Brandon Bruno
I've been speaking professionally since 2017. My first presentation in front of an audience was at the Cleveland Sitecore User Group and it was Awful™. Was I prepared for it? Sort of. Was I nervous? Absolutely. Luckily my audience of (just) six people were patient and supportive.
Nowadays I try to speak a couple times a year on a variety of topics - usually Sitecore, JavaScript, or soft skills - at conferences all across the country. This past year I spoke at four excellent conferences and got to visit some surprisingly great cities along the way.
CodeMash 10000
Where? Sandusky, OH
Being from northwest Ohio, I've been attending CodeMash regularly since 2011. I've spoken a couple times, and most-recently in January of this year with two topics:
- This is a Promise That You'll Understand Asynchronous Programming with JavaScript
- A React Crash Course for Backend Dinosaurs
Both sessions were well-recieved, although the React Crash Course talk was full of great questions that really helped my shape the future of the talk. CodeMash is one of the larger conferences I speak at, with over 3,000 attendees most years.
Kalahari Resorts (Sandusky) is a little out of the way for most, but the atmosphere at an indoor waterpark for a week in the middle of an Ohio winter can't be beat.
Protip from the locals: Kalahari restaurants are decent but insanely expensive. For great Italian food, try Danny Boys just down the road from Kalahari.
Kansas City Developer Conference 2023
Where? Kansas City, MO
Do you like BBQ? Kansas City is famous for its BBQ and I was excited to finally try it. You know what? It's okay. But it is everywhere and I've never tried so many types of BBQ in just a few days. Downtown Kansas City was overall a great place to explore.
Oh, and KCDC '23 was excellent as far as conferences go. I presented This is a Promise That You'll Understand Asynchronous Programming with JavaScript and received absolutely incredible feedback from my audience. After KCDC this officially became my leading presentation when submitting to conferences.
Surprising Meal: Jack Stack Barbeque had very good burnt ends, but the shrimp appetizer outdid the main course.
Nebraska.Code()
Where? Lincoln, NE
It was quite a journey to get to Nebraska.Code(). We flew from Atlanta to Omaha, rented a car, drove through the middle of nowhere, and landed in a questionable neighborhood in downtown Lincoln. But my low expectations were immediately shattered.
Nebraska.Code() is an amazingly tight, community-focused conference that became the highlight of my year. I presented two of my favorite topics:
- JavaScript: The (Really) Good Parts
- Stop Stopping and Start Presenting: Practical Tips for Speaking at Your Favorite Technology Conferences
I love soft skills topics, and my practical tips for speaking presentation generated a lot of conversation, great feedback, and some shared lessons around the room. I'm looking forward to shopping it around in 2024.
Best thing to do in Lincoln? Drink beer. We found some great breweries around downtown and all were worth our time and money.
Bonus round: you'll probably pass through Omaha like we did. Visit the world-class zoo, then end the night at The Berry & Rye for unique cocktails.
Momentum Developer Conference
Where? Cincinnati, OH
It can be difficult to justify travel for a one-day conference, but I was absolutely excited about this one. Kudos to the organizers - Momentum feels like it punches way above its weight for such a relatively small community conference. I settled into the Hard Rock Casino in downtown Cincinnati to present This is a Promise That You'll Understand Asynchronous Programming with JavaScript and once again was received very warmly with a captive audience. I'm going into 2024 with a highly revised version of this presentation based on all the great feedback from Momentum.
Skip the rental car: while known for its many breweries, Cincinnati has lots of great architecture, amazing local restaurants, a modern riverfront, many walkable neighborhoods, and most importantly: a free streetcar that runs throughout downtown to connect it all together.