If you’ve somehow managed to be living under a rock for the past few months then let me kindly remind you that Catalyst Atlanta is coming very soon.
Sure, it’s about a month away, but you got to get started prepping today! With an amazing lineup of speakers, some off-the-hook Labs, and a ton of opportunities to network with like-minded ministry folk, you’re going to want to be doubly prepared.
*Please note that although there is seriously valuable stuff here, there are a few “tongue-in-cheek” suggestions as well.*
So here it is, the officially-unofficial Catalyst Surivival Guide after the jump…
Before You Land:
- Bring you laptop. Period. Pack a Netbook if you care about being even more awesome. Why? Because a laptop is required for blogging, and we know that blogging is all the rage, and if you’re not doing it then you’re a loser. Just kidding (see next bullet point if blogging is not your thing).
- Mobile device (can you say iPhone?) is essential. Please don’t embarrass yourself with not having one.
- Business cards are cool. Ones with neat little links to your Digital Business Card is even better.
- Plan for massive wi-fi fail. What does this mean? You should bring something with an aircard or 3G.
- A small notepad and writing utensil still really work. Bring a few of those.
- Prep your Twitter-streams for #catalyst, #catalystatlanta, and everything else “Catalyst”. Get your software in order foo! UPDATE! The official hashtag is #CAT09.
- Blog about Catalyst. Tweet about it. Do something. Let the world know that you’re taking a huge step in coming. Ask for prayer, and while you’re at it pray for someone to let you borrow a laptop if you don’t have one (just kidding… again.).
- Read about the speakers. Memorize who they are, what they’re talking about. Create a schedule. If you waste time at Catalyst that’s your fault, not anyone elses. Read their blogs.
- Bring some meds cause you’re going to get head-knocked by awesomeness. I suffer from migraines so you’ll just know I’ll be popping Exedrine Migraine (oh Lord, can we fix that…?).
- Uh, hotel? Transpo? Got it? Good. Don’t forget your clothes and some extra underwear cause you may drop a bomb (and I don’t mean figuratively) during the keynotes. Bring diapers if you really need it.
The Big Event(s):
- Make sure you get there sober (just kidding… again!).
- Power your darn apps and devices, nothing worse then going dead. Power cords are cool but you’re not borrowing mine.
- Transportation check? Good.
- Managing the Twitter stream is essential. Find a way to do it.
- Pre-Parties? Pre-Labs? Get to them. Make sure you get to the right one, the one that’ll make the most impact in your life and the ministry you serve. Make good choices.
- Take a bag cause you’re bound to get some free loot.
- Hydration is in vogue. Nothing worse than a passed-out blogger who forget to hydrate. If you do, expect to be caught on the Catalyst Blog under category “fail” (and maybe FailBlog.net too).
- Please turn down your device’s brightness setting. That stuff blinds foo! And it’s obnoxious. It’ll also make your device last longer, so there’s utility here folks.
- Focus, concentrate, take notes. Leave no stone unturned.
- Network, network, network.
- Don’t be shy. If I see you and I know you want to say something to me and we make that awkward eye contact and you don’t man up and do something about it I’ll find out your Twitter handle and publicly call you out to 5,000+ followers as lamesauce (OMG, just kidding…!).
- Blog, tweet, do whatever you have to do to share the goodness of Catalyst love.
After Event and Beyond:
- Got a lot of loot? Sort it.
- Got a lot of ideas? Manage and sort. Focus.
- Got a lot of business cards? Take note and schedule a time to email the people who gave one to you. Connect, contact, engage.
- Compare notes with people.
- Blog.
- Tweet.
- Pray.
- Don’t forget your luggage.
- Make sure you get home safely to share with others and enrich your ministry.
- Plan to be back at Catalyst at the next event. If your budget doesn’t include monies to attend then you should immediately draft your 2 week notice and find a ministry that does have a budget for it (OMGOMGOMG JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111!!!11).
And that is that.
[Image from EssGee]
nerrad says
Great article. I'm going to be a catalyst newbie this year and am flying down from Canada alone…so I'm DEFINITELY going to be looking to connect with some people while there! It'd be cool if there was some way to get together with some other WordPress developers there…kind of have a mini WordPress Meetup?
human3rror says
Dude… let's marinate ont hat…!
nerrad says
So, a possibility then?
human3rror says
yes. i've got something else cooking too…
nerrad says
WOOT!
