Pinners Conference and Expo tips are here! If you’re going to Pinners for the first time, if you got your Pinners tickets and are looking for Pinners Conference tips and Pinners Conference reviews, or if you are researching all things Pinners because you want to know as much as you can, you’re in the right spot!
I LOVE Pinners! I knew from the very first time I found out about Pinners (um maybe 2016? Or 2015?) that this was totally my thing!
In brief Pinners is Pinterest in person!
As far as I know, Pinners is not “officially” associated with the real Pinterest but just a conference capitalizing on all things Pinterest.
In other words, some people had the brilliant idea of making a conference on all things DIY, fashion, decor, photography, homemaking, cooking, health, fitness, beauty, and basically anything you’d ever pin on Pinterest!
Basically, if you like Pinterest, you’re going to like (probably love) Pinners! I’m so excited to tell you more! I have sooooo much to tell you about Pinners!
Let’s get started!
Everything You Need To Know About Pinners Conferences!
Officially, here’s what Pinners says it is on its website (my bolding added):
Pinners is two great events in one. It’s a conference featuring 100+ Pinterest-based classes taught by the best presenters in the nation. And it’s also a show with nearly 300 top businesses providing beautiful options in the worlds of DIY, crafts, cooking, self-improvement, photography, party planning, scrapbooking, holiday, beauty and fashion and all sorts of other great things. What’s Pinners? It’s where Pinterest comes to life. And after you come, it’ll be your new favorite event!
And… Pinners isn’t a once a year event… Pinners happens throughout the year at multiple locations across the nation!
An example Pinners schedule would be a Pinners Conference happening in California, Georgia, and Minnesota during spring and then again in Texas, Arizona, and Utah in the fall!
Hint: Spring Pinners will have more spring classes, and booths and fall Pinners will offer some fall and winter DIY projects and shopping such as Thanksgiving meal ideas and Christmas decor crafts so keep this in mind for when you go!
You could look for Pinners happening in your state, or you could travel to Pinners!
If you have BFF’s and/or family in one of the host cities, it would make a perfect event for college roommates or sisters to go to together!
Hint: Each Pinners location has different schedules! Some Pinners classes are repeated in every city, and some Pinners classes are only done in specific cities so if you’re deciding between Pinners locations check out the class schedules to see which classes you want to attend most!
Pinners is a two-day event with tons of flexibility!
You can go the full two days of Pinners (Friday from 10ish to 7ish and Saturday from 10ish to 7ish), or you could go for one day, or you could just go for the classes or just go for the shopping!
What you want to do at Pinners will determine the cost!
You could go only for the shopping for less than $10 or go full-on VIP Pinners Pass for a little over $120! These are super great prices when you think about other conferences!
Hint: I’ll be mentioning if I think think Pinners VIP is worth it or not in my tips below!
Now that you basically know what Pinners is (and you probably want to go, right?!), let’s go deeper into how to prepare for Pinners and what to do when you’re at a Pinners Conference, and even how to survive post-Pinners when all you want is more Pinners!
I’m going to share all my tips so you can make the most of your Pinners experience!
Now… on to all the Pinners tips!
Pinners Tips: Before Pinners
#1
Pinners Conference Tips: Pinners Tickets
Pinners Conference tickets present you with lots of options! Here are my tips for getting your Pinners ticket!
Do you want to attend Pinners classes?
NO CLASSES tips for Pinners:
I love the classes, but you could totally have a rockin’ time without attending even one class so if you’re looking for the cheapest option for sure go for the no class option!
If you don’t go to classes you can shop your heart out PLUS still do crafts because there are tons of “make-and-takes” which are booths with crafts set up for you to do right there! Sometimes these are even free! You can make all sorts of fun things from painted signs to flower crowns!
If you want to bring young kids with you (5 and under) I’d say go with the no class option – totally my opinion here – because the classes can be VERY loud (as in your baby would probably need headphones over their ears loud) and the craft classes can be very fast (too fast for me if I was trying to do a craft and trying to help a child with a craft).
Personally, I would try to go to Pinners without kids or have them be at least 6 or so, but this is just my thinking.
When I went, I saw one baby and mom, and they ended up leaving a class after 5 minutes because it was so loud and then she came back to Pinners on day two of the conference without her baby.
I did see a couple of children 6 and up, but not that many (also not that many men in case you want to know LOL).
Mostly Pinners is full of women, women of all ages, and lots of ladies who come alone in case you want to do that (I did that! This introvert LOVES going solo LOL!)!
Do you want to attend all Pinners classes?
CLASSES tips for Pinners:
Take a look at the classes being offered (both the class and who is teaching the class), and if you see more than a couple Pinners classes that excite you I personally would go for all the Pinners classes, but this depends on you and your interests.
If you only see one Pinners class you’re excited about then save your money and only pay for seeing a couple of classes (One Day Expo 2 Classes Pinners ticket).
I LOVE learning so I’m a take-all-the-classes type gal and in fact, my biggest dilemma is choosing classes LOL! (I’ll discuss this more in #2 Pinners tip, but you have lots of classes to choose from so choose carefully!)
