Tips
This is the "Tips" Page giving suggestions and helping you to better get "the lay of the land" to make your experience at the OC Conference as smooth, stress-free, and fun as possible. Below is an initial list of DO's and DONT's. Good times...
DO follow the insider driver and parking directions on the conference website to get to the activities faster and avoid unnecessary traffic. Maps will be also given at the each event as well, as well as in your registration packet with more info and details, as well as maps and directions will become available on this website too that you can print out, so you can't get lost. SoCal locals also use http://sigalert.com (that you can use on your smartphone) as a tool to get the latest traffic conditions.
Also, if you are coming from points North of Doheny Beach (which is located in South Orange County in Dana Point and location of our first activity of the conference), on Friday Afternoon to avoid the El Toro "Y" Traffic where the 405 and 5 Fwys merge, do take the 73 Toll Road instead. ($4.50/car). During rush hour traffic it will save you 30+ minutes. You can drive from the hotel in Costa Mesa to Doheny Beach in Dana Point in only 20-25 minutes via the 73.
DON'T…and I repeat DON'T blindly follow your GPS so you get stuck on some random freeway or lost on some weird side street.
DO arrive early and arrive on time for each event, especially the dances. This isn't your usual show-up-fashionably-late type of dance. Speed Mingling starts promptly at 9:15 pm and everyone needs to sign up for speed mingling at the speed mingling registration desk at the dance prior to showing up for their round. So it's in your best interest to show up right at 9 pm right after the Beach Party on Friday or Dinner Groups on Saturday before all the speed mingling spots are taken.
DON'T show up at 11 pm thinking that's when things really get started. When in fact, you've missed most of the evening already.
DO head on over directly from the Beach Party at Doheny Beach on Friday Night to the Dance at the Laguna Niguel Stake Center. The Beach Party ends at 8:30 pm and the Dance begins at 9:00 pm. So wear what you are wearing at the dance, at the beach party (unless you are playing beach v-ball beforehand). And other games played are picnic games played on grass, so you won't need to get sandy before the dance. So wear your nice causal attire as stated on the Friday and FAQs pages on the conference website. (nice BYU-friendly, knee-length shorts OK)
DON'T assume that you need (with your whole entourage) to go to back to the hotel in Costa Mesa to "freshen up" before the dance. Drive time back and forth will mean you won't be at the dance until 11 pm which means you'll already miss most of it.
DO realize that different singles are approaching the conference differently. Some are serious looking to find someone to date. Some just got divorced and need just support and friendship. Others just want to meet new friends. Others want to be spiritually fed by attending the workshops and meetings. So the conference is what you proactively make of it.
DON'T assume that if you sit by the sidelines, it's up to the other person to make the effort. It's up to you to reach out as well. Or don't assume the conference is entirely a "meat market". We are all individuals first with individual needs, and singles second.
Ladies...DO be proactive and help the OC Conference Committee by inviting your local guy singles in your area to the conference, even if you are not personally interested in them on a romantic level. Your local frog can someone else's Prince Charming and their frog may be your Prince Charming. :) Most guys are not as connected to facebook groups or email lists and may be unaware of the conference, or they plan last minute to attend the conference. So the guys will respond positively (and feel appreciated) to personal invites from you. If you want more guys to attend, it's up to the women (who plan with all their girlfriends 6 months beforehand) to invite the men.
Ladies...DON'T over-exaggrate the ratios. The OC Conference averages a 60F/40M ratio or better. If more women invite their local guys, that ratio will get even better. :)
Ladies… if you want the guys to approach you, DO de-clump with all your BFF's from time-to-time (and not all dance or sit together) so that the guys will be more apt to talk one-on-one with you (if you want).
Guys...DO show some courage and ask the ladies of a similar age to you to dance (even if she's a 7 and you only date 10s) :) Remember, it's just for one dance and helps you and your mojo, while giving her a chance to meet new people. You never know, your initial impression of her being a 7 might change by the end of the song.
