AWS re:Invent – held annually in Las Vegas – is the largest gathering of the global Amazon Web Services community, where programmers and cloud enthusiasts can engage in interactive labs, bootcamps and sessions related to the cloud platform.

As seasoned re:Inventers and frequent users of Amazon Web Services, the TradeRev team has watched this event transform from a small gathering of a couple thousand to more than 20,000 attendees and vendors.

Although the sheer size can be overwhelming, don’t forget that you’re surrounded by like-minded peers who relish the chance to learn and grow with you. If you’re new to the conference, or are simply looking to maximize your experience, check out this handy guide to help you get the most out of AWS re:Invent 2016.

What to Bring

AWS re:Invent 2016 is both interactive and tech-heavy. Therefore, we recommend you bring these essentials to the conference:

Laptop and charger

Portable smartphone battery pack

Cell data package (if you live outside the U.S.)

(if you live outside the U.S.) Business cards (or resumes if you’re job hunting)

(or resumes if you’re job hunting) Backpack (for all that free swag)

(for all that free swag) Comfortable walking shoes (the event spans multiple venues)

Sessions

It’s important to note that AWS re:Invent’s top-notch sessions work on a levels structure – with 200 levels covering introductory information about AWS, and 300/400 levels delving into more advanced and expert topics.

You won’t need to worry about taking detailed notes during AWS re:Invent, as organizers make every presentation available for download once the conference is complete.

Noted speakers at the keynote and 200 level include:

Werner Vogels, CTO of Amazon

Andy Jassy, CEO of AWS

Devika Chawla, Director of Engineering at Netflix

Carl Youngblood, Lead Software Engineer at Under Armour

Theodore Kim, Head of DevOps Engineering at GoPro

Networking

Not everyone will be trying to sell you something at AWS re:Invent – there are potential job opportunities offered by a variety of reputable companies.

Networking at AWS is different than most other conferences – mainly because programmers make up the core audience. But it’s important to try and break out of your comfort zone, get away from your group and make meaningful connections.

If you often struggle for a good introduction, I recommend using one of my favourite icebreakers – “What do you use AWS for?” The conversation should flow easily from there.

After-Hours

AWS re:Invent fully utilizes the one-of-a-kind Las Vegas nightlife scene to offer attendees the social experience of a lifetime! After-hours events include a first-night welcome reception, a fantastic pub crawl, a brand-new 5K, a half-day Harley bike ride and much more.

To close out re:Invent 2016, the conference’s world-famous re:Play brings together some of the world’s top entertainers to the parking lot of LINQ for a party you’ll never forget. Prepare to be wowed (and sleep-deprived).

These AWS after-hour functions should be used as an informal avenue to meet and network with like-minded individuals, so don’t be afraid to get out there!

Before You Leave

Once you’ve wrapped up at AWS re:Invent, there are a few things you can do before you leave Las Vegas:

Collect and organize the contact information of people you connected with.

Prioritize the sessions you found most valuable, so you know which presentations to download after the event.

Take a walk down AWS Central and fill your bag up with incredible free swag. Say hello to the TradeRev team while you’re down there – we’ll be at Booth 1044!





Do you have some tips for new AWS re:Invent attendees? Share them in the comments below!