Hank Green's 5 tips for VidCon 2016
LOS ANGELES -- VidCon is expected to have its biggest turnout to date, with 30,000 plus attendees expected to flock to the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend.
Now in its seventh year, the three-day digital video conference has become the go-to gathering for industry executives, video content creators and their fans.
To learn how to best navigate the conference, Mashable asked Hank Green -- VidCon co-creator and one half of YouTube duo Vlogbrothers -- for his list of 2016 VidCon tips.
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Here's what he said:
I’ve been going to VidCon since I created it back in 2010, so I have a fair amount of expertise for how to get the most out of the event. Also, as the creator of the event, I have a vested interest in you having the best possible time. So I’ve got some tips for you.
1. Wear comfortable shoes.
Really, this could be my only tip and this list would be worth reading. VidCon is a very large event stretching across both the Anaheim Convention Center as well as the next-door Hyatt hotel. You’re going to be walking. A lot.
2. Sketch out your day…maybe even your whole weekend.
Don’t set everything in stone, but know the things you definitely CANNOT miss, and then the things you’re pretty sure you want to do. It’s good to leave gaps in case cool stuff comes up. But there is a great deal of stuff going on at VidCon, a lot of it at the same time. We’ve already published the agenda, so you can start now.
3. Stay informed.
Read all of the emails we send out so you know how registration and photos and panels and concerts all work.
4. Bring snack bars.
There’s plenty of food around, we fill the whole courtyard in front of the convention center with food trucks.
But sometimes there’s no time for food, so bring like 1,000 calories of your favorite snack bar to keep your nourished.
5. Be open.
I find that not just often, but usually, the reason I come away cherishing an experience is not the reason I expected.
Try out a bunch of stuff, talk to people (chances are you have something in common), maybe check out some creators you’ve never even heard of, wander without purpose! We have filled this event with as much delightful weirdness as possible, I hope you enjoy it.
For more updates from VidCon 2016, keep checking Mashable's website, Twitter and Snapchat.
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Topics YouTube
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