(This is for everyone) DON'T come across as creepy or violate personal space or immediately dive into talking about some drama or inappropriate topics or prior relationship(s)/marriages within the first 5 minutes… :) We can all leave the Oprah moments for later (after the conference).
It is also considered inappropriate to put people into the "hot seat" by asking the following questions: "So, what's your story?", "How long have you been single?", or saving the best (worst for last), "Why are you still single?" People will naturally be more open in sharing more about their life when they know the conversation won't turn into an interrogation.
Some may ask "What is considered 'creepy' behavior?" "Creepy" behavior can mean different things to different people. Lurking and walking around, inspecting people sitting or standing on the sidelines on the dance floor can appear off-putting. Also men especially in your 50s on up, even though you may think "age ain't nothing but a number", please be cautious and do not ask women in their 30s (who potentially can be the same age as your daughter) to dance. Women in their 30s are very sensitive to this (since they are looking to find someone of a similiar age to start a family), and would appreciate your cooperation.
DO feel free to ask any questions, concerns, comments, or feedback to any of our OC Conference Hosts which will have a "Host" badge during the conference, and they will be more than happy to assist you.
DON'T assume that if there's something or a situation that needs attention, there's nothing you can do to change it. Feel free to ask our Hosts to assist you.
(For guys)…DO put forth some effort in attire and grooming. That means get a hair cut and wear attire you purchased within this decade. :) If the ladies are making an effort, so can you.
DON'T assume the same-o shirt and white sneakers will win over the ladies… :)
DO realize that even though the dances are themed that your outfit is not. Please refer the FAQs Page on the conference website about dress attire.
DON'T show up at the Themed Dances with some costume on.
DO keep a positive attitude and roll with it. Sometimes, the schedule may be off, or an activity is not meeting your expectations. Keep in mind, our organizers have worked extremely hard for countless hours for months on end to make this largest singles activity of the year possible with the resources they have been given. See the glass half full.
DON'T feel the need to cherry-pick and over-analyze about the what-ifs. Just leave your worries behind and enjoy this awesome conference and all the great and with-it people that are attending from all over the U.S. and beyond.
DO follow the insider driver and parking directions on the conference website to get to the activities faster and avoid unnecessary traffic. Maps will be also given at the each event as well, as well as in your registration packet with more info and details, as well as maps and directions will become available on this website too that you can print out, so you can't get lost. SoCal locals also use http://sigalert.com (that you can use on your smartphone) as a tool to get the latest traffic conditions.
Also, if you are coming from points North of Doheny Beach (which is located in South Orange County in Dana Point and location of our first activity of the conference), on Friday Afternoon to avoid the El Toro "Y" Traffic where the 405 and 5 Fwys merge, do take the 73 Toll Road instead. ($4.50/car). During rush hour traffic it will save you 30+ minutes. You can drive from the hotel in Costa Mesa to Doheny Beach in Dana Point in only 20-25 minutes via the 73.
DON'T…and I repeat DON'T blindly follow your GPS so you get stuck on some random freeway or lost on some weird side street.
DO arrive early and arrive on time for each event, especially the dances. This isn't your usual show-up-fashionably-late type of dance. Speed Mingling starts promptly at 9:15 pm and everyone needs to sign up for speed mingling at the speed mingling registration desk at the dance prior to showing up for their round. So it's in your best interest to show up right at 9 pm right after the Beach Party on Friday or Dinner Groups on Saturday before all the speed mingling spots are taken.
DON'T show up at 11 pm thinking that's when things really get started. When in fact, you've missed most of the evening already.
DO head on over directly from the Beach Party at Doheny Beach on Friday Night to the Dance at the Laguna Niguel Stake Center. The Beach Party ends at 8:30 pm and the Dance begins at 9:00 pm. So wear what you are wearing at the dance, at the beach party (unless you are playing beach v-ball beforehand). And other games played are picnic games played on grass, so you won't need to get sandy before the dance. So wear your nice causal attire as stated on the Friday and FAQs pages on the conference website. (nice BYU-friendly, knee-length shorts OK)
DON'T assume that you need (with your whole entourage) to go to back to the hotel in Costa Mesa to "freshen up" before the dance. Drive time back and forth will mean you won't be at the dance until 11 pm which means you'll already miss most of it.
