit 2019. Tips for the first-timers.

It is just one month before PASS Summit 2019.

This year I volunteered to help with "Buddy Program" for first timers. To help myself to help the first timers I've started making notes on the most important points of the event to share them with new attendees and newbies in #SQLFamily.
If you already been at PASS Summit, please read carefully and make a comment on what I've missed. If you already have links to sponsored learning events or parties, please let me know and I'll also post it here.
Thanks.

PASS Summit 2019 TIPS:

PASS Summit registration

Register as early as possible, it can dramatically reduce your cost. If you do it early enough, there can be extra savings for returning attendees;
Register for Pre-Con sessions if your budget allows. That is only $500 for the whole day session, but you are already paying for flight tickets and adjusting to the timing zone. So, it is not big money to learn from the World’s Best professionals. Also, do it as early as possible, some pre-con sessions were sold-out 2-3 months before the event.
Wisely choose food options.

Before you go

Visit “Activities” section: https://www.pass.org/summit/2019/Attend/Activities.aspx
Register for sponsored breakfasts – Eat breakfast, get some exclusive vendors’ information and possible obtain cool swags;
Register for different “Luncheons” – Eat, socialize, gain some knowledge;
Review PASS Summit schedule for sessions you’d like to attend. Read descriptions. Make an attendance plan;
Talk to your co-workers, ask them what they would like to know from those PASS Summit sessions, it might help you to decide which session to attend;
Also, collect any SQL Server related question from the team, write them down. You might have those questions answered or addressed by Microsoft’s CAT team at the event;
Load “PASS Events” application on your phone. Mark sessions you want to attend, it will remind you where you are supposed to go;
SQL community lives in Twitter. Download the app on your phone and start follow SQL gurus. Look for hash tags #SQLFamily #PASSsummit #sqlpass #SQLServer #SQLSaturday. Follow @sqlpass.
Review list of sponsors (https://www.pass.org/summit/2019/Sponsors/SponsorsExhibitors.aspx) Look for their twitter tags and also follow them. Some sponsors do cool parties during the event, give prizes and sometimes even give away free tickets to PASS Summit!!!
Book your flight and hotel. The best time to arrive is Sunday before the event, flights are cheaper then and you do not spend your work time for travel, you can attend Pre-Cons on Monday –Tuesday or attend other SQL related activities or just get familiar with Seattle and visit local attractions;
Before PASS Summit, you might decide to go to SQL Saturday in Portland, OR. Another free event in the area if you are flying from another side of the country or the Globe. You can adjust your timing there and take a #SQLTrain to Seattle on Sunday. #SQLTrain – are 2 carts of SQL professionals from around the world stack together for 4-5 hours eating famous Portland’s donuts and drinking beer and wine: https://www.sqlsaturday.com/920/eventhome.aspx;

Flight & Hotel

Arriving Sunday is the best. Returning flight is late Friday night or Saturday Morning, unless you want to stay longer, but from my experience better to come earlier. That time winter comes to Seattle and one week earlier is one week wormer;
Book hotel in 10-15-20 minutes walking distance from the convention center. It gives a flexibility to attend multiple early and late events not be tired and have just enough of sleep;

Coming to Seattle, WA

If you decided to go to SQL Saturday in Portland and get a #SQLTrain from there it will be easy for you to arrange with new friends an Uber to your hotel. You also can just walk to your hotel, the train station is almost in Seattle’s downtown area.
If you fly in Tacoma airport, the cheapest and very easy option would be to get a “Link Light rail” to the downtown area. It costs jus around $3-$4. Travel time might be the same as with Uber, but much cheaper. The same way you can get back, but be aware that on Sunday Light rail start operating only at about 6 A.M.

Monday before the PASS Summit

If you missed Pre-Con session look for Free-Con or SQL-in-the-City sponsored events on Monday-Tuesday before the PASS Summit. Do not miss it, it is free, you’ll learn a lot, meet new people and get cool swags;
If you are here for pleasure, look for the “Seattle’s Attractions” section of that list;
The PASS Summit Networking Dinner will be on Monday Nov. 4th, meeting at Tap House Grill (1506 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA) (5:30 pm - 8:30 pm). – Must go!

