VMworld is only a few weeks away.  Like the last two VMworlds, VMworld 2018 will be held at the Mandalay Bay Conference Center in Las Vegas.  This will be the last year that VMworld is at Mandalay Bay – it should make a return to San Francisco’s Moscone Center for 2019.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or attending VMworld for the first time, there are a few things you should know for getting the most out of your VMworld experience.

1. Wear Comfortable, Broken-In Shoes – You will be doing A LOT of walking. And I mean a lot.  If you track your steps, you will probably find that you do over 20,000 steps each day.  And when you’re not walking, you will probably be spending a lot of time on your feet.  Having a comfortable pair of walking shoes is key to surviving the week.  Make sure you break these shoes in before you go to Vegas.
2. Lighten Your Load – If your backpack is anything like mine, it’s filled with most things that we think we need on a day-to-day basis.  This could be an extra power supply, dongles and adapters for projectors, spare whiteboard markers, or whatever else ends up in our backpacks.  That can be a lot of extra weight that you carry around.  You won’t need most of this for VMworld.  Clean out your backpack before you go and leave the extra stuff at home.  If you plan to bring electronics with you that you won’t carry every day, make sure you take advantage of the safe in your hotel room to keep them secure.
3. Spend Time in the Community Areas and Solutions Exchange – VMworld is about the sessions, right?  Nope.  While the sessions are important, don’t fill your entire schedule with back-to-back sessions and talks.  You will want to spend time exploring the solutions exchange to talk to vendors and in the community areas.  The Blogger Tables and the vBrownbag Community Stage are great places to meet others.
4. Join Twitter – If you’re not already on Twitter, make sure you join it for VMworld.  There is a lot going on, and you can keep up with sessions and after-hours activities by tracking various hashtags like #VMworld and #VMworld3Word.  It’s also a great way to meet people.
5. Go Outside – Yes, Vegas is hot.  But you’ll be spending most of the day indoors breathing recycled and air-conditioned air.  Step outside, even if its for 15 minutes and get some fresh air.
6. Be Safe – There is a lot to do in Vegas, but if you step out at night to explore the town, make sure you’re safe.  The usual tourism rules apply.  Don’t carry any more cash than you need to, keep your wallet and cell phone in your front pocket, and be aware of your surroundings.