Have you ever gone before a work event/conference?

I have a conference in Vegas Monday, May 15-Friday, May 19. I'm supposed to be present, conference-wise, from Monday-Thursday, and then fly home Thursday afternoon. Naturally, I asked if I was allowed to fly out there on Friday night May 12 and spend the weekend leading up to the conference. The answer was yes. Then I asked if I could take Friday off and leave earlier. The answer was also yes, so long as I account for my own hotel nights (I'm comped in a Bally's Jubilee, before getting my employer-paid room at Mandalay Bay when the conference starts).

So now, I'm actually leaving on Thursday May 11 at 8 pm (so I can work all day) and hitting Vegas around 10. Even if I'm beat at that point, I'll have all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, before settling in for about three more days of conference time.

Have you done anything like this? Has it affected how you handle your personal time, knowing you can't just be a shitfaced shitshow of hungoverness when the conference starts? I'm not some elite hot shot in my field, but I do have a leadership role and I can't make a big ol' puke-y mess out of myself when Monday rolls around. So my thought was, killer Thursday after I land, killer Friday, killer Saturday, then in bed on Sunday at like 10 pm, like I would be at home after a weekend of assorted revelry and raunch.

Any advice or guidance?

 

From my experience, you really only have to doll yourself up for day one. After that, there is an exponential drop in people who give a damn due to hangovers (or still being drunk)...a good chunk of folks dont even show after day 2. tl:dr: everyone will be in the same boat, so don't worry. Maybe keep it civil on Sunday night.

 

Back when we still had a convention it was in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
A far cry from Vegas.
But the half who managed to show up on Day 2 were still recovering from the events of Night 1.

Not sure if a Vegas convention would be a dream or a nightmare in my line of work, but I'd give it a try!

I guess it's reverse mullet (party in the front, business in the back) for you on that trip!

Best wishes!

RICHARD

 

it sounds like you've got it planned just right. mix in some big jackpot wins.

 

My dad hated peas so when his mom served them for dinner, he would eat them first before the roast beef and potatoes.

I might have done the conference first and then let my freak flag fly on Thursday as a reward for the drudgery, but that's me. I think you have a good plan, just keep good notes. And remember, what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas when co workers and colleagues are present.

 

Understood, but I had post-conference follow up stuff on the Friday afterwards, and my boss looked slightly askance at that notion. Otherwise you're 100% right, though.

 

So he gave you a hairy eyeball, eh? Fark him where he stands!

But then again, think of this as a gift......a perfect opportunity that's envied......you're flight is on the company dime, several of your meals as well. You're personal time rooms are comped. A perfect situation. Just don't sh!t where you eat, convey yourself as if the conference was in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, you'll be golden.

 

I do this every year. I have a convention every January that goes from Tuesday to Friday. I always go the Thursday before and stay until the Saturday, or Sunday, after the convention is over.

 

Spot on.

 

Yep, I've been to 2 different conference as well as other work related trips. i always try to pick up and extra night or 2 either before or after.

 

Yes, many times. It looks like it's gonna happen later this month again if a couple of pieces fall into place like they look like they are.

In most cases our travel people have been able to do a "back to back" reservation at the hotel with me covering the extra nights.