The Pinners ticket option of Two Day Expo All Classes is where it’s at in my opinion. This is all the classes and all the shopping and all the making and taking you want! And for about $50 you’re saving over $50 on the VIP ticket!
If you’re thinking about going VIP but aren’t sure, just ask yourself if you’d like to use that other $50 bucks on shopping more at Pinners (as in $50 for all the classes and shopping plus $50 in my pocket for that shopping or $100+ for VIP which gives me all the classes and shopping too but not with that extra $50 in my pocket for shopping!)!
Do you want to go VIP Pinners?
VIP tips for Pinners:
In my heart, I want to be a VIP Pinner, but my budget kinda disagrees LOL! If you have the money to be a VIP Pinner just do it and have fun!
If you are wondering what you get as a VIP Pinner and if the cost is worth it, well that kinda depends on you.
VIP Pinners get extra goodies (like a bag full of stuff from the sponsors etc.; the Pinners water bottle and shirt are fun!), and that is certainly a perk! Also, Pinners is now doing VIP collector pins (each city has a different style) they are super fun!
VIP Pinners get a special party the night before opening day which can include the making of a craft and raffle drawings for awesome prizes!
VIP Pinners get in early! VIP Pinners get to go in 30 minutes before everyone else (this is just in the morning when Pinners opens so 30 minutes to go to the shopping/vendor areas before everyone else gets in) which is super exciting on opening day when everyone wants to know what’s inside!
VIP Pinners get a special VIP tag, and get to go to the front of all lines (which for me didn’t matter much – I didn’t have issues with lines because I pre-registered – if you didn’t pre-register than lines can get long for sure).
VIP Pinners get a VIP room which can be great for resting and storing your stuff! There isn’t a lot of space to just hang out at Pinners, so if you want a resting zone and if you want to keep your bag somewhere (because it’s heavy full of crafts) this can for sure be a great reason to go VIP!
If I took my mom, who is over 65, to Pinners, I would get her a VIP Pinners ticket for sure because she’d want to rest and not carry her stuff around (plus, she’d love all the freebies!).
How do you get a Promo Code for Pinners?
Promo Code tips for Pinners:
You can get a Pinners Promo Code to the tune of 10% off any Pinners ticket purchase!
How do you get this Pinners Conference Promo Code? From the presenters! Just click on a class, see that person’s name and website, go to their website, and see if they have a Pinners Promo Code listed in a blog post.
Or you could just search for “Pinners Promo Code” and go for any website that comes up! I would try to use the code from a presenter you love though as they get a couple of bucks when you use their code so go on and support the folks you love, right?!
Hint: I’ll be hitting on the Pinners Library in my tips a little further on down in this Pinners Conference extravaganza!!
[bctt tweet=”If you want to go to Pinners here are all the tips you need! #pinners #pinnersconference #playingperfect #pinnersconf #pinnersca #pinnersga #pinnerstx #pinnersmn #pinnersut #pinnersaz” username=”perfectplaying”]
Where do you stay for Pinners?
Accommodation tips for Pinners:
If you live near a Pinners Conference, just stay at your house and travel to and from!
If you don’t live near a Pinners Conference, then likely you’ll be booking a place to stay! If you’re making a girls’ weekend out of it, you can have fun and meet your savings goals by sharing a room!
If you’re an introvert (like me!) and need your quiet time away from other folks, you might want to splurge on a solo room to help you stay energized for all the exciting activities of Pinners (the days at Pinners are long and FULL of… well loudness and non-stop activity LOL).
If you book accommodation for Pinners, I would go for something that’s very close to the actual Pinners Conference. A day at Pinners can be very go-go-go, and pretty much everyone was super tired after day one and needed to go to bed early. Also, when you wake up the next day ready to tackle day two of Pinners you will be so thankful that your travel time is short.
There you go, lots of Pinners Conference ticket tips! Next up, Pinners Conference class schedules!
#2
Pinners Conference Tips: Pinners Class Schedules
After you decide you are going to Pinners (good decision!), buy your Pinners ticket, and decide where you’ll stay between days (if you’re going both days), it’s time to set your agenda!
Hint: If you’re only shopping at Pinners and not attending classes than the only “scheduling” you’ll want to do is maybe see what vendors will be there, so you know what shopping to look forward to! You can find this information on the Pinners website under the “Map & Shops” tab.
For all you class-taking folk, and I do highly recommend taking Pinners classes, here come my tips on all things scheduling Pinners classes!
What classes should I take at Pinners?
Class selection tips for Pinners:
Start big picture and then go little picture. Pinners classes are divided by topic so you could first choose the sections you’re most interested in and then choose the specific classes you want to take in each section!
Pinners classes are divided by:
- Beauty & Fashion
- DIY & Crafts
- Lifestyle & Learning
- Food Arts
- Home & Home Decor
- Quilting & Sewing (Yep, there’s a sewing room so you actually sew!)
- Party Planning
- Photography
- Health & Fitness
Maybe you are all about one section such as photography; well go for all those classes first! There will be various Pinners classes on one topic taught at different times so it’s not like all food classes happen at once and you have to choose between them all, but they are spread out so if you only care about the food you can go to more than one Pinners class on it.
