As the second consecutive WordCamp to be held in Iloilo City, we’re aiming for the conference to foster the same kind of laid-back, community-driven vibe that WordCamps are always meant to have.
Regardless if this is your first time to attend the event or not, do know that your primary mission is to learn, make new friends and industry acquaintances, and to simply have fun!
With that said, we think that informing you with a few guidelines will help you set your expectations for the event. Here are a few things that you might expect from WordCamp 2019 come conference time:
The entire event is staffed by volunteers
WordCamps, as community-driven conferences, are organized by volunteers from local communities. In other words, no party is earning from this event. Each ticket covers various logistical costs like the venue, LED screen and projector rentals, meals, kits, and even ancillary events like the Contributor and Kids’ Workshop days. This is all by design, since it reflects the openness of the WordPress platform, which has also been powered by volunteers for years.
Review the list of presenters before the day of the conference.
While plenary talks are a must-attend for everyone at WordCamp, we advise that you browse for the list of our scheduled workshops for the day. At the very least, you can set your mind on which presentation you’ll be attending without the pressure of deciding on the day of WordCamp itself.
Dress for comfort.
The venue is air-conditioned, so do bring warm clothing in case you’re expecting the environment to be a bit chilly for you. Since you’ll also be sitting for long stretches of time, we advise that you dress up in your most comfortable, shorts, skirts, and sandals are fair game, however, please be reminded that wearing slippers is a big no-no at the venue.
Bring a small bag or backpack.
Do you bring your water bottle along with you because you get thirsty easily? Do you bring your laptop or tablet with you when writing notes? How about if you simply have a writing pad and pen with you? You never know when that small bag can come in handy during the event (HINT: you need it for keeping the swag we’ll be giving out).
Keep your personal items close by at all times.
You don’t want your WordCamp to be the one day where your laptop or smartphone suddenly got lost, do you? While WordCamp is a gated conference, we cannot vouch for every person that will be entering the premises. If you need to leave your gear at your table, just kindly ask the person beside you to look out for your stuff. Besides, doing a solid to someone who you just knew at the event is a good way of jumpstarting conversations!
Reminder: There’s no WiFi at the venue.
Much as we would like to have the entire conference hall connected online, the current infrastructure just makes it nearly impossible for us to do so. If you really need to hook up your laptop online, just try hotspotting your smartphone to it.
Update your online information and social media accounts, and bring calling card, if available.
These days, there’s no shame in stalking a person you just met through his or her social media accounts! So, make sure that any online info you have is updated and is something that you’re proud to show when it’s time to talk and network!
Got questions? This is the day for answers!
Since we encourage attendees to come to the event with open minds, we’re also expecting that many of you will have questions with regards to the discussed topics or just about anything relating to WordPress. Our speakers and local leads will be hanging out at the Happiness Bar, so make sure to visit because it is where all WordPress-related questions will be answered to the best of our abilities.
We strictly observe a Code of Conduct for WordCamp Iloilo.
Don’t know how to start talking to someone? Well, as long as you abide by WordCamp’s Code of Conduct, you’ll do fine! Read more about it here: https://2019.iloilo.wordcamp.org/code-of-conduct/
Most important of all, we expect that you’ll enjoy your time at WordCamp Iloilo!
Easy enough, isn’t it?