• volunteering is a great way to meet new people (& be part of the event)
• submit a lightning talk (sign up ASAP)
• chat with vendors in the expo hall
• try to follow the PacMan rule in conversations (leave a space open for someone new to join in)
More tips from @AlSweigart on gamifying social interactions for yourself while at @pycon:
• Pick a color besides black, grey, or blue and find the closest person wearing a shirt of that color. Go up and talk to them, no matter who they are.
• Try to sit at breakfasts and lunches with people you don't know.
• Try to avoid eating alone. Meals are a great time to meet people.
• Try to follow up with folks you met after Pycon.
• Attend open spaces
• Host an open space
• Drink lots of water and be mindful of your body
And a big one for long-time conference attendees especially: deliberately plan some of your meals toward meeting NEW people instead of always hanging out with old friends.
• At lunch and breakfast, ask "is this seat taken" and if it's not, you've just joined a conversation over a meal
• Ask folks what inspired them to attend PyCon, what they've enjoyed most so far, and what they use (or plan to use) Python for
• Take a quiet break alone when you need it and keep the quiet room in mind
• As the day starts to wrap up, ask folks if they have dinner plans
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