Thanks to Terri Bedore of the WordCamp San Antonio organizing team for this great info to help maximize your Virtual WordCamp experience!
Due to a certain pandemic, some things for WordCamp San Antonio 2020 will be different (and some will be the same) this year. The biggest change is that we have the pleasure [and challenge] to be the FIRST 100% virtual WordCamp! Not only that – we’re doing it LIVE and for FREE.
And let me tell you, pivoting from in-person to virtual in just 2.5 weeks is nothing short of a miracle. (BIG shout out to all my fellow organizers, volunteers, WordCamp Central, and our sponsors. You all rock!)
Requisite tl;dr
- Register for WordCamp San Antonio already!
- All the action happens on the WordCamp San Antonio website.
- Test Links
- Install Zoom package
- Get Comfortable
- Be Patient (it’s our first time!)
- Follow the Code of Conduct
- Optional – Use Chrome, Create Crowdcast + Zoom accounts
How are we going do it?
All sessions will be streamed on the WordCamp San Antonio website and links to all the extras will be here, too, arranged into Tracks that you can easily move between. We will have Hallways where you can go chat with your fellow Campers, just like a live event and Sponsors will have Tables where you can talk to their reps and learn more about their offerings. Some of them are also holding contests, Happiness Bar sessions (help with your WordPress questions), and other goodies. Be sure to check them out!
We’ll be using Crowdcast.io and Zoom.us to deliver the virtual video goodness. Each WordCamp Track will have its own page with the Crowdcast stream and Hallway (Zoom) links, along with links to our Campmaster and Glamper Sponsors’ Tables which will also be Zoom meetings. We promise it will be easy to navigate!
And YES! The sessions will be recorded and available for playback later on the WordCamp San Antonio website and WordPress.TV. We do not have a date for those to be ready, but will get them up as soon as possible.
Do I need to do anything special?
Not really. The biggest prep I’d do is to test all the links we’re sending you today (we’ll send it out as soon as the web pages are ready) and tomorrow (as a reminder) and make sure you can use Zoom.
Now Zoom likes to install a package, so make sure to do that the night before so you don’t walk into the hallway sessions late. (If you’ve never used Zoom before, the Zoom Client for Meetings download will pop up, requesting an install. It’s legit. You can do it the day before and /or choose from their other options here.)
PROTIP: phones are not your friend for something this long; use a computer or tablet when possible.
If you’ve really never used Zoom before, here is a handy cheatsheet of the controls, divided up based on your device.
Settings. I highly recommend making sure your setting are set to “mute” and “video off” upon entering a meeting. Actually, I believe our setup will force this. DO NOT PANIC if you can’t see or hear yourself, just use the cheatsheet link above to un-mute + show what you want (more on camera stuffs below).
Then tomorrow, bring your patience hat (bc 1st time usually = glitches), a favorite beverage, hole up in a cozy corner, and get ready to learn, laugh, commiserate, and fall in love with WordPress all over again!
Optional items.
Software.
Chrome
They are both browser-based and both state they work best on Chrome (I only use Chrome for dev testing, but hey, when in Rome…).
Apps
I have a Mac and use it to speak with potential clients so I have + use the Zoom app. You can see other options on their download page.
No app for Crowdcast.
Accounts.
Creating accounts are not required, but doing so will allow you to customize your profile and experience. (It’s free to create an account.)
Crowdcast
Your face won’t be live in this one – just an image in the registered and chat areas.
Crowdcast will pull in the gravatar image associated with the email you registered with (If you have not created a gravatar, go here).
The gravatar image is a bit grainy, which works fine in the chat, but not so much if you are a profile stalker like me. 😆 So I added one (it’s the same as my gravatar but higher res; I shouldn’t have to remind you but I’m a mom and a moderator who’s been instructed to allow banning for inappropriate conduct + content, so – make sure to keep it G/PG!)