Maybe you’re interested in everything (like me!)! Then I suggest going time slot by time slot and picking your favorite Pinners class. So let’s say Friday has six time slots and Saturday also has six time slots (11 am, 1230 pm, 2 pm, 330 pm, 5 pm, 630 pm), just go time slot by time slot picking your top favorite class for that time and then look over your entire schedule and see if it reflects a well-rounded representation of your interests.
As you choose classes, start with the Pinners class title (they usually are great indicators of the class subject), then look at the presenter and read the little description that tells what the class is about, who the presenter is, and for sure click on the link to the presenter’s (the class’s teacher) website/blog.
Do presenters matter at Pinners?
Presenter selection tips for Pinners:
I highly suggest really checking out the presenter of the Pinners class and seeing if you want to be taught by her/him. Just like in school a teacher can make all the difference, at Pinners the Pinners presenter can make ALL the difference!
Some presenters have taught at Pinners before so if you get a Pinners Library pass you can perhaps check out their past classes and see if they are a good fit.
Also, you can look at their website/blog/social media and see if they seem like someone you want to learn from. Bonus points if they have presentation experience because they will probably be great in front of crowds!
What’s the layout like at Pinners?
Floor map tips for Pinners:
As you choose your classes, you may want to consider the class locations and be looking at the Pinners floor map (you can find the floor map on the website and on the Pinners app) as you schedule your Pinners classes.
Note that there is only a 30 minute break between classes and if you choose two classes far apart from each other and you have to go to the bathroom (there might be long lines) and you’re also hungry, you might have a hard time making it to class on time.
As you schedule your classes, you may want to pay attention to what classes are scheduled to happen around you. This is actually a really great Pinners tip I only realized while I was at Pinners so please read this LOL!
- You see there were some craft classes that were EXTREMELY LOUD as in I can’t emphasize how loud!
- Okay, imagine 100 people pounding on their tables with metal tools, yes all 100 pounding at the same time… and there are no walls to separate your class and the pounding metal class… yep NO WALLS just curtains between you and the metal pounding! (Some Pinners locations may have walls; my experience was a big room with classes separated only by curtains.)
Imagine you happen to be in a lecture class that is one presenter talking and she can’t even hear herself and she can’t turn her mic up any higher… let’s just say I learned to avoid all classes that happened anywhere near the pounding craft classes… so yes, check your Pinners schedule for nearby Pinners craft classes that might be total noise bombs.
How long are the classes at Pinners?
Class timing tips for Pinners:
Remember that each Pinners class is only one hour long and actually some are more like 40 minutes long because they stop early for questions and/or book signings or giveaways or just because they feel done (hence the importance of the presenter!).
If you’re going to a lecture type class, don’t expect to learn everything on the topic (cause it’s just one hour or less) and if you’re going to a craft class keep in mind, you may not have time to finish your craft if it’s a big craft project.
The breaks are short between all Pinners classes (30 minutes) and honestly you may want to schedule a no-class time in your schedule even if you go for the full class ticket because the 30-minute breaks can get tough!
Think about your bathroom breaks, when you want to eat, how fast you walk, how much stuff you are carrying if you want to sit at the front of the class and get to class early, and think about your typical energy level.
What does the Pinners Library have to do with my schedule?
Pinners Library tips for Pinners:
You can see what classes are going to go in the Pinners Library because they have a “*” next to them in the Pinners schedule of classes (see my picture where I pointed it out).
This is important for scheduling your classes because if there are two classes you want to go to at the same time and one of them is scheduled for the Pinners Libary you might want to skip that Pinners Library class and just watch it later in the Pinners Library (which you have to buy).
Also if you don’t want to be on video, you may want to skip all the Pinners Library classes.
What’s up with the class kits at Pinners?
Class kit tips for Pinners:
Consider the full cost of the class. Some Pinners classes have a “kit” you can purchase for the class, and you may want to consider the cost of the “kit” before you schedule that class.
A kit might be the craft supplies you use in the class such as pens and paper (for lettering) or all the stuff you need to make a wreath, or it might be a planner that the speaker talks about, but you don’t actually use in the class.
The kits vary a lot, and some are for sure worth it, and some are not. Someone was upset because a kit they got (pre-purchased) was actually given away for free during the class so that’s kinda weird, so the best I can say is if you go for a class with a kit make sure the kit has stuff you’d want to buy.
If you are taking a class with a kit and you want the kit for sure, you can pre-buy your Pinners class kit, and that will help assure you that you get a kit when you go to the Pinners conference. Also, pre-buying a kit can cut down on your wait-in-line-time because a lot of people don’t pre-buy and have to wait in line (sometimes they will still be waiting in line as the class starts!).
For crafts most everyone buys the kits because you make the craft using the kit while in class.
For non-craft classes such as a class on planning or organization, some people buy the kit but I’d say most don’t.
For lettering classes pretty much everyone buys the kit because it contains the lettering stuff you do during class, but you could totally bring your own lettering paper and pens and follow along! In fact you would probably save a ton of money doing it this way – here’s a great lettering kit and here are pens to bring to class – I would buy on my own lettering stuff and bring it to class with me next time for sure because the kits can be way overpriced.
When you get a kit, make sure you compare yours to the people around you to make sure you got all your supplies (one of mine was missing a pen I discovered when I saw that everyone around me had four pens and I had three).
