Lotusphere 2011 as an attendee (part 3 of 7) #ls11

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Lotusphere 2011 as an attendee (part 3 of 7) #ls11

These "through the eyes of" posts have become harder to write as some of the area repeat themselves as expectations no matter who you are. This time I flip off any and all knowledge and move into customer/attendee zone.

Customer/Attendee

The hype each year! These mystical bloggers, podcasters and people that teach me through wiki articles, forums, Google searches and more. I cannot wait to get there and see all the new stuff and maybe talk to an actual Lotus developer about my issue. I know no one else has it but us!

I have been getting emails, calls from my sales rep, calls from some IBM call center. All asking if I am coming to Lotusphere 2011. Hell yes I am. Plane booked. Mears shuttle coupon ready. Already accessed Lsonline.info to read up. I have the Blackberry app as well as the one for my iPod just in case. I wasn't sure about the lsonline one, the bloggers seemed to love the one from the Genii. Damn that Gab is amazing.

I woke up hours early, really I didn't sleep as I double checked my luggage. I am coming in on Saturday night after fighting with the homestead for the need to be there "Saturday" instead of Sunday morning. I want a fresh start and I know things kick off at like 8am now. On a Sunday! Two hour sessions! Flight was good, shuttle seemed to take forever to get to the hotel. I had to wait, my room wasn't ready. Strange. But, Iwent ahead and ran over to get my bag expecting the long lines and early people.

No line. Strange. I thought everyone would be here. I see some milling around. A few faces but no badges I can read to see who they are. This must be a behind the scenes type look! Yes! I read on the blogs about a BALD guy lunch. I am headed to meet some of the bloggers if I can get in. Found it. Signs hanging outside already. This will be huge. I am a bit anxious to approach anyone. I will sit here and just wait for the moment. Lunch done. I see groups but do not know who is who really and I am only a two year admin.

Back to the hotel, into room and a quick call home. Tonight is the big ESPN party. Wow. Packed. But who is who again? Some look like vacationers for sure. I say hi, see a few web faces. Drink a couple and back to my room since it is early rise time.

Sunday morning, first session. Packed. Eager. Wow, the information flows over me for two hours and this is ony Sunday, you must be kidding? Lunch was decent and even more. So much info for two hours. Amazing sessions. Some guy called Turtle (he must work with Gab) takes the stage and fills me in on many things. He is nuts but funny. Now a quick dash to the room to drop my bag and get in line for the party.

No line? Some people milling around but no real lines anywhere. I see lights. Hear music. Plenty of food. Girls in the tables, pool and on stage? Whoa, what kind of party do we have going? A few drinks and back to my room. I don't know anyone else.

Monday morning. Sunday was jumpstart so the big crowds must be here. Line up early, to stand in a short but fast moving line. The big room. Lights. Music. Pointed to chairs. Who are all these young kids? I see a big sign for the blogger den. Wish I could sneak up and peek. huge screens. Whoa the stage. Huge. Looming.

Band rocks. Incredible. Who were they? Something on the screen? No? Damn, I ad my phone ready to look them up. The big boss! Let the announcements begin. All right, Kevin Spacey is cool. Boss again, more Lotus bosses. How many do they have at IBM? People in chairs. More chairs. More bosses. Isn't this thing only an hour and thirty minutes? We are 80 minutes in and here we go. finally. What just happened? I read almost all of that before. I use Microsoft Office. So that was lost. Connections 3 we are testing. Should be a year or so before it's out there. Is there new Lotus Notes stuff? Social business? My CEO thinks we spend too much time on IM already. This won't fly. Thanks for coming?

Racing to the first session since the thing went long. I am not sure why, but it did. LDAP, the cursed thing is first on my list. Ok, this guy scares me. Firehose, turn him off. Fast. WTF do you mean you have no slides?!?!?! What kind of speakers do they bring here? I think I just got whiplash yet I strangely feel like I learned a ton. Wow. Lunchtime? More session and my first BOF where I can share my thoughts. Ok, too scared to say a damn word

The vendor floor party Monday night has to be the place to see cool stuff and get some freebies to rub in at the office. Some little stuffed snacks, a bunch of beer, more snacks and I am dizzy. I have some bucky balls (wtf?), one shirt, three pens and I was scanned fourteen times. That loud buzz from Nokia was obnoxious but I gotta find that little blue box I tossed. Where is all the vendors? Huge groups that do the same thing and then many I can't quite figure out. Some cool ones too. Grabbed a paper or two to read more later. More snacks.

Tweet, check in. Who can keep up with this stuff in this little screen? I use AOL to chat with friends. Whoever thought of this has a lot of freetime and a satanic complex. I hate that little Twitter thing and never want anyone, mainly my boss to know were I am.

Tuesday up at 6am for a quick breakfast and off to yet another BOF. Scared to say a word. On to sessions. A great day with fabulous topics. I finish about 7pm and I am worn out. I don't know where everyone is but I heard laughter everywhere. A quick bite in this Pikachu place my kids would love. I think it is a Pokemon. Bedtime and a call home. Disney at least has these little tables around with ugly aprons to sit at. I didnt want to eat in my room and the bar was packed and loud.

Up at 6:30am. I can shower and grab a damn muffin and coffee. Off to another BOF. I spoke. It was to ask for them to repeat the URL but I spoke. All day sessions again. I have now eaten far too much. How the hell do these damn people keep moving all day. The speakers amaze me at their knowledge. And their passion. And their ability to teach it. I gotta start a blog. Ok, ten minutes after last BOF and they are lining up. I am going to miss the buses!

I sit next to some guy from Arizona. His third year. Tells me to relax and we can hang out. He gives me the rundown. Free food everywhere? No way, not at Disney. Yep. And rides and games. Get out! We grab a beer on the way in, it seemed like a long ride. Food or ride? Harry Potter then food. ok, that was awesome. Quick bite. Want another ride? What? Get on the buses? Huh? Times up?

I have heard this music each night. Kimonos? I hate Japanese food. Singing sucks, yet it goes on.

Thursday and I cant move. Up at 6:50. Rinse, repeat. Coffee. Screw food. More BOF I nodded off. A couple good sessions and we got to see all the speakers on one stage. Wow, they are a gnarly group. But damn they know a lot. Grabbed a picture. Too scared to ask a question. Headed over and a box lunch at the lake. I could lay here but there is a time to go and hang out with the developers. Whoa another big room. People whining. Is this allowed? I thought we got to meet the developers?

The closing session. I hear they have a comedian a lot. Watson? A computer? Ok, that was very cool. I knew like four of those. Gay, heheh, he said Gay.

I bet she throws out a big last second announcement! Thanks? Lights? Where is everyone going? Who are all those people on the stage taking pictures? What the hell did I just miss? I was only social once!

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