Marcus Williamson says
Last year was my first year and it rocked! This year I’m sure will be even better!!!!
human3rror says
cool!
Jay says
Man. My wife and I were all set to go and then the news of my Mom's illness broke and that put the brakes on everything so I won't be attending. There's always next year. I hope everybody has a great time and learns a lot!
human3rror says
DOH!
dewde says
A lot of coffee… you has it.
peace | dewde
human3rror says
that's all you've gotta say about that? i thought you would love the sarcasm.
LV says
this is hilarious! thanks for the survival guide…jay, i am so sorry to hear about what’s going on, know that I am praying this morning. you will be missed! see the rest of you in less than 4 weeks!
human3rror says
;)!
Michael Hyatt says
I cannot wait to come to this conference. The best part is that I am coming as a pure participant. No speaking. No schmoozing. Nothing. I just want to worship, learn, and grow!
human3rror says
Mike,
It'll be great to see you there…! There are a bunch of blog meetups planned… would love for you to be there… also, I have another “thing” I'd love your thoughts/participation about…
john
klreed189 says
welcome to the normal life (just kidding).
Glad you get to experience that, maybe we can change roles for a day.
Faye says
Awesome. Hope to at least make that awkward eye contact 🙂
Aaron M says
This is survival guide is great! Thanks for putting it out there. Definately gonna take some tips. I am super stoked about getting to experience all of this but also a bit intimidated. Guess I need to get some personal business cards made and spot a laptop to borrow.
Nerrad and John I'll be another newbie driving down to the ATL from Tennessee and it looks like I too will be doing it alone. Give a shout out if the meetup happens.
~ AM
human3rror says
word up!
stephenbateman says
Conferencing alone is a little bit like sin. just sayin 😛
human3rror says
word.
klreed189 says
Reading this guide and the opportunity to hang with a bunch of awesome people makes me want to bankrupt my account and head down to the ATL to have a great time with some awesome leaders.
But unfortunately when you are unemployed and semi retired at age 23 you cannot do this unless you want to be homeless shortly after this great even.
I will live vicariously through the blog world and twitter.
Maybe next year.
human3rror says
DOH! How far do you live from Atlanta?
klreed189 says
I live in St. Louis. So however far that is
human3rror says
hmm.
klreed189 says
I figured it out, its 8 hrs. What you thinking?
human3rror says
thinking about tickets…
klreed189 says
Any more thoughts about this John? Just wondering, your really peeked my interested when you mentioned it.
Jim says
i'll be here in the mancave. John…can i give u some of my business card?
human3rror says
haha.
Faye says
I don't have my Blackberry yet, waiting on contract. 🙁 However, I just found out I can get a 3G USB Broadband card from Verizon and purchase a DAYpass for $15 for 24 hours. No contract, just day by day. I can live with that!
Really glad you posted this, John, it made me go looking for this!
Jim says
that card is a great idea…where do u get the day pass?
human3rror says
;)! hope to see you there..!
rodlie says
I'll be there…love to say wassup. The only thing I wont be doing is using my laptop during the day. I'll have my pack and for the speakers I'll have my moleskin. I need to get a fresh one actually, cause I know I'll take lots of notes. But in the evenings I'll pull out my *still-surviving-who-knows-when-its-going-to-die iBookG4-I-just-like-to-represent-old-skool-like that* and blog a little about the stuff. See you there, and let me know if there will be some kind of churchcrunch meetup!
human3rror says
hehe. awesome!
Christina says
Can you tweek this list for us volunteers?! 😉
I am praying about getting there at 5:30am! YIKESSSSSS!!! I don't even know how I'm getting there. I'm hitching a ride with a van full of missionaries just to get to town. Still seeing how God is gonna work out the rest. 🙂
human3rror says
😉
Marcus Williamson says
Awesome post man! This will be my second time around. Little more experienced at the conference thing now. Catalyst/Echo/Catalyst…ok, maybe not that experienced. Looking forward to seeing God move in a Huge way for many people. If I see ya, I promise to speak. No shyness here bro.
human3rror says
word!
@LloydTheBuilder says
Thanks for the beta. Can't wait to get there – 3G cards in hand 🙂
We have a bunch of folk coming from Seattle and looking forward to some warmer weather and good folk down South.
Linda Rowan says
L-O-V-E this but…where is UPDATE for 2010? Thax
John Saddington says
DOH! we’ll have to do that.