Check your kit as soon as you get it to see if there are problems. I was in a craft class, and the lady next me had broken supplies in her kit, but she didn’t know that until she was nearly done with her craft, so she was bummed because it meant all her work that hour was a waste because now she had to start over since her craft was actually broken.
Also if the kit has options, go for the one you want and speak up for yourself LOL (if they are giving out three different planners and you want the blue one, ask for the blue one!).
Don’t be surprised if you show up to class and the class didn’t have a kit listed online but now suddenly does.
Should I pre-register for Pinners classes?
Pre-registration tips for Pinners:
I highly suggest pre-registering for all of your Pinners classes if you know you want in!
Some classes get full(ish) so register soon!
The pre-registered folks get let into the class soon, and you don’t have to wait longer than a few minutes max because first VIP Pinners get in, then the pre-registered folks, and then the rest of the people who are in the standby line (which can get crazy long sometimes!).
If you are thinking about doing two classes in the same time slot, but aren’t sure which one to register for, register for the one that is most popular (you can email Pinners to see what is popular) so you know for sure you’ll have a spot in that class. Some classes are very popular (like calligraphy classes).
Most classes don’t fill up though so if you decide to go to a different Pinners class from the one you registered for it’s not a problem you just go over to that class and after the VIPers and pre-registered folks are let in you can go in (this took seconds for me, no big deal at all).
In my experience, pre-registering basically guarantees you a front row seat if you get to the class on time.
Even after pre-registering, check back on the Pinners Conference schedule page to see if new classes get added or changed last minute. I had one class presenter change (which impacted my decision on the class) and shortly before the conference new classes were added which also made me make some schedule adjustments.
There you go, lots of Pinners Conference class schedule tips! Next up, Pinners Conference packing tips!
#3
Pinners Conference Tips: Pinners Packing
Packing for Pinners might seem like not too big of a deal because it’s only two days, but it is a big deal!
What should I bring to Pinners?
Packing tips for Pinners:Bring comfortable shoes to Pinners! You’ll be walking for days, ladies!
Bring comfortable clothes to Pinners! Most people are dressed pretty casually, even the presenters! (Well the fashion presenters and the people from the Hallmark Channel were for sure dressed up LOL!)
Bring sunglasses and sunscreen for when you walk outside between conference halls and when you go to the food trucks to get food!
Bring money! The shopping at Pinners is terrific! Everyone accepts credit cards, but it might help you with your budgeting if you bring cash!
If you’re doing craft classes, dress for the Pinners crafting! This is a big tip! Some classes are messy! Paint classes specifically! I recommend bringing clothes that you would craft in, seriously! Maybe bring a shirt just for that one craft paint class you’re doing and change out of it after if you want.
Bring craft supplies! Okay, hold on, no I’m not saying bring all your craft stuff. I’m mostly thinking of latex gloves to cover your hands (again, paint classes I’m talking to you!) and plastic aprons to cover your clothes especially if you like the clothes you have on. These plastic skin-and-clothes-savers can fit in your pocket if you get the cheap ones and then just throw them away after class! No mess, no problem carrying them because they weigh the same as feathers and you’ll probably make everyone around you jealous that you leave class looking good and they are trying to get paint off their nails for days!
When you pack, make sure you have room to come home with all your crafts and shopping!
Before going to Pinners make room for your crafts in your craft room and make room in your house for any awesome gifts, you buy, etc.!
Major Pinners tip here! Bring something to wheel around with you at Pinners! This little cart is perfect, and this is also a great option! Seriously, sooooooo many people were complimenting me on my “genius” idea of “coming prepared” to Pinners with my wheeling cart AKA my carry-on luggage that kept all my stuff! Bonus points for having a red bag like me that looks totally Pinners LOL! Seriously if this is the one Pinners tip you read, you will thank me later!
The stuff you buy, the stuff you make, and the stuff you get for free adds up FAST, and you don’t have enough arms to carry it all, and with the fast schedule you don’t have time to make trips to the car, and your back will thank you when you bring a carrying apparatus!
Bring food and water! The food can be super expensive, like $15 for a burger type expensive so bring your snacks and water!
Bring your camera! And if you’re going to a photography class, bring your camera to class! Make sure you have a great camera bag to keep your camera safe!
Bring your business cards if you have some!
Be prepared for note-taking! Don’t bring a heavy notebook, just bring some lightweight paper and a pen!
Hint: Use the awesome Pinners Printable Pack I made for you! There’s room for notes, and you can print off as many sheets as you want!
FREE Pinners Printable Pack full of ways to make the most of your Pinners Conference experience! You'll love it! 🙂Pinners Printable Pack FREE!
There you go, lots of Pinners Conference packing tips! Next up, Pinners Conference traveling tips!
#4
Pinners Conference Tips: Traveling to Pinners
If you are like a lot of Pinners peeps, you will be super excited the night before you go to Pinners and then the day of you will get exhausted!
I highly suggest getting as much rest as you can the night before you travel to Pinners and the night before the night before in case you are just too excited that you can’t sleep on Pinners Eve (like Christmas Eve)!
