Monthly Archives: August 2017

Stay classy San Diego!

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So I’m off home. Post trip I had a few meetings and said farewell to my SDC/STC/CRH/ACM pals. Went to a groovy little breakfast place in the Gaslamp called Broken yolk with a crowd. I went back again this morning. One thing that is really apparent is the size of food. I’m surprised every time I come to the US. Food is massive! I’ve tried to stick to two meals a day and some fruit. No matter how much exercise I’ve done here I think I’ve added 10kg 😮

After the gang left I took a trip up to Balboa park. I’ve been humongously home sick and I really needed to distract myself now that it was just me. I’d been there twice before but Friday is After Dark which is a festival of food trucks and late night museums.

Most interesting thing was that it was my first Uber!! Yeah hello 2017! All the cool kids were doing it at the conference so I thought I’d give it a go. Also what’s app. That was the group chat of choice at #TLCC2017 and with free wi-fi all over the place it was worth it. It’s almost like I work in IT or something?!

I got a burrito and went to the Nat (aka San Diego Natural History Museum) to see the dinosaurs. Main thing for me was how much I impressed myself with my hilarious Instagram feed.

I mean really. I’m hilarious 😐

Next point of business was to see the ball game. Padres we’re playing the Washington Nationals (of whom I’d never heard) and were soundly thrashed. Not that I cared as I got the late bought the cheapest ticket and spent the night watching the game from the best spots in the house. I was happy to buy a Simone a hat (and add a cunning disguise) and stand behind the floor seats. Once that was over I went back to the hotel to Skype home (told you I was into IT!)

So today was check out and logistics anxiety. Anxiety for me means I should keep moving and on schedule. After breakfast (and a Superman comic) at Broken Yolk I checked out of the hotel, had them hold my bags and then took the ferry to Coronado. After wandering around in circles for a while I found a bike hire and followed the 1hr leisure loop suggested by the guy at the desk … until I passed the unmarked turnoff and rode halfway to Mexico. Thank God Australians are good at Olympic cycling because I think I broke a third or two on the way back trying to make the ferry. I made it though, with enough time to buy some more gifts like socks with cats on them and a cute Coronado T-shirt (cause she keeps running out of those things and wearing mine).

With only a couple of hours left I hung out at Seaport Village, bought myself a less sweaty and more touristy shirt, ate a final taco and went back to pick up my bags and Uber to the airport. Got her in plenty of time with a feeling of incredible joy to be traveling home.

I can’t wait to get back even jet lagged and straight to work. Oh well it was pretty great all anxiety considered.

Stay classy San Diego!

TLCC2017 day 2

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A couple great things I’ve learnt from TLCC that really helped me out.

Before going – do your research

There are questions you are going to want to solve.  Have a list.

  1. Some will require testing with the Devs.
  2. Some will be pestering the Vendors/Sponsors.
  3. Some will require bugging Tessitura Staff

Stalk people (responsibly)

Remember that list?  Look up the people who likely have the same issue and meet up with them.  In my case it’s about emailing and finding a time to catch up or say “hi” at an event.  It’s less creepy than it sounds.  We are there to network and solve problems after all.

The Meetup

Best things to have when I need a hand from someone …

  1. A value add.  Sometimes a collaboration is enough.  Sometimes you can intro someone to someone else.  It’s always good to be able to exchange help though and mutually grow from the experience.
  2. A two way conversation.  Listen and learn as well as talking about your own issue.  Listening is a great way of solving your problem and follow up with an open ended question to dig deeper.
  3. Keep it short.  We all have many things to see and do.  When you have an ask try to not monopolise someones time and catch up for more later.  You will bump into the same people about 100 times over the week.
  4. Speaking on bumping into people – I’ll often find myself introducing people to other people that have like interests. Two people are a conversation.  Three people are a network.
  5. More business cards.  I ran out on the first day when chatting to people about my presentation.  They are great to have and a good way to keep the conversation going.
  6. Follow up.  A thanks is always nice and also you can expand your network with Linkedin invites or whatever works for you.
  7. Thanks cost nothing.  If your moved or excited about something a quick thanks can really make everyones day.

The thing with Tessitura is that people are incredibly keen to share.  It’s a great community.  Keeping these things in mind really help with my anxiety and occasional bouts of impostor syndrome.

Tessitura learning & community conference 2017

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TLCC2017

So this is my first work conference overseas for Sydney dance company and I’m in San Diego California. We got in a day early and spent some time seeing the sites, mostly the San Diego Museum of Art and the Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. The Globe is a Tessitura Network member so I’m going to call that work, tax deductible work.

First day of the conference is today. Lots to take in. Also lots of faking it. Not the skills. I have some of those and am happy to ask for help where I need it. Mainly the social aspect. My anxiety has been swinging wildly in and out. When it’s in it’s hard to focus on tasks or make decisions and the world feels like there is an ugly after taste that I can’t quite work out. When it’s not there I can get a little over the top like I’ve finished a gruelling test. Modulation is tricky.

People in SD are very nice. I’ve heard that tourists say that a lot about wherever they visit. Drowning in a foreign culture can leave you appreciative of the smallest things and less likely to be demanding. But regardless people here have been great.

I’ve reached out too a couple of people to talk about things I need help with or to give a hand in return. I’m going to see how that goes. Anyway of to see how it goes. Wish me luck.

San-Diego-Skyline