AWS re:Invent - Tips

I’ve been to a few re:Invents now, and I thought I’d share a few tips on how to maximize your experience. For context, I attend with 3 goals:

• To get time with vendors and experts to have face-to-face discussions about things I already work with. Having these conversations organically usually yields results that scheduled interactions can’t match.

• To find new tools/vendors/technologies that will help my company. Let’s be honest - they’re footing the bill so I’m there to find ways to improve things at work, not just have fun.

• Network with peers. Finding out how other people are solving the same problems I work on helps me find new and better ways to do things. And trading war stories is incredibly therapeutic.

So here are some things I recommend to maximize your re:Invent experience. I’ll try to keep this updated as I remember or think of things.

• Shoes. Comfortable shoes that will work for standing and walking. You’ll be doing more of either than you may be used to.
• Leverage the provided meals. Breakfast and lunch is provided each day, with to-go boxes available. If you don’t have dinner plans and want to stick to a low budget, grab one of those to-go lunches and save it The food is pretty decent at all the venues, but I have found the Venetian meal hall to be my favorite.
• Talk to people while you eat. Find tables at those meal times that have 2-3 people and just sit and start chatting. Even if the people you end up with aren’t in the same discipline you are, you’re going to learn some good stuff.
• Talk to people in line. When waiting to get into sessions, talk to those around you. These conversations are you can find people with similar technical focus usually trying to do the same things you are. Different perspectives are valuable and you can get a lot of them this way.
• Dress in layers. Vegas in late November/early December can be freezing or scorching.
• Pack light, but with a big bag. You’ll need to transport a fair amount of swag home, so make sure to have lots of room to fill.
• Hydrate. Have a good water bottle (one is given away with the swag every year if you don’t have one) and keep it full. Refill stations are everywhere.
• Be ok changing your plans. As things progress in the week, you may find you want to change your sessions or event schedule to focus on newly announced things or tech that you’ve just learned about. That’s ok!
• Watch for vendor parties. Attend them for fun, but don’t expect to have good technical content.
• Go with a group. Or, failing that, try to find similar mindsets to chat with when you get there. Being able to discuss the sessions you’ve been to and the things you’ve seen is fantastic.
• re:Play - attend it. You’ll be tired and wary of crowds at that point, but the food is good and there’s usually something there for nearly anyone to enjoy.
• Arrive on Sunday. This way you can be well rested before the chaos begins.
• Leave late on Friday. Sleeping in and not being in a rush to get to the airport is very nice.
• Be en route to the airport 3 hours before your flight. The traffic will be horrible and security is a mess. Your 20 minute drive will turn into an hour with no warning.