DO realize that different singles are approaching the conference differently. Some are serious looking to find someone to date. Some just got divorced and need just support and friendship. Others just want to meet new friends. Others want to be spiritually fed by attending the workshops and meetings. So the conference is what you proactively make of it.
DON'T assume that if you sit by the sidelines, it's up to the other person to make the effort. It's up to you to reach out as well. Or don't assume the conference is entirely a "meat market". We are all individuals first with individual needs, and singles second.
Ladies...DO be proactive and help the OC Conference Committee by inviting your local guy singles in your area to the conference, even if you are not personally interested in them on a romantic level. Your local frog can someone else's Prince Charming and their frog may be your Prince Charming. :) Most guys are not as connected to facebook groups or email lists and may be unaware of the conference, or they plan last minute to attend the conference. So the guys will respond positively (and feel appreciated) to personal invites from you. If you want more guys to attend, it's up to the women (who plan with all their girlfriends 6 months beforehand) to invite the men.
Ladies...DON'T over-exaggrate the ratios. The OC Conference averages a 60F/40M ratio or better. If more women invite their local guys, that ratio will get even better. :)
Ladies… if you want the guys to approach you, DO de-clump with all your BFF's from time-to-time (and not all dance or sit together) so that the guys will be more apt to talk one-on-one with you (if you want).
Guys...DO show some courage and ask the ladies of a similar age to you to dance (even if she's a 7 and you only date 10s) :) Remember, it's just for one dance and helps you and your mojo, while giving her a chance to meet new people. You never know, your initial impression of her being a 7 might change by the end of the song.
(This is for everyone) DON'T come across as creepy or violate personal space or immediately dive into talking about some drama or inappropriate topics or prior relationship(s)/marriages within the first 5 minutes… :) We can all leave the Oprah moments for later (after the conference).
It is also considered inappropriate to put people into the "hot seat" by asking the following questions: "So, what's your story?", "How long have you been single?", or saving the best (worst for last), "Why are you still single?" People will naturally be more open in sharing more about their life when they know the conversation won't turn into an interrogation.
Some may ask "What is considered 'creepy' behavior?" "Creepy" behavior can mean different things to different people. Lurking and walking around, inspecting people sitting or standing on the sidelines on the dance floor can appear off-putting. Also men especially in your 50s on up, even though you may think "age ain't nothing but a number", please be cautious and do not ask women in their 30s (who potentially can be the same age as your daughter) to dance. Women in their 30s are very sensitive to this (since they are looking to find someone of a similiar age to start a family), and would appreciate your cooperation.
DO feel free to ask any questions, concerns, comments, or feedback to any of our OC Conference Hosts which will have a "Host" badge during the conference, and they will be more than happy to assist you.
DON'T assume that if there's something or a situation that needs attention, there's nothing you can do to change it. Feel free to ask our Hosts to assist you.
(For guys)…DO put forth some effort in attire and grooming. That means get a hair cut and wear attire you purchased within this decade. :) If the ladies are making an effort, so can you.
DON'T assume the same-o shirt and white sneakers will win over the ladies… :)
DO realize that even though the dances are themed that your outfit is not. Please refer the FAQs Page on the conference website about dress attire.
DON'T show up at the Themed Dances with some costume on.
DO keep a positive attitude and roll with it. Sometimes, the schedule may be off, or an activity is not meeting your expectations. Keep in mind, our organizers have worked extremely hard for countless hours for months on end to make this largest singles activity of the year possible with the resources they have been given. See the glass half full.
DON'T feel the need to cherry-pick and over-analyze about the what-ifs. Just leave your worries behind and enjoy this awesome conference and all the great and with-it people that are attending from all over the U.S. and beyond.
