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A first-timer's diary: The 10 things you missed if you weren't at Goafest

A tongue-in-cheek account of what Goafest means to young participants

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A first-timer's diary: The 10 things you missed if you weren't at Goafest

A tongue-in-cheek account of what Goafest means to young participants   

Sohini Sen | Mumbai | June 3, 2014

goafest-2014Yes, it was my first Goafest. Was I excited? The truth is that I didn't know what to expect till I landed in Goa. But this is what I realised after the three-day whirlwind trip that was Goafest 2014!

#10 Dress down. The beach is your new home.

Everyone, and I really do mean everyone, was dressed in beach wear. Advertising guys are known to be the non-suited, fun loving kinds. But wearing shorts and sarongs to the seminar so that you can chill while listening to great speakers – that's Goafest!

#09 Always be up for surprises

Sitting comfortably in the second row of the coolest seminar? You will be suddenly called out. Because there is a big chance that something bigger is happening outside. Not in the outside world, but just outside the main hall. Maybe there is a press con. Maybe an important speaker has just said something off the record. You need to be ever ready to listen, react and write about it.

#08 Recognise the next big stars

See that guy in black – from a not so famous agency – who went up on stage thrice to receive awards? Did you notice the girl who got the loudest applause for her campaign? Look out for them. Because they are likely to be the next big stars of advertising. No matter which medium they looked at. No matter which agency they belonged to. New ideas from newer people – that's what will stand out.

Sarmistha and Sohini BestMediaInfo's Sohini Sen and Sarmistha Neogy at Goafest

#07 It's 10 o'clock somewhere

Yes. Drink up. No matter if it is just afternoon or late night. There is going to be booze and enough people to hang out with. You can drink and you don't have to worry about burning a hole in your pocket. The lunch and dinner are just excuses to soak up the liquids in your stomach.

#06 Know that Google is King!

Tired after walking around all day? Get a foot massage. Planning to take home a memento? Get a caricature. Feeling slightly pekish? Order a salad. Or just want to stay away from it all? Sit in the quiet chamber of the Google Hangout Zone. For all your problems there is Google –

via a Google tool. All that and more. Including a lucky snack bar (lucky because I may have won twice or thrice at it!), a selfie booth, and a cycling machine that lets you show your stamina in the most tech friendly way possible.

#05 Parties that you'd rather not miss

Go and rain-dance. Or shake a leg at the Bollywood themed night. Wear glow-in-the-dark neon glasses and belts at the Google Party, or the 9XM party, or the MTV party. Just party. Because the world is partying here.

#04 Meet or make friends

Doesn't matter if you work in different organisations. Doesn't even matter if you are in different fields altogether. This is Goafest. The new age equalizer of all things social. Meet new and interesting people from different agencies and media houses. Chill with them. Get to know how their work rocks or sucks. Understand the world outside yours.

#3 Try some wacky stuff

Zip down a line in the lawn, trying out the flying fox. Watch the CEOs battle it out at the regatta. There is a beach and there are enough young people around to try their hands at everything that sounds fun. Or that makes for a good status message.

#2 Get freebies

Do you wish to travel? Then get a flight ticket to Singapore. Do you think it's too sunny? Get a sun hat from the Google booth. Too many knick-knacks to carry? Put it in your all-new neon backpack from MTV. Get tees, drinks, vodka shots, caricature booklets and music on your phone – all for nothing!

#1 Feel like a king

Okay, so you are not getting the award. What? You didn't even enter the award! But you are here and that's all that matters. Because Goafest makes sure that you feel like a king. Get welcomed in by a full band baaja. Get reminded of sessions by Rajasthani artists. Have your drinks made by the polite bar tenders. And if all that was not enough, see the world around you erupt every time an award gets announced.

The excitement, the fun, the crazy days and the rocking nights – that is what stands out as memories from my maiden Goafest.

You know what? You missed it if you weren't there.

Sohini.Sen@bestmediainfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

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