How to Get the Most Out of PyCon US

Talks

Go to as many of the talks as you want, but you don’t need to go to all of them. You’ll only find yourself getting stressed as you run from room to room. Instead, make sure that you hit up the talks that you selected before coming. Although it’s pretty rare, the schedule can change, so check the schedule board daily to catch any changes.

If there’s a conflict between two talks that you really want to go to, remember that each talk is recorded and uploaded to YouTube. Sometimes, they’re even available that same day! Pick the talk that’s going to be the most relevant to your situation and seems the most interesting to you. Then take note of the talk that you missed, and watch it later when you have some free time.

Even though all talks are available online, actually going to the talks is still valuable. You’ll retain the information better if you attend, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions directly of the presenter.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to see all of the so-called celebrity speakers. These speakers get a lot of attention in the Python community and may seem like more worthwhile speakers because of that. But the process of getting a talk approved at PyCon is rigorous and ensures that all speakers and topics are worth listening to.

In fact, sometimes it’s better to go see some of the less famous speakers because you can get better seats and have a greater chance to ask questions.

When you go to a talk, remember to silence your phone and computer. Noise can be very distracting to the audience and the speaker. It might be helpful to put away all your devices and simply listen or take notes using a pad and paper.

Try to think of questions that you may have about what’s being discussed. Typically, there’s time allotted at the end for questions from the audience. If that doesn’t happen, the presenters are usually very accommodating about answering questions in the hall afterward.

Open Spaces

Open Spaces are rooms that can be booked by conference attendees. There are one-hour slots throughout the day available to anyone who wants to use them. These rooms have been used as places to teach people, hold meetups, and even do yoga classes. They’re open for whatever activities you need them for, as long as you follow the Code of Conduct, of course.

You might sometimes want to go to these open spaces instead of a talk or a sponsor booth. Be sure to check out the open space board each day since it constantly changes. It might be helpful to take a picture of the board to reference later.

Feel free to create your own open space. Remember that problem or specific question that you were looking for help with? Sign up for a room and ask for advice on that topic! You never know who might show up to help out.

We at Real Python hosted open spaces at PyCon 2019 and 2022. They turned out to be great events with existing members as well as people who didn’t know us very well. We won’t host an open space this year, but you should check out some of the other exciting getogethers.

If you’re an expert or even have some limited knowledge about a topic that you want to share, then feel free to grab an open space for that as well! These spaces are intended to be whatever you want and need them to be, so don’t be shy about using them.

Sponsors

Visiting sponsors is a great way to get to know some of the companies that are using Python in their everyday workflows. There are some very big names that come almost every year: Microsoft, JetBrains, and Google, to name a few. There are about ninety-five sponsors at PyCon 2024! Going to a sponsor booth is great for many reasons, not just the wonderful swag that everyone gives out. Here are some of ours:

The greatest thing about sponsors being there is that you can speak with the actual developers of the tools and software you use. Let’s say you have a problem with an Anaconda install on a Windows environment. You can go straight up to the Anaconda booth and ask questions! This is a great opportunity to talk to the developers and creators of the tools you use.

It’s not just developers that you get to meet, either. There are authors and content creators who come too. Walk the floor and strike up conversations. You’re bound to meet lots of interesting people.

Finally, meeting with the sponsors could lead to an opportunity for a job. A lot of the sponsors are also looking for talented Python developers, and you can apply directly with them at the booths or during the job fair, which happens toward the end of the conference. If you’re not looking for a job, it’s still great to see what’s out there and what skills these companies are looking for to help you choose where to focus your learning.

Volunteer Opportunities

Have you ever wished you could contribute or give back to the Python community? Well, you can at PyCon.

So much work goes into making a conference happen, and none of it would be possible without volunteers. The 2024 PyCon conference is looking for over three-hundred on-site volunteer hours!

That sounds like a lot, but you can still make a difference. An hour or two of your time can be a big help, without taking away from your learning time. You also never know who you might rub shoulders with as a volunteer. You can learn more about helping out in the call for on-site volunteers. There’s a little something for everyone.

After-Hours Activities

Even though the conference ends in the early evening, there’s still more to do after the conference wraps up for the day.

The first thing you should check out, even if only for a little while, is the lightning talks. These are five-minute slots available for anyone to share their knowledge on a topic. They cover a wide range of topics: anything from a new open-source project to social commentary to philanthropy. Did you know that Docker was first publicly announced during a PyCon lightning talk? The lightning talks have become a popular staple for regular attendees.

Also, be on the lookout for sponsors doing sponsored dinners with members of their company. This is a great way to build up your network and get a free dinner as well. PyCon does host dinner parties in the evenings, but these cost money and typically sell out really quickly.

Even if you don’t get in on the official PyCon dinners or the sponsored ones, there’s always plenty to check out near the conference. Each conference location is selected in part because of the interesting things nearby. When you’re getting ready for the conference, look for fun places to go eat. Downtown Pittsburgh has plenty.

New Friends

One of the greatest pieces of advice for going to PyCon is to make a new friend each day.

Some of the best times to get to know someone at PyCon are the lunch and snack breaks. Instead of trying to pick an empty table to sit at, find one that already has a person or two and ask if you can join them.

Strike up a conversation about what their favorite talk has been so far, or how they use Python in their day-to-day activities. Pretty soon you’ll make a new friend. You can take a few notes, whether mentally or literally, about your conversation so that you can remember that person later on.

To stay in contact with the people you meet, you might want to make some business cards with the contact info that you want to share. Be sure to update any profiles that you share with people, such as LinkedIn or GitHub.