The Hitchhiker's Guide to Ohio Linuxfest 2009
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Ohio LinuxFest
So now that you have made the decision to attend Ohio Linuxfest (OLF),
you are probably wondering how to make the most out of your experience.
For a first time conference attendee, there is a lot to take in, and it
can be very hard to assimilate all of this information. Plan your course and by all means...
DON'T PANIC
The purpose of this guide is to provide you with the necessary information to build a plan for your OLF adventure.
Let's get some of
the basics out of the way; OLF is
about community.
The entire purpose of the conference is to provide an opportunity for
the Linux and Open Source community to get together and meet face to
face. Sure, we spend a lot of time talking about Linux and FOSS via the
Internet, but OLF lets us experience the community in a real, tangible
way. You can touch it, taste it and sometimes you can even smell it
(literally!). So be prepared to take the red pill and see just how deep
the rabbit hole goes. You did register, didn't
you?
Why are you attending the Ohio LinuxFest?
Everyone
has different reasons for coming to OLF: some are there to feel
connected to the community, others come to learn new things. Some want
to network for business reasons, while others are just there to party
like rock stars. This diverse ecosystem can be surprisingly rich and
rewarding, but it can also be quite a culture shock to the uninitiated.
The best advice we can give you is to relax and understand that
everyone is connected by the same
basic force: Open Source. This force
is best described as "..an energy field created by all living things.
It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." So
understand that the people that surround you, although coming from
different backgrounds and motivated by different reasons, all share a
common interest in Open Source that brings them together. Be respectful
of that fact, and try to understand the varied perspectives, and you
will leave OLF enriched, educated and enlightened.
Right... summary version: Be open, listen, learn and participate.
One of the
important decision that you need to make is just how involved you want
to be in the OLF experience. Do you want to show up for a
specific
presentation, check out some booths and take off? Or do you want to
jump in with both feet, volunteer to help run the conference and make
it a 4 day long experience? Either way, you are going to have to make
some decisions. If you just want to do the quick tour, this guide is
probably overkill -- go check out the schedule,
pick your time and show
up. However, if your interests are greater than a 3 hour tour, then the
rest of the information in this document should help you make the most
of your time at OLF.
Blatant Plug == We can't do this with out you
OLF
is a volunteer event, and it takes a huge amount of
effort to pull the conference together every year. We are always
looking for people to help organize and run the conference. We'll take
as much as you can offer.. if you just want to help out for an
hour or
two, no problem.. if you want to help organize the conference for next
year, that is fine too! There is room for everyone, and no one is
turned away. Please send us an E-mail at "team@ohiolinux.org" if you
would like to contribute to the effort. Thank you for your
contribution! You have no idea how much your talents are needed and
appreciated!
General Tips
- If you are planning on making OLF a multi day event, please follow the 3-2-1 rule. That means a minimum of 3 hours of sleep a day, 2 meals a day, and 1 shower. Everything is optional except for the last item. (See the reference earlier in the guide to smelling the community!). Sleep deprivation can make the world seem very odd, so getting enough sleep can make all the difference in the world. The main conference day on Saturday is a LONG, LONG, LONG day and you need your energy. There is only so much that caffeine can do for you!
Do not miss the After-Party. Whatever you do, make it a point to stick around. Some of the more interesting things happen once the conference finishes and people cut loose.... which leads to my next point:- Bring a camera. If you like to shoot video or stills, go for it! Post your clips and photos and share them with the rest of the OLF community. You never know who you might be standing next to or what they will do next. Use good sense about what you post online, especially if you happen to catch someone at an awkward moment.
- It is a bit of a walk (about 1/4 mile, or 0.4 km), but there is a food court available at the Convention Center for nourishment. There are a couple of sandwich shops nearer to the section where OLF is held, if you are satisfied with a more limited menu. Also, there are outside restaurants around High Street within a couple of blocks.Short North which is an indoor bazaar also has great places to eat too.
- Compared to other conferences, OLF is remarkably affordable, and there are things you
can do to make it even more so. If you are looking to minimize your
financial outlay, consider sharing room and car pooling. The OLF Forums
always have people looking to
room/ride-share to keep costs down. Four people splitting a $99 hotel
room is pretty affordable, and let's face it; if you are that committed
you may not even make it back to your hotel
room until you have to check out! - To make the most out of your OLF experience, it is important to take some time and schedule your weekend. Once you have this nailed down, the rest is easy, as you can just move from place to place. Unlike a lot of other conferences, we are very strict about the conference day schedule, and we always open the doors on time, and start talks on schedule. We pride ourselves on this, so be on time so you don't miss something important.
- Take time to visit the exhibits and talk with the various vendors and organizations that make this conference possible. Many of the vendors will hand out free goodies, so plan to visit them early, as the good stuff usually goes first. Also, make it a point to attend a few of the vendor sponsored education sessions on the Open Source Solutions Stage. There are some excellent and informative presentations planned, and you might learn a lot more than you think.
- Locate the restrooms, coffee dispensers and food court. Make sure you know in which room your selected presentations are going to be. Spend some time looking at the OLF floor plan and map on the site to get familiar with how things are laid out so you do not have to worry about it.
Pre-Conference Planning
| Finances |
Put together a budget. Some of the items that you'll want to
consider are: Transportation Cost (Gas, Bus, Train, Airline, Parking) |
| Hotel | Book early. The sooner the better. The conference hotel is guaranteed to sell out, and if you are going to be staying overnight, you absolutely, positively, without a shred of doubt want to be staying at the conference hotel. A lot of the pre- and post-conference activities take place at or near the hotel, and it just makes life a lot easier if you don't have to drive, find your way, and pay for parking. Generally, we try to organize all of the activities within easy walking distance from the Conference Center and the Hotel. If the conference hotel is booked, we will general make arrangements at an overflow hotel, but downtown Columbus is usually booked solid, so you might find yourself a few miles away. No worries: taxi services are fairly reasonable, and/or you can always drive in and park at the Convention Center. |
| Transportation | Showing up is half the battle, however you decide to get here. Since nearly 50% of the U.S. population is within a 500-mile radius of Columbus, most drive to the conference. Car pools are extremely popular and often organized through the local user groups. If flying is your thing, the Port Columbus International Airport is 10 miles away from the Greater Columbus Convention Center. It is served by 12 airlines. |
| Things to Pack |
I personally feel that backpacks are the way to
go, as you can carry them with you, but whatever your taste, consider
the following minimal necessities Toiletries: A towel, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, etc Tech stuff: Laptop, your pgp key, camera, surge protector (great way to make friends) Stationary: Notebook, pen, business cards, your resume Other stuff: Clothes, bathing suit, your dancing shoes |
| Internet Access | Unfortunately, the Convention Center won't allow us to set up a conference-wide Internet link unless we contract through their captive ISP at a cost of multiple thousand dollars. The hotel rooms at the Hyatt do have T-Mobile access with your existing account or a purchased day-pass, and there is a pay-as-you-go Internet café at the Food Court. If Internet access is critical to you during the day, plan to bring along your own cellular modem. (We ask that you refrain from setting up shared hubs, to prevent us from getting into contract trouble with the Convention Center.) Better yet, just relax and enjoy the conference, and get online later. Use your laptop to take notes, try out things you learn in the sessions, or (at worst) play Solitaire. Your e-mail can wait. |