We KNOW you’re excited – we are too! WordCamp Los Angeles 2017 is going to be a trend setter for sure!

We’ve gathered a sensational pit crew from far and wide that serve as organizers, volunteers, speakers and sponsors! Prepare to be impressed and learn a ton through the many sessions on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. Think through your sessions ahead of time and plan your weekend with our speaker schedule. The After Party will be on-site, giving you a welcome reprieve from LA parking struggles. By the way, don’t forget to print your parking pass (good for Saturday and Sunday).

Tomorrow, Friday, September 29, we are welcoming registered attendees only at our pre-event Beginner Day. If you signed up, you should have received your welcome email, complete with advance assignments for tomorrow’s course and Friday-only parking instructions. We look forward to seeing you bright and early!

Racing to Prepare for WordCamp Los Angeles

In case you are completely new to WordCamp Los Angeles, we wanted to explain that WordCamps are volunteer-run conferences dedicated to learning more about the open source WordPress platform. We learn together as we venture into the world of WordPress as a community of designers, developers, business owners, artists, writers, SEO and IT professionals and new WordPress users to create an unforgettable adventure!

Planning Makes for a Winning Experience – but don’t stress about it. Come either way!

• Dress Comfortably – While WordCamp Los Angeles is a professional networking event, it’s also a place to see friends. It will be a warm day and the conference is upstairs, so plan for that and reference the WordCamp Code of Conduct if you have clothing or other concerns.
• Bring a Buddy – The best WordCamps are those shared with friends. Don’t have one, yet? Check the #WCLAX hashtag and bring your virtual relationships to life by meeting followers in person. Get to know our sponsors, they’ll take care of you!
• Bring a Small Tote or Bag – A WordCamp wouldn’t be the same without some swag so bring something to carry it in. You’ll also want to be able to stash your devices, chargers, water bottles, etc. so a small bag is a wise choice at #WCLAX.
• Check the Attendee List – This is a great way to make friends! Check the attendee list! 
• Read Through the Schedule – Decide which sessions to attend ahead of time so you can plan lots of conversation time in the “hallway track” where you can learn one-on-one.
• Make Social Media Your Schtick – Follow the WordCamp Twitter profile and hashtag #WCLAX for changes, speaker info and more. Contribute to the hashtag by sharing quotes and comments you overhear throughout camp.
• Make Time for the After Party – This year we made it easier than ever! The After Party is at the same location! Walk downstairs to the Winner’s Circle (in the Student Union) and mingle and mix with the best and brightest in WordPress. You’ll be there, right?

Setting the Pace

Here are a few “pro” tips to help you get the most from WordCamp Los Angeles.

• Interact and Walk in Early to Sessions. 
• Learn Something New.
• Tweet or Take Short Notes to Help you Remember. 
• Use Your Voice to Ask Questions.
• Be a Friend. 
• Reach Out to Speakers After the Session if You Need to Know More.
• Consider Alternatives because WordPress is not a one size fits all experience.
• Thank speakers, sponsors, volunteers and organizers. Your gratitude is music to their ears.
• Share  your experience with photos, tweets, text and #WCLAX.

As you can imagine, we are insanely excited to see all of you for WordCamp Los Angeles. We want to you to arrive and leave ticket free, so are providing already PAID parking passes for the event. Please print your parking pass and bring it with you next weekend.

Do not leave home without it!

Your WordCamp Parking Permit is valid for Parking Structure C only – interior levels only. It is not valid on the top deck, so don’t park there. Access the parking structure through Lot 5.

Your parking pass must be displayed inside the vehicle on the driver’s side dashboard. Parking in a disabled stall is only valid with a DMV disabled placard.

Download the WordCamp LA Parking Permit 2017

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the WordCamp LAX After Party on September 30! Sponsored by Pantheon, this year we’re trying something new and keeping the fun on site!

Once Saturday sessions conclude, attendees will be directed to the Winners Circle, held only steps away in the Courtyard at Cal State Los Angeles for an evening of WordPress fun, food, drinks, friends and networking.

