Food is one of my biggest struggles at Go Wild. This was my third and I honestly didn't even attempt to go to the energy breaks. In past years people treat them more like lunch than a snack and food runs out super fast. So, part of it is what people are taking... but also you can't blame people when sessions go to 2pm and we're hungry (especially if you've got a time change involved) - I remember being HANGRY in California. This time I did Instacart a bunch of snacks, water, etc which helped a ton. I will always do that going forward. Sounds like you had it easy with driving and being able to bring snacks. The other thing I did with friends was instead of showing up at the time the planner fair opened, we went and had lunch at that time, then went after when crowds had died down. That was a great decision as we were fed and happy and waited in less lines :)
It's disappointing to hear this was the norm and not the exception. Great idea about using Instacart! I will definitely be doing that next time around (assuming I will have to fly lol). I would have probably gone hangry if I didn't have my own food from being about to drive this time.
As someone who spoke at the Shop Summit I can say there were more organizational things that were missed and luckily the attendees didn’t see all of it. The lack of food provided and especially for volunteers that are working their butts off, is really discouraging! I have planned/run big conferences and it really isn’t hard to make sure there is food!
This is disheartening to hear! 💛 The volunteering thing I didn't even begin to try and cover in this video. I wasn't one so I didn't want to speak out of turn. But I def heard some things. I know it's got to be tough planning for 2000 people but it CAN be done, and it CAN be done well. I just don't know how a PLANNER convention can't be PLANNED well?
There were a few folks who flew from international! I met a few ladies who flew in from the UK. It's gonna make your budget even more outrageous than those of us who could drive it though.
I appreciate the honesty on Go Wild. I did not go this year, but went to last year. Agree with your points about food and little too much “self help” for me.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! Self help is the perfect description. I was drawing a blank on what to call it. I feel like there was a good mix of self help mixed with purely entertainment type speakers. I heard from others that last year the speakers and topics were much more heavy than this year. Most of the speakers kept things pretty lighthearted this year (except PostSecret, I totally cried lol).
Thanks for sharing. I can’t justify spending that much, particularly with the food issue and some of the topics aren’t for me either. I can understand not always having it in the same location. This allows people from different parts of the US have it be more local to them and save on travel costs. I’m hoping to go to the Chicago Planner Conference. I missed getting a ticket last year, but loved it when I went in 2020. I go to a conference in my profession every other year. It is about half the cost of Go Wild, includes some meals and receptions, and there are a variety of sessions to choose from.
I have heard AMAZING things about the Chicago Planner Conference. It's totally on my radar for next year. I won't be able to wing it this year. Totally agree with you about the food and it's def. interesting to hear that you were served better with a cheaper cost of attendance. It def gave me a little bit of amateur planned vibes. 8 years in PLANNED BY PLANNER PEOPLE I would have expected a little bit more. Great point about changing locations and it totally does make sense. I just like consistency and the not knowing every year give me unease lol.
I’ve always wanted to Go Wild, everyone always vlogs how great it is so I appreciate your honesty. I would be so annoyed with the lack of everything for everyone. Seems like they cheaped out on the food etc.
I totally agree! All I hear are completely positive rainbows and sunshine stories about Go Wild is the most amazing thing ever. I was pretty surprised how just slapped together it felt. It just didn't feel nearly as planned out as I would have expected from PLANNER PEOPLE. Like I said, I had an incredible time, but I also brought a ton of food and had 2 affiliate events which both provided plenty of food. If those things hadn't happened, I would have been way more irritated with the food stuff.
My daughter was at a science conference in Dallas right as GoWild was coming in. She loved Dallas, but they all commented on how expensive the food was.
Oh I absolutely will! But sadly, after posting this, I have received quite a few messages telling me unfortunately this is the norm and not the exception. I don't think it will be changing anytime soon.
For the Go Wild snack breaks, I would never go out and get food. I would always either bring snacks with me or buy snacks at like a store when I got there.
