Last week we talked about how to network with other streamers. That brings the natural question, where can I do this in person? Yeah, it’s great to talk with someone in their chat or through Discord but you can make a much deeper connection over a drink or conversation face to face. So today, we’re going to talk about some cool conferences you could go to in 2017 (or plan ahead for 2018). Keep in mind that anything you spend to go to these is a business expense so you can write it off! That has to be one of the major perks of doing what you love as a job- you get to go to stuff you’d want to go to anyways but do it with before tax dollars. Basically, you’re getting a your tax rate discount!
PAX
So what’s PAX? PAX is a conference put on by the guys behind Penny Arcade for the purpose of getting gamers together to do gamer things. It’s a good place to meet others, though tickets sell out almost immediately. There are 3 PAX conferences in the US (and one specifically for developers). This event has been going on since 2004 and there is a ton to do including seeing newish games, playing them, a concert, and contests. The tickets this year run $52.50/day so they’re not crazy expensive but it’s also not something that is free.
South
PAX South is happening… basically right now. It’s January 27th-29th in San Antonio, Texas. While it’s sold out already it’s something to keep on the radar if that’s near you for next year.
East
PAX East is… also sold out! Again, this is a keep on the radar kind of thing for 2018. It’s in Boston and has been for several years so you’re probably safe planning for a trip out there.
West
PAX West (the original!) is in Seattle. So far, we haven’t seen the specific dates announced for 2017 but it tends to be in late August or early September. If you’re not from the West Coast this is also within a month of Dota’s The International in Seattle, so it might be rough to go to both. For the record, if you’re a Dota fan The International is so cool. I went to TI5 with a friend and had a blast.
BlizzCon
BlizzCon is exactly as it sounds. It’s a conference for everything Blizzard and it’s something I’ve never made it to despite living near Los Angeles and playing Blizzard games for most of my life. Them’s the breaks. If you’re in to Blizzard games, this is the place to be. You get big announcements (like Sombra for Overwatch this year) and tons of cool, exclusive merchandise and in game items. Plus, from everything I’ve heard it’s a pretty cool crowd. This only costs $200 and was held November 4th and 5th last year. Each year it’s been held at the Anaheim convention center. Here’s the link to last year’s site, they generally don’t put up tickets for the next BlizzCon until April.
TwitchCon
If you stream on Twitch and can only make it to one conference, this is the place to go. It’s your people! Well, your people and people who like watching people like you. It’s a phenomenal way to network with other streamers and is really affordable if you’re a partner. It only cost $127 in 2016! If you’re not it’s still not that bad but it’s more expensive: $159. These seem like the kind of tickets that will get more expensive over time but it’s not that bad for starting out. TwithCon 2017 is going to be October 20th-22nd in Long Beach, CA. There isn’t a site up yet for TwitchCon 2017 but you can check out the official Twitter here.
E3
E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo. It’s June 13th-15th in Los Angeles and it’s where a ton of gaming industry news gets announced. This is more for gaming insiders and people in the business of producing games, but if you’re looking to get sponsored or stream something that’s just coming out this might be the place to go. You do actually have to apply and be accepted, it’s not open to the general public. Tickets cost $995 so it’s pretty steep.
General Conference Tips
First, it seems like gaming conferences sell out quickly. While that’s a great indicator for the business it can suck if you’re trying to get a ticket to go to an event. This means you should game plan for which events you really want to go to and make sure you’re able to be online and well-funded when the tickets are released. Having a plan in place for how to handle the ticket buying process will really up your chances of going. Are you ready for a whole bunch of planning?
Don’t forget that you’ll likely be spending a whole lot more than just the cost of your ticket. First, there are travel costs. Are you driving? Flying? That can be a couple of hundred dollars. Next, where are you staying? If you’re really lucky you have a friend or family in the area but in general that means a hotel or room share.
One small piece of advice, staying in the hotel where they’re holding the event can be a major boon if you can afford it. You don’t have to go far to get to sleep and you don’t have to worry about transportation. Additionally, you can get your stuff if plans change or drop off loot easily. Finally, don’t forget about food and merchandise! Trust me, you’re going to want to get some of the stuff that’s available at a conference. You also can’t make it through a conference without eating. Take the time to put together an expense estimate so you know what you’re getting in to.
You should plan for transportation at the event and around the event. First, you need to actually get to the venue. This should be easier if you’re staying at the venue but if not you’ll need to know how to get there each morning and night. Also, don’t forget that you will at some point want to leave the venue to get other food, talk with someone more quietly, or just get away from the hubbub. Uber is good but expensive. If you think that you’re going to be moving around a lot it could be cheaper to rent a car. You could also spend a little more to rent a place within walking distance.
These are social events so you need to plan for partying. If that’s not your thing that’s totally cool but know that others will want to go out. Usually, conferences have sponsored and specific events planned but there are also just going to be groups that go out on their own to have some fun. When I say plan for partying I mean bring clothes that you’d want to go out in and make sure that you know your limits when it comes to booze. You don’t want to spend all of this time, money, and effort to get to a conference only to miss a day with a horrid hangover! You also don’t want to be the person who everyone sees get sloppy drunk and puke everywhere. If you are going out, have a plan for how you’re getting back.
Conferences are ideal for networking. While this may not be your primary purpose it’s not something you should overlook. Have a convenient way to give out your info (not necessarily business cards but that’s the general idea) and a way to store information others give you. I literally have a pen and notebook that I carry around and after talking with someone write down their name and all of the facts I can remember about them. This isn’t to be some creepy stalker but it lets me remember that they have kids or that they love a particular game and then I can have that as a conversation starter later.
You also should practice answering some basic questions about yourself or put together a short list of interesting facts or things you can talk about if there’s too much dead air. Preparation can make a world of difference, especially if networking makes you anxious.
You don’t need to go to every event on the schedule. Some of the most interesting interactions you’ll have will happen in hallways or outside the venue. This was a beginner mistake I made with my first conference. Yes, the stuff they’re covering is super awesome. But I got a lot more value and enjoyment from talking to people and learning about them than I did from half of the sessions I went to. Plan for some breaks!
The final really important thing to remember about conferences is that you’re there to have fun! You don’t want to be that weird person that’s just going around miserably networking. You’re more interesting and engaging when you’re having fun so make sure you’re taking care of yourself.
Conclusion
Conferences are a great place to learn a whole bunch, meet people, and have a good time. Be responsible, plan ahead, and make sure you’re doing what you need to do to get the most out of the conference. You should avoid downsides (don’t get trashed) while getting some awesome upsides (networking, new info, new friends)!
If you know other great conferences to go to, drop me a comment below or an email.