Tuesday before the PASS Summit

If you missed Pre-Con session and there is on Free-Con around you can do #sqlphotowalk (another thing to look in twitter). People who likes photography starts from convention center fountain area usually at 9 A.M. You can join them even if you do not have a camera, you’ll see Seattle’s deepest hidden secrets. However, this year, unfortunately for first timers it is scheduled for later time 4:45 pm - 6:00 pm. But check the twitter, there might be people who’ll walk at the morning;
Also, look for the “Seattle’s Attractions” section;
If you want to meet grass roots of SQL Community attend special sessions for SQL Saturday organizers, Local group leaders and virtual group leaders. Meet there your local SQL leader, join and support them, become a local leader yourself;
Register for the PASS Summit at the reception. You can do it as early as Sunday, but do not wait until Wednesday, when there will be long lines!!!
Attend “First-Timer Event” (4:45 PM - 6:00 PM) – Must go!
Welcome Reception (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM) – Must go!

Wednesday – First day of PASS Summit ("Community Appreciation Day")

"Community Appreciation Day" - wear your t-shirt, polo or a Hat with SQL Saturday logo;
Breakfast with a Sponsor;
Community zone – you can always hookup there with some cool people from #SQLFamily and meet some world famous speakers. Every time you pass by, stop there and say “Hi”;
Summit Keynote session;
Sponsors’ exhibitions – Learn new products, meet new people get cool swags. Some sponsors might distribute free tickets to different sponsored events and presentations. Do not miss it;
PASS Summit sessions;
Luncheon session;
If you have not submit for a luncheon, grab few friends or speakers and go to a nearest restaurant;
Do not miss “Speaker Idol” session. You might want to do it next year too!
Microsoft CAT team – attend that section of the Summit, they are supposed to know everything about SQL Server and Azure;
Exhibitor Reception (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM) – Must go!

Thursday – the Second day of PASS Summit ("Kilt Day")

"Kilt Day" - if you brave enough, wear a kilt or a silly costume;
Same as the previous day: Sponsor’s Breakfast, Keynote, sponsors’ boots, sessions, “Speaker Idol”, Etc.
If you did not get a free ticket to a sponsor’s event you can grab new friends and explore local restaurants. Do not neglect the opportunity to extend your network. You’ll see these people’s tweets and read their blogs since the event. You also might become a friends or/and do a business together.

Friday – the Last day of PASS Summit

Tips are the same as for previous days;
Attend the final round of “Speaker Idol” – that is where all cool people are!
Attend reception and order discounted USB drive with all session recordings for your co-workers and for you to watch missed sessions;
Possibly purchase PASS swags to have greatest memory from the Summit;
Get an agreement from speakers you met, to speak remotely for your local SQL user group about most interesting topic you like;
Get the last chance to have a dinner with other attendees or maybe go to any Seattle’s Attractions;
Say final “good bye” to new friends and contacts, exchange emails and twitter accounts;

After the Event

Review you PASS Summit notes and implement the best ideas at your workplace ASAP, before you forgot how cool they are!
Share your knowledge to your co-workers and local user groups;
Attend local SQL user group meetings and nearest SQL Saturday event. If do not have one – organize it!
Continue to follow your friends, speakers and #SQLFamily in twitter;
Register to the Next year’s PASS Summit in Huston, TX as soon as registration will be available to get the lowest price;

Seattle’s Attractions

Seattle’s Monorail – will get you right to a “Space Needle”, museum of Pop Culture and “Chihuly Garden and Glass”;
On the Bay side you can walk by peers, visit famous “Pike Market” and walk up to “Olympic Sculpture Park”;
Couple of historical tours: “Klondike Gold Rush National Park” and “Seattle Underground”;
For “Office Space” folks: you can visit offices of Starbucks, Amazon and Microsoft;
Easy getaway: Very inexpensive ferry to another side of the bay or take a sunset cruise;
Also, you can visit real nearby attractions and get tours to “Boing Factory”, “Olympic national park”, “Mt. Rainier” or “St. Helens Volcano”;

General tips (just repeating):

Learn SQL. Have a notepad or tablet to make quick notes at sessions; Having little notebook would allow you to immediately try newly announced features or show a live problem to the Microsoft CAT team;
Make more friends;
Get engaged in SQL community;
Follow friends, sponsors and organizers in twitter;
Attend events;
Have fun;
Continue to learn SQL!