Well, I was just thinking those completely new who didn't know food was gonna be like that may not have ordered stuff ahead of time (or packed a cooler and a totebag with tons of snacks in my case ha ha). If I came thinking food was going to be provided like the schedule showed, I would have been pretty irritated with the limited options and limited amounts provided. I'm personally pretty much always prepared with food because skipping meals is a huge migraine trigger for me. I just wanted to share the info in hope that at least folks know to be prepared if they go. I have heard a lot of people respond saying the food is always kind of a joke at G W.
@@SamisSweetLife Totally agree that you should mention it so people know! Yeah, the only event I remember that food has a good supply of is Planjama as far as appetizers and deserts. I never remember any of the Planjamas running out of food but the snack breaks always did.
Whoa, $700? I always thought I’d go, if it were near by. NOPE! But, if I saw you with leopard print leggings, colorful hair, and a zebra hat, I’d say, “hey, there’s my daughter!” 😂
If I recall correctly, the year I allllmost went, when they came to Austin, the tickets were only like $350 or $399 (and that's not cheap by any means! So the only is kinda just salty lol). I remember at the time trying to save money as much as we could and it would have been a huge stretch for us.
You are one of a couple people who were telling me how great CPC is! I had never heard of it until recently. I am going to have to look into this! I heard that it is planned amazingly well.
Hoping I can snag a ticket to CPC this year. I went in 2020, but missed out on getting a ticket last year. 🤞Very well planned, reasonably close to home for me and nice size 2000+ sounds overwhelming to me.
Food is one of my biggest struggles at Go Wild. This was my third and I honestly didn't even attempt to go to the energy breaks. In past years people treat them more like lunch than a snack and food runs out super fast. So, part of it is what people are taking... but also you can't blame people when sessions go to 2pm and we're hungry (especially if you've got a time change involved) - I remember being HANGRY in California.
This time I did Instacart a bunch of snacks, water, etc which helped a ton. I will always do that going forward. Sounds like you had it easy with driving and being able to bring snacks.
The other thing I did with friends was instead of showing up at the time the planner fair opened, we went and had lunch at that time, then went after when crowds had died down. That was a great decision as we were fed and happy and waited in less lines :)
It's disappointing to hear this was the norm and not the exception. Great idea about using Instacart! I will definitely be doing that next time around (assuming I will have to fly lol). I would have probably gone hangry if I didn't have my own food from being about to drive this time.
As someone who spoke at the Shop Summit I can say there were more organizational things that were missed and luckily the attendees didn’t see all of it. The lack of food provided and especially for volunteers that are working their butts off, is really discouraging! I have planned/run big conferences and it really isn’t hard to make sure there is food!
This is disheartening to hear! 💛 The volunteering thing I didn't even begin to try and cover in this video. I wasn't one so I didn't want to speak out of turn. But I def heard some things. I know it's got to be tough planning for 2000 people but it CAN be done, and it CAN be done well. I just don't know how a PLANNER convention can't be PLANNED well?
Great honest review! Thanks! I live in Australia, so probably won't ever go to a go wild, but I definitely would if I had the chance.
There were a few folks who flew from international! I met a few ladies who flew in from the UK. It's gonna make your budget even more outrageous than those of us who could drive it though.
@@SamisSweetLife yes! Add $2000 at least.
I appreciate the honesty on Go Wild. I did not go this year, but went to last year. Agree with your points about food and little too much “self help” for me.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! Self help is the perfect description. I was drawing a blank on what to call it. I feel like there was a good mix of self help mixed with purely entertainment type speakers. I heard from others that last year the speakers and topics were much more heavy than this year. Most of the speakers kept things pretty lighthearted this year (except PostSecret, I totally cried lol).
Thanks for sharing. I can’t justify spending that much, particularly with the food issue and some of the topics aren’t for me either.