My other major tip is that you drink a lot of water and be hydrated! When I drove to Pinners, I drank so much water, and I’m so glad I did!
Pinners Bonus Tip: Pinners Library
The Pinners Conference Library is incredible!
It is about $30 bucks, but I found that soon after I got my Pinners Conference tickets, I got an email for a Pinners Conference Library discount code that lowered the cost of the year-long library access so be looking for that!
The Pinners Library is great fun for anyone who wants a taste of Pinners but can’t go, but also it’s great for if you want more of Pinners and if you want to see what classes you want to sign up for!
[bctt tweet=”Did you know there’s a Pinners Conference Library!? Pinners tips are here! #pinners #pinnersconference #playingperfect #pinnersconf #pinnersca #pinnersga #pinnerstx #pinnersmn #pinnersut #pinnersaz” username=”perfectplaying”]
Pinners Bonus Tip: Pinners App
Pinners has an app! For every Pinners location, there is a separate Pinners app specific to that location.
The Pinners app can be super helpful for seeing the Pinners Floor Map (where everything is), seeing the Pinners classes and even seeing what shops are at Pinners!
You can also put in your Pinners schedule!
Hint: A lot of folks didn’t like opening their Pinners app a lot because it ate up their phone battery (and hello we need battery for Pinners pics!) so you might want to use the FREE Pinners Printable Pack I made for you or just jot down your classes on a piece of paper and keep that paper in your purse!
FREE Pinners Printable Pack full of ways to make the most of your Pinners Conference experience! You'll love it! 🙂Pinners Printable Pack FREE!
Pinners Tips: At Pinners
#5
Pinners Conference Tips: Eating at Pinners
There isn’t a ton of food options at Pinners (at least I don’t view them as a lot LOL), but there are options.
Inside Pinners there are booths that have samples and some full on food and drink sells and some are healthy! I saw everything from candy to overnight oatmeal and protein drinks!
If you go around sampling everything you should at least feel as though you’ve had a little snack.
Outside Pinners, as in right outside the doors, there were about 5-10 food and drink options. 5-10 as in 5-10 different food trucks and on each food truck there were various options.
However. These food trucks are not cheap. They are not exactly how people from the Great Depression Era would spend their money if you get my drift.
But if you are looking for some carnival type options like funnel cakes and some special treats like grilled cheese sandwiches filled with stuff you’ve never thought to put on a grilled cheese sandwich, then you might love the food options!
For me, I was extremely glad I drank a ton of water before going into Pinners, brought a few water bottles in with me, and brought some snacks.
Also, I found I was so busy that I was good with not eating all day until after the conference (you know fasting is totally a thing right now LOL) or eating breakfast before going into Pinners and then grabbing dinner after Pinners was over for the day.
#6
Pinners Conference Tips: Shopping at Pinners
Oh, the shopping!
It’s totally true you can go to Pinners just for shopping and spend all day there easy! The shopping is sooooooooo fun. Imagine shopping Pinterest, yeah that’s what it’s like!
Okay so my number one shopping tip is the same as my packing tip so I’ll say it again:
Major Pinners tip here! Bring something to wheel around with you at Pinners! This little cart is perfect, and this is also a great option!
Seriously, sooooooo many people were complimenting me on my “genius” idea of “coming prepared” to Pinners with my wheeling cart AKA my carry-on luggage that kept all my stuff! Bonus points for having a red bag like me that looks totally Pinners LOL! Seriously if this is the one Pinners tip you read, you will thank me later!
The stuff that you buy, the stuff you make, and the stuff you get for free adds up FAST, and you don’t have enough arms to carry it all, and with the fast schedule you don’t have time to make trips to the car, and your back will thank you!
Also, keep in mind everyone takes credit cards, but you may want to bring cash to help keep your spending in check.
If you have any birthdays coming up or if you want to get started on your Christmas shopping, Pinners is a great place to do it!
Special Pinners tip: If you want to buy from a Pinners vendor and they also teach a Pinners class ask if they are going to be giving out a discount code in class before you buy anything!
#7
Pinners Conference Tips: Learning at Pinners
There is so much you can learn at Pinners!
Show up early to your PInners class, so you get the seat you want! I found 15 minutes to be a great amount of time to get in front!
Take pictures of the PowerPoint! Taking notes can get super easy if you just sit in front and take pictures of the PowerPoint! Most presenters use PowerPoint.
Ask questions! In fact, if you sign-up for a class that you already have questions about, come with those questions, so you don’t forget them in the class!
If you’re in a class that you don’t like for whatever reason (maybe the presentation isn’t great, or you realize you already know everything the person is saying or you realize you would just rather attend a different class) you can totally leave! You can go shopping instead or go get something to eat, or you can just go to another class if it isn’t full which most aren’t!
One reason you might want to stay for any class though is there might be freebies, giveaways and discount codes! Yep, many classes will raffle off prizes but also many classes will give the class codes to use on their websites for discounts on all sorts of products from planners to pens!
If you take a class you love, check out that presenter’s social media because they might have a blog and other stuff you might love!
In general, think about every class as an introduction type class.
Usually the information shared in Pinners classes is a brief overview (like here are some basic organize tips to get your started) or a beginning step to learn more (like here is how you can start lettering so you can practice more at home).
