photo courtesy of Virtual REbarcamp
Hope you're ready!
I was lucky enough to attend last year's (wow, that already sounds weird) inaugural Virtual REbarcamp and enjoyed both the concept and the execution of this new spin on the REbarcamp format. I wrote about my experience over at AgentGenius and had several conversations with attendees about their experiences. As the time ticks away before the second Virtual REbarcamp, I thought I'd take a moment to share a few things that I think can help make your experience much more fulfilling than just staring at your computer screen.
Come prepared - This actually isn't as easy as it sounds. You're going to sitting in a chair much of the day and everyone gets a bit tired doing that. Have an extra cup of coffee on hand, a comfortable chair with as few distractions near it as possible, and a notepad (not everything can be digital). Try to be close to a source of liquid - the water cooler, your kitchen, or a fresh mountain stream (you might get thirsty). Keep a snack handy if you know you might get a little hungry. If you leave, you might miss something. Try and plan your sessions out in advance so you can scan quickly through the session list (bookmark that link, it will be your best friend today) and know which presentation you're looking for, you're going to have to make tough choices occasionally about which presentation means more to you.
Follow, discuss, and comment - Fire up your favorite Twitter client and follow #vrebc conversations. There are four chatrooms available this time, get involved in those - they were a great source of expansion of ideas presented in the session as well as a source of fun, chat, (valuable) links, and camaraderie. Make comments, ask questions, and share your knowledge. That's what barcamps are all about. Try not to clutter the chat rooms with "audio is down in room X" and "I can't see anything" - yes these are valid comments, but they quickly spiral out of control and clog up the stream. Listen to others and you'll find out what's happening.
Follow up on sessions - Often, the presenters will continue on in the chat rooms or social media channels. If you liked something and want more - don't be afraid to ask. I have yet to meet a presenter who doesn't like a pat on the back and a chance to give you more.
Room hopping - If a session isn't working out for you, move on to something that might. I like to keep a backup session in mind just in case I'm not feeling the one I'm in. Try and decide quickly though and avoid too much "room hopping" as this can tax the servers and bog down the experience for everyone. If a session is having trouble getting started (technical difficulties will happen), try and be patient. The urge to click into a new session will be strong. Sometimes waiting pays off.
"It's not working" - There will be times when you can't get into a room or the video or audio doesn't appear to be working. First check the chat rooms and #vrebc (these will be the quickest sources of information and updates) and see if it's just you or if it's a global problem. If it's global, remain calm and watch for updates. If it looks like it's just you, try logging out of the room and then back in. If that doesn't fix it, you may need to shut down the GoToWebinar client and try starting it fresh. If everything is failing, but you're still dying to hear what's happening, try calling in. You can get these access numbers from the Virtual REbarcamp website's Live Event Info page.
Take it elsewhere - You can attend one of the many "In Real Life" Events planned or create your own. Unfortunately, I had designs on planning one for this go-around, but the holidays bogged me down and I got behind in getting it done. The timing of this Virtual REbarcamp made it difficult, but many people stepped up to the plate to try and bring the social aspect of the event together in real life. You should also be aware that sometimes conversations will build that are started from the session, but have grown in to something else. Don't be afraid to build those larger conversations - take them elsewhere and go from there. One of the beautiful things about events of this nature is what is often referred to as the "hallway sessions" - these are impromptu gatherings that just occur. Your peers, discussing topics that matter most to you. Join in and make them happen.
Give back - Events of this nature aren't free to produce and run, but they are free to attend. Obviously, the sponsors help pick up the tab, but Virtual REbarcamp has dedicated their efforts to Kevin Warmath and his family. We've all had tough times in our life, so let us reflect on those and help out a fellow agent's family as they struggle with the loss of their father. A few dollars for everything you've received throughout the day? C'mon - it's not that hard.
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