I can understand not always having it in the same location. This allows people from different parts of the US have it be more local to them and save on travel costs. I’m hoping to go to the Chicago Planner Conference. I missed getting a ticket last year, but loved it when I went in 2020.
I go to a conference in my profession every other year. It is about half the cost of Go Wild, includes some meals and receptions, and there are a variety of sessions to choose from.
I have heard AMAZING things about the Chicago Planner Conference. It's totally on my radar for next year. I won't be able to wing it this year. Totally agree with you about the food and it's def. interesting to hear that you were served better with a cheaper cost of attendance. It def gave me a little bit of amateur planned vibes. 8 years in PLANNED BY PLANNER PEOPLE I would have expected a little bit more. Great point about changing locations and it totally does make sense. I just like consistency and the not knowing every year give me unease lol.
I’ve always wanted to Go Wild, everyone always vlogs how great it is so I appreciate your honesty. I would be so annoyed with the lack of everything for everyone. Seems like they cheaped out on the food etc.
I totally agree! All I hear are completely positive rainbows and sunshine stories about Go Wild is the most amazing thing ever. I was pretty surprised how just slapped together it felt. It just didn't feel nearly as planned out as I would have expected from PLANNER PEOPLE. Like I said, I had an incredible time, but I also brought a ton of food and had 2 affiliate events which both provided plenty of food. If those things hadn't happened, I would have been way more irritated with the food stuff.
My daughter was at a science conference in Dallas right as GoWild was coming in. She loved Dallas, but they all commented on how expensive the food was.
That doesn't surprise me that it would be expensive overall. I knew being in a hot new area that the food next to the hotel was going to be rough.
As someone with mobility issues & have issues with using stairs, this would've really pi**ed me off. 😠
But, would I go one year? Very likely! 😅😅
There were certain elevators that were supposed to only be ADA. I do not have any info on how that went in reality, but there were ADA only areas.
You really need to send your opinions to them as feedback - otherwise they will not know what to improve on.
Oh I absolutely will! But sadly, after posting this, I have received quite a few messages telling me unfortunately this is the norm and not the exception. I don't think it will be changing anytime soon.
For the Go Wild snack breaks, I would never go out and get food. I would always either bring snacks with me or buy snacks at like a store when I got there.
Well, I was just thinking those completely new who didn't know food was gonna be like that may not have ordered stuff ahead of time (or packed a cooler and a totebag with tons of snacks in my case ha ha). If I came thinking food was going to be provided like the schedule showed, I would have been pretty irritated with the limited options and limited amounts provided. I'm personally pretty much always prepared with food because skipping meals is a huge migraine trigger for me. I just wanted to share the info in hope that at least folks know to be prepared if they go. I have heard a lot of people respond saying the food is always kind of a joke at G W.
@@SamisSweetLife Totally agree that you should mention it so people know! Yeah, the only event I remember that food has a good supply of is Planjama as far as appetizers and deserts. I never remember any of the Planjamas running out of food but the snack breaks always did.
Whoa, $700? I always thought I’d go, if it were near by. NOPE! But, if I saw you with leopard print leggings, colorful hair, and a zebra hat, I’d say, “hey, there’s my daughter!” 😂
If I recall correctly, the year I allllmost went, when they came to Austin, the tickets were only like $350 or $399 (and that's not cheap by any means! So the only is kinda just salty lol). I remember at the time trying to save money as much as we could and it would have been a huge stretch for us.
Oh, and also, 🫶🫶🫶
I’ll do Chicago Planner Conference but I won’t do Wild
You are one of a couple people who were telling me how great CPC is! I had never heard of it until recently. I am going to have to look into this! I heard that it is planned amazingly well.
Hoping I can snag a ticket to CPC this year. I went in 2020, but missed out on getting a ticket last year. 🤞Very well planned, reasonably close to home for me and nice size 2000+ sounds overwhelming to me.
I’m pissed on your behalf
I would be LIVID.
I think a lot of people were pretty irritated.