#8
Pinners Conference Tips: Creating at Pinners
The Pinners crafting is incredible!
You can craft without even going to classes! Many of the booths have crafts projects you can do for free or pay to make-and-take!
If you do sign-up for craft classes, don’t feel like you have to go the speed of the class. Many people don’t finish the craft in the hour given for class time, and if you don’t, that’s okay! Just take it with you and finish it at home but don’t rush your craft and make something you don’t like!
If you want to finish your craft at home and/or you want to make the same craft again, make sure to write down notes of how to do it! Jot down the color of the paint, the steps to take to get the perfect look, and write down the ingredients from those recipes!
Make sure you check all your craft supplies before you start making your craft! Some people had broken parts or didn’t get the parts they were supposed to have so be sure you got your stuff!
When you sign up for classes, think about how you will carry your craft projects around with you all day. If your craft class is at the end of the day, you might not have to worry about carrying stuff all day. Again, I’m telling you, walking around with my carry-on luggage bag was a lifesaver!
I said this in the packing for Pinners tips section, but I’m going to say it again! Bring craft supplies!
Okay, hold on, no I’m not saying bring all your craft stuff. I’m mostly thinking of latex gloves to cover your hands (again, paint classes I’m talking to you!) and plastic aprons to cover your clothes especially if you like the clothes you have on. These can fit in your pocket if you get the cheap ones and then just throw them away after class! No mess, no problem carrying them because they weigh the same as feathers and you’ll probably make everyone around you jealous that you leave class looking good and they are trying to get paint off their nails for days!
If you loved your craft experience follow your Pinners craft teacher on social media so you can do more crafts like the ones you did at Pinners!
In general, if you see a craft you love and want to know how to make it, that’s a great reason to sign-up for a Pinners craft class!
When you see the craft picture though, keep in mind you can alter your craft and don’t have to make it the way it is pictured. For instance, if you want to make a yellow flower instead of a pink one the class might have options or you can just watch and take notes during class so that when you’re at home you can make the craft with the exact colors you want!
#9
Pinners Conference Tips: Bonding at Pinners
Pinners Conferences can be awesome bonding experiences!
You can go to Pinners with your BFFs, your kids, your sisters, and anyone you love who loves Pinterest, and you are bound to have the time of your life!
Also, you can meet some fantastic fellow Pinners at the Pinners Conferences!
You can become quick friends with the people who sit next to you in the Pinners classes, and you can also get to know the presenters!
Make sure you take some pictures in front of the Pinners photo area! There is usually a gorgeous photo backdrop just begging for your Instagram!
#10
Pinners Conference Tips: Friday at Pinners
If you choose to go to Pinners for just one day, I’d pick Friday all the way.
Friday Pinners is much less busy!
This means if you get there early you are pretty much guaranteed great parking, and when you get inside, there won’t be as many people everywhere.
When you first get to Pinners, you’re going to have to get your wristband or tag if you’re a VIP Pinner. If you can, go get your wristband or tag on Thursday, if you can’t, go early on Friday and hopefully, there will be no line, and you can get your wristband right away!
Your wristband gets you into everything Pinners!
When you go to a Pinners class they will see your wristband or VIP Pinners tag and also ask for your name that they will have on a tablet if you pre-registered. Your kit will also be on their tablet, so you just give them your name to pick up any class kits.
First thing on Friday ask where the bathrooms are and make a note of it because you might have a hard time finding out later when you really need to go!
#11
Pinners Conference Tips: Saturday at Pinners
Saturday was way busier than Friday in my experience! Like so much busier! So plan for this!
If you had easy parking on Friday, you might have a harder time getting parking on Saturday, and you might find yourself waiting for a tram.
If you got a two-day pass keep your wristband on from Friday and then on Saturday you don’t have to stand in the line again for a wristband! Just go straight into Pinners and start shopping and attending classes!
#12
Pinners Conference Tips: The Night Between Pinners
If you got to the full Pinners Conference, you are going to be tired on Friday night, let me tell you!
Friday night is key for you to maximize your last day at Pinners!
Make sure you get enough sleep on Friday night (especially since you probably didn’t sleep well on Thursday night because you were excited and traveled etc.).
Before you go to sleep though, review your day, maybe journal about it, and review your Saturday schedule!
Here are some things to consider as you review your Saturday Pinners schedule after having spent Friday at Pinners:
Are there some Pinners presenters that you loved and want to take a class from again tomorrow? (So maybe switch around your classes.) A lot of Pinners presenters teach more than one class so if you loved someone see if they are teaching again on Saturday.
Are there some Pinners presenters you didn’t like and want to not take a class from again tomorrow? (So maybe switch around your classes.) Ask around and see what classes other people are loving and think about trying some of those.
Review the Pinners Floor Map, see where your classes are, see if you want to make some changes based on the location of the classes, the loudness of the class area, or the class proximity to the bathroom LOL!
Check your luggage situation and get it organized. Survey how much stuff you got on Friday, see how it’s all fitting in your current luggage and made adjustments and plans for the next day (you’ll probably be telling yourself to buy less stuff on Saturday LOL!)
