Feedback of first experience with Kowledge18, a bad one!

[Alex125]

Here some feedback of the first day(s) of Knowledge18

I registration on Saturday Afternoon and normally there are no lines and it goes quickly. But now I was in shock big waiting lines!
Found out why, the registration program scans and load very very slow and took a long time to get a badge.
I hear this morning from other they shutdown Saturday en Sunday the registration for some time and it was too busy.

The badge is very flimsy but the backpack is even worse. from all those years the backpacks were great but this year is is very cheap and bad. mine ripped after I fill it with my stuff. And I am not the only complaining about this. In he waiting line for the training (as the scanners did not work) people where complaining about the badge and backpack to the ServiceNow staff (poor guys).

The breakfast (lunch) area is looking as a parking garage and there is no WiFi !:(  It is really a quick in & out. No social or networking there!

Training so far is great and working ok, only problem is there one power extension per table so bring long cables with you if you sit on the end.. 
And there are no bail points! so bring them! They even save on that.

Also the Knowledge18 and Content18 WiFi was gone for some time during the training, person next to me was prepared and had her own hotspot;-)

Lucky we had a early break, as when the real break time was there all the snacks (apples, bars, soda cans) were gone and taken away and no refill. Also very long lines for the coffee.

People are really complaining it is all on budget this year, no much dressing on with banners etc. the backpack, badge, no pens etc.
The experience is much less than previous years! 

Even the SN staff confirm that, they say please put it on the Community....  

[Chris Reynolds]

I agree with you.  I hate to say it, but the conference feels "cheap" so far.

The badge is flimsy and there is no branded lanyard like years prior.  I had to get in one line to get my badge.  Then get in another line to activate my badge.  Then get in another line to get my backpack and t-shirt.  Yikes.

They started giving out wrist bands to all the people having problems getting badges.

The dining hall area does feel like a parking garage.  There are no Foosball tables and other games that were in the dining hall at K'17.  (I can't recall if there were any at K'16.)  

The breakfast was sugar & carb overload.  No protein.  Just muffins / croissants / pastries, fruit, yogurt, and a couple other items.  No eggs, meat, toast, bagels, or anything else from years prior.  A good breakfast (with protein!) is important prior to going into a compressed pre-conference training class.  I'm glad I brought protein bars.

The scanners to get into the classroom for pre-conference training weren't working this morning.  So they had people show their schedule on the app.  People were having trouble getting their schedules to load.  Fortunately I had a PDF of my schedule saved on my phone, and was able to present this as entry to the classroom.

There weren't nearly enough beverage stations to grab a cup of coffee during break.  The lines were extreme.  For the caffeinated among us, this was disappointing. 

Hopefully they get all the kinks worked out. 

[Alex125]

Thanks for your posting! I hope more people will be posting.. Otherwise it looks I am the only person who is complaining, but on the floor I do hear lot of people with the sames complains.. 

They do it for manys years why it goes like this year is strange.

I was looking for healthy food options but during breakfast and break (all gone) was that not possible..:)

[stephfour]

Hi Alex it's not just you. FOund this on the mobile app, but could figure out how to log in and respond. Pulled up community from my computer, so it's not easy to reply and post which may be keeping people from participating. I agree with all of your point. Breakfast was protein light and sugar heavy. Mostly ate the great fresh fruit and berries but was hungry and sad when there was no food (fruit or snack bars). I recall more stations so that the lines weren't so long. I hope this can be improved dramatically before the full conference starts. 

[Alex125]

Thanks for posting.. I really miss a social & networking place. 

The parking garage breakfast & Lunch is that no longer. With not enough seating but standing tables, long lines, plastic forks & knives. No soda cans & bottle water and no WiFi or any games.

Is just quick in & out and back the training room.. Very sad. Better go back to my hotel room during lunch.