You’ll have the opportunity to build on what you’ve already learned and solidify new friendships without even having to move your car! The after party will run from 5-8 p.m. and we really hope to see you there!

We are excited to welcome our GoKart sponsors to WordCamp Los Angeles and know you will be too! As you race through WordCamp LAX, please stop by and show them some appreciation. You will find that each visit is time well spent as you learn about the many opportunities they offer to enhance your WordPress experience, from tools and knowledge to swag and friendship.

ithemes

9seeds

GreenGeeks

LIFTER LMS

memberpress

Together our sponsors make WordCamp Los Angeles possible. We extend our gratitude to our Street Racer sponsors, WPML, SiteLock and StagingPilot, and hope you will do the same. It would not be possible to run a 3-day WordCamp locally without them. By contributing to our WordCamp, these companies show their support for individuals like you and me.

If you’ve attended WordCamp LAX in the past, you know the value and knowledge attendance brings! Plus, like all of our sponsors, each of these companies offer a service that could assist you in your WordPress journey. Be sure to stop by and thank them for being a part of our WordCamp!

WPML

SiteLock

StagingPilot

A variety of sponsorship levels are offered when it comes to supporting WordCamp LAX. We are extremely grateful to our NASCAR sponsors for their support. Yes, they contribute financially to fund the WordCamp, but our sponsors do so much more than that. They add life to the WordCamp Los Angeles community through great swag and even better service. Oftentimes, you’ll find that the people behind the booths at camp are the same people who provide online support. Please extend a warm word of thanks to our NASCAR sponsors when you see them at camp.

GoDaddy

SiteGround

With less than 75 tickets available and over a month to go, WordCamp Los Angeles is sure to be a sell out! We are grateful to the amazing attendees, speakers and volunteers who have committed to the success of this camp over the years and to the people who started this thriving community. Nine years ago at Philippe’s in Downtown LA, the idea of WordCamp Los Angeles was discussed and now, nearly a decade later, we can’t imagine life without it!

We want to thank our amazing sponsors for continuing to support the success of our camp through their generous donations. As of today we have six amazing Formula 1 sponsors and we are off to the races! Formula 1 is the highest level of support that can be offered to WordCamp Los Angeles so please join us in thanking the following sponsors when you have the opportunity.

Bold Grid

WooCommerce

Jetpack

Bluehost

DreamHost

Pantheon

mediatemple

“Beginner Day? What exactly is Beginner Day at WordCamp LAX?”

It’s a common question, especially for the day’s target demographic; those who are new to WordPress. Held the Friday before WordCamp Los Angeles, on September 29, Beginner Day is a special session requiring registration that happens from 8:30 am-12:30 pm which covers the basics of how to get started with WordPress. This year’s beginner day, coordinated by Roy Sivan and sponsored by Pantheon, will cover topics such as:

• Setting Up a Local Environment
• Finding & Picking the Right Theme
• Child Theme Creation
• Simple Theme Modifications
• Deploying to the Internet
• Creating Your First Piece of Content & Beyond
• Best Practices for Your Contact Form
• Marketing your Creation via Social Channels

Workshop presenters include Gregg Franklin, Christina Hills, Jen Miller, Josh Pollock, Bridget Willard, and Pantheon with plenty of help from the WordCamp LAX Organizing Team.

Sign Up Here!

Grab yours before they are gone on the ticket page.

* If you are a sponsor or volunteer, you will receive a separate ticket invite in your email next week so please watch for it. *

Tickets for WordCamp Los Angeles 2017 will be released for sale at 12 p.m. TODAY, August 16th. Speed over to the ticket page as this is your chance to attend camp Sept. 29 – Oct. 1!

Check the schedule here to get a peek at what’s in store. You’ll find a wide variety of topics and speakers, as well as our Beginner Day on Friday, Sept. 29 and our Advanced Development Track on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Tickets will sell out quickly, so clear your calendars and set your alarms to make sure you don’t miss out once the checkered flag drops!

Can’t wait to see you there!