Set out your clothes and get ready to be ready in time so you can get to Pinners on time on Saturday and not feel rushed.
Make a mental note or a literal note of what worked well for you on Friday Pinners and what you want to change up on Saturday Pinners. This could be anything from making sure you go to the bathroom before certain class times to reminding yourself to go back to a Pinners vendor you loved and want to shop from again.
Keep your Pinners wristband on if you got a two-day pass! You will be so glad you kept your wristband on come Saturday morning when you see the long line of people who need their wristband and you’ll be so happy as you walk on into Pinners with a quick showing of your wristband!
Drink lots of water on Saturday morning as soon as you get up so you’ll be starting your last day at Pinners hydrated.
Pinners Bonus Tip: Presenting at Pinners
If you want to share how to do a craft project, have a passion for a skill or a talent people would love to know more about, presenting at Pinners might be perfect for you!
To be a presenter at Pinners, you go to their website and fill out their application and wait to hear from them to see if you’re accepted!
Here are some tips for presenting at Pinners should you be so inclined!
Your presentation of your Pinners presentation matters! A few presenters really made their presentation awesome in every way from how they set up their stage to how they interacted with the audience. Remember these are Pinners; if you make your stage look like something from Pinterest the audience will love it!
Be prepared to be LOUD! Pinners is not a quiet venue, so presenters need to speak above the other classes, the shopping, the eating, the everything LOL. Bonus points for walking around the audience and to the audience members for questions so people can hear you (two presenters I saw were so great at this!).
Make sure we can see your PowerPoint! Most presenters use PowerPoint, but some were very hard to see unless you were in the front row so checking these things makes a ton of difference. Bonus points for making the PowerPoint available to the audience later via email or on your website! And it’s nice if the PowerPoint is FREE and not $20 like one presenter’s LOL!
Please be entertaining LOL. The day and the weekend at Pinners can be long, and there is a lot competing for our attention so please try to be energetic and excited and basically make the audience feel like the class was even better than crafting and shopping because that’s what each class is competing with.
If you have a kit, make it clear before the class, so planner-type people can buy it ahead of time when they get the rest of their kits! Suddenly having a kit can throw people off sometimes when they show up to class and weren’t expecting a kit.
If you have a kit, make it look cute when you set it up and have people there selling it who know what the kit contains. Some presenters were very professional in how they presented their kits whereas others just kind of tossed their kits on a table, and the people selling them or passing them out couldn’t answer many questions about them, and this was super surprising to me!
Please respect people’s time and don’t end your class after only 15 minutes! Most Pinners presenters are fantastic, but there was one presenter who was maybe having a bad weekend because her first class had people leaving one after the other (this is how I realized I could leave a class if I wanted and go to a class that was better) and then her second class (I thought I’d give her a second try) ended after 15 minutes (the class should be an hour) and 5 minutes of that 15 minutes was spent on her bio! This is super frustrating because it meant I could have spent my time in another class.
If you’re collecting people’s emails, please do so in a way that is not a focus of the class. I get it, as a presenter you want people to give you their email so you can contact them later, but please don’t take up a bunch of time during class doing this. If you want people’s emails, please think of a creative way to get them that is not interrupting on what should be class time.
Freebies and raffles rock! Classes got really excited whenever stuff was given away! If you do a raffle or freebie, please do so in a timely manner though. A couple of presenters totally came prepared and didn’t waste time during raffle time whereas some other presenters took up a lot of time just handing out the raffle tickets. I highly suggest all presenters give at least one thing away but do so in a way that is organized and not a time suck because Pinners people want to learn and craft and have fun!
Being a Pinners presenter could be a great way to grow your audience and for people to fall in love with you!
I personally became of a fan of a couple of presenters and have been wanting to buy all their stuff and visit all their social media and feel like I would go to Pinners just to see them in person again!
Pinners Bonus Tip: Selling at Pinners
If you sell physical products that women would love, I would say set up a booth at Pinners! The shopping there can be full-on!
People are looking for all sorts of fun things to take home to their families, to add to their craft room, and to make their lives more fun, beautiful, and easy!
If you do sell stuff I highly suggest some free samples, Pinners are all about the free samples!
Also, I suggest being very nice and happy and excited if you’re a Pinners vendor!
This might seem obvious, but I talked to a person who kinda would have put a damper on my day if I had let her. She was very pushing and didn’t smile and didn’t seem happy to be at Pinners but wanted everyone to buy her caramels!
Maybe she didn’t get the vibe that people at Pinners are VERY happy to be there and are in extreme excitement mode, and so as a seller, it can only help if you feed into that excitement and don’t try to squash it!
I noticed that Pinners Conference sellers who had a craft area were huge hits! As in always busy!
This looked like a seller having their set-up behind them (which looks awesome because Pinners attendees love pretty looking backdrops and settings) and then had a table or two with chairs all around (which is very appealing because there aren’t a ton of places to sit at Pinners unless you’re in a class) and had some sort of craft that you could either do for free (this is big!) or pay to do.
A very popular thing at Pinners was signs.
Signs of all sorts but especially wood signs with pretty quotes on them were a huge hit during the entire Pinners Conference.
Some people would buy pre-made signs from Pinners vendors, but people also loved taking the materials that the Pinners vendors provided (for free or for a fee) and then making their own!
