10 Tips For Your First Tableau Conference!

Tableau Conference is just around the corner! I’ve attended almost every Tableau Conference since 2016 in Austin and it’s always one of the highlights of my year. If you’ve never been (or maybe even if you have), here are 10 tips to help you have an awesome experience!

Meet (New) People

I’m sure your coworkers are awesome, but you can see them any time. What you can’t do is replicate the amazing group of people that come together at Tableau Conference. You’re going to meet not only the most impressive collection of analytics talent anywhere, but also so many kind, friendly people. I’ve never met a Tableau community leader that was anything less than gracious, and I always encourage people to say hi to anyone they happen to recognize. Meetups are another good way to do this! These typically happen in Data Village and are loosely organized events where people with something in common (like being newbies or working in the same industry) can gather. The connections you make at conferences like this aren’t just about professional networking. You might make lifelong friends, too – I sure have!

Take Care of Yourself and Be Comfortable

Long, busy days are the norm at this conference! Taking care of yourself and your comfort is critical. This is decidedly NOT a “suit and tie” conference, so don’t worry about whether a t-shirt, jeans, and comfortable shoes will make you look unprofessional – it definitely won’t. I also like to carry small comforts with me, like medicated honey packets if my voice starts to go, mouthwash to freshen up after meals, Liquid IV powder for when the conference drink choices are unappealing, and a portable powersource.

Get Your Social Media in Order

When you meet people you like, you’ll want to be able to stay in touch! Coming into TC is a great time to update your LinkedIn, your Twitter, your Tableau Public profile, or whatever else you’d like your new connections to see. Also, update your photo/bio/whatever so it’s obvious who you are. And follow along during the conference! You’ll learn who’s around, what people are doing, and what events are coming up.

Have a Rough Plan and an Open Mind

With the size and scope of Tableau Conference, if you show up without any idea of what you’re going to do, you’ll probably still have a fine experience, but it might get disorienting pretty quickly. I suggest coming in with at least a general outline of how you’re going to spend your days – when you want to arrive, some sessions you want to prioritize (and some you can’t miss!), when you’re going to eat, and the other basics. At the same time, don’t lock yourself in so much that you can’t live in the moment! Maybe you’ll make a new friend and want to go see their presentation. Maybe you’ll hear about a new feature and want to go to a session to understand it better. Or maybe that session you’re really excited about fills up before you can get a spot. Go in with a plan, but go with the flow!

Leave Some Room In Your Suitcase

This is a “stuff” conference, and you’re likely to leave with more than you came with! The conference merch area always draws a huge crowd (go early! Things will sell out!). But beyond paying for merch, you can expect some fun freebies. A lot of Tableau community folks will have giveaways, ranging from stickers, to pins, to shirts. This year, I’ll be bringing trucker hats with embroidered pie chart patches!

Be Willing to Say “No”

With limited time and tons of options, as much as it’s important to have an open mind, it’s also important to protect your time and be willing to say no! If you are five minutes into a session and you realize it really isn’t for you, go and find another one. If a salesperson wants to sell you or your company something, it’s okay to politely decline and keep walking (“I have no power over our purchasing,” or just a polite “not today, thanks” work well!). Tableau Conference will pull your attention in a million directions. You get choose which ones you want to follow.

Prioritize the “Big” (or Unrecorded) Events

There are so many amazing sessions available, but as you get involved with the Tableau community, you’ll notice that some of these sessions are things you’ll be able to see again, whether it’s via recordings, Tableau User Group presentations, or blog posts. However, there’s really no replacement for attending a few of the conference-specific events in person. Devs on Stage, Iron Viz, and keynotes are huge and crowded and might require lining up early, especially if you want a good spot, but they are totally worth it, and the experience of watching these big events on either a screen or from an overflow room really doesn’t compare.

Find Your Anchors

In a big, sometimes overwhelming conference, I always find it helpful to find my “anchors” that keep me comfortable. Those might be people, places, or experiences! Every year, I like to walk the conference space and the neighborhood as early as possible so things start looking familiar. I usually have one or two conference “buddies” who I check in with very regularly and do most things with. I find spots with comfortable seating and chargers that I know I’ll come back to when I need the space. I’ll choose my soundtrack for when I need to go headphones in and avoid distractions. I’ll find the coffee shops and restaurants I’ll use when I’m sick of conference food (and if you’re a cold brew drinker like me, be aware that the conference is going to have free hot drip coffee and that’s it).

Pick the Right Sessions for YOU

You know better than anyone where you stand in your analytics journey! At my first couple of Tableau Conferences, I spent most of my time in hands-on trainings because I was totally self-taught and wanted that foundation. Now, I focus on seeing friends speak, as well as community presentations about how different organizations are leveraging Tableau. There is no right or wrong set of sessions to choose! Be open to ideas, but also don’t let anyone define your level and interests for you. And don’t be afraid to attend advanced level sessions even if you’re a newbie. You will still learn a lot and the inspiration of seeing sophisticated usage can be priceless!

Have Fun and Embrace the Experience

This conference is a blast. Enjoy it! Before my first Tableau Conference, I was used to academic conferences, where everyone was posturing, trying to prove how smart they were, and jockeying for career advantages. Tableau showed me that there was a different way! Even if you’re a naturally cynical person, I encourage you to embrace the silliness, the nerdiness, and the chaos. As long as you give this conference some energy, you will have fun, you will learn a lot, and you will want to come back.