And for the people who are spending 30 minutes of their precious Pinners time at your Pinners booth making their little craft, any snacks and drinks provided, even the smallest sample, will be very, very, appreciated! And I bet they will be more likely to buy from your Pinners booth if you feed them!
Any sort of state-specific memorabilia seemed to be a big hit too!
People travel to these Pinners Conferences so going to a specific state for Pinners could be a significant highlight (hello, that’s why Pinners made state-specific VIP pins because people love collecting state stuff) and so these people also love making and taking state-specific-crafts!
Finally, Pinners people are likely hungry and thirsty so if you sell stuff at Pinners, here’s a big Pinners Conference tip: give the people some edibles!
Even if you are selling clothes have some little snacks there for the shoppers and wow, you will be seen as all kinds of excellent and hospitable!
I’m telling you, Pinners people will come for the food!
Pinners Tips: After Pinners
#13
Pinners Conference Tips: Traveling from Pinners
Pinners can be a whirlwind of fast-paced non-stop fun, and when you leave (and have some quiet LOL) you might be flooded with ideas of how you wished you did that or next time you want to bring that one thing, and you have an ever-growing list of all the projects you want to now make and tackle!
As you go home from Pinners (this is best if you’re traveling by plane or if someone else is driving you) jot down all your thoughts! Have a complete Pinners brain dump, so you get all your hopes, dreams, ideas and plans written out before you get back home.
If you are driving home from Pinners, maybe you can stop to eat or get gas and jot down the plethora of thoughts that are bound to bombard your mind as you leave such an epic event!
However you do it, make sure you have a plan for recording your thoughts, feelings, and plans so have some paper to write on or an electronic device at-the-ready, so all that pops into your mind can be put down and saved for later.
Hint: The Pinners Packet I made for you can be a great place for this thoughts-and-feelings-recording! 🙂 Yes, it’s FREE!
FREE Pinners Printable Pack full of ways to make the most of your Pinners Conference experience! You'll love it! 🙂Pinners Printable Pack FREE!
#14
Pinners Conference Tips: Pinners UnPacking
When you get home from Pinners you might have a lot of crafts, clothes (there are a lot of boutiques the setup shop at Pinners), home decor, and maybe even dog gifts LOL (yep there are dog booths at Pinners too!)!
Oh and then there are the freebies you get! I got some awesome planners and bags and food samples and more!
So, as you unload your awesome Pinners loot, try to put your to-do-craft-projects in a place where you will finish them and put the gifts you bought for people in a place where you will get them wrapped and shipped off or given away when you want to (and so you aren’t looking for that awesome thing you bought for your friend only to not be able to find it when it’s your friend’s birthday).
If you brought home stuff you don’t love, but at the time it was exciting because it was free, quickly designate where it will go (given away, donated, thrown away) so all that’s left from Pinners is good times and good finds and not stress about cleaning it up or decluttering it later!
#15
Pinners Conference Tips: Pinners Contacts
If you made some great new friends at Pinners, don’t wait forever to contact them!
Maybe you started a great relationship with one of the presenters, or perhaps you became a craft buddy with the gal sitting next to you in the watercolor class; contact these people and who knows what fun could be waiting for you with these new found relationships!
Contact your new Pinners pals before you forget them, and they forget you!
#16
Pinners Conference Tips: Pinners Projects
Finish those make-and-takes!
If you went to some Pinners classes that involved making a craft, you might have to finish off those craft projects so make sure you!
Go ahead and continue you crafting-high you’re going to come home with and finish those awesome Pinners make-and-takes and make a plan to start any craft projects you got!
Also, if you went to a lettering class, don’t just leave your lettering passion at Pinners, make a plan to work on your lettering weekly!
If you got a discount code for any crafts or products you want (some classes offer special codes for Pinners people to buy stuff on their websites) make sure you use those codes before they expire!
#17
Pinners Conference Tips: Planning Your Next Pinners
After you experience a Pinners Conference, you’re likely to be full of great ideas to make your next Pinners experience even more memorable!
I’d encourage you to reflect upon your Pinners experience and write down all your thoughts and feelings because journaling is fantastic for you and also so you can keep track of any ideas you want to remember for the next time you go to Pinners!
This post is kinda like a Pinners journal for me in that writing this I have captured all things I want to keep in mind for the next time I go to a Pinners Conference!
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Pinners Bonus Tip: Wanting More Pinners
After you go to a Pinners Conference & Expo you might be sad it’s over! I’d encourage you to use your love for Pinners and seek out other conferences because conferences are amazing for bloggers and for everyone who wants to learn, grow, and create!
There you go fellow Pinners fan!
I hope all these Pinners tips will help you out when you go to Pinners!
If you’re going to Pinners, let me know! I’d love to be excited for you!
Also, if you’ve been to Pinners already and have some Pinners Conference tips to share, please tell me! I’d love to know about your Pinners experience! 🙂
Happy Pinning!
Excited about going to Pinners? *Pin* this post for later for when you need Pinners tips! If you want even more pin-worthy tips, follow along on Playing Perfect’s Pinterest Page!
If you go to a Pinners Conference, I’d love to know!
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