TC26: The Ultimate Guide for Viz Fans - Tableau Conference Tips Pt 2

by Sarah Burnett & Fiona Crocker | Co-Founders, Dub Dub Data

Welcome back to part 2 of or Tableau Conference Tips!  In our previous blog, we focused on how to get the most out of a conference.

  01 — Mindset

Beating Imposter Syndrome: A Genuine Guide for First-Timers

Everyone looks like they know where they're going. They don't. They're bumbling around exactly like you are.

The Tableau community is genuinely different from other data communities. People here have a real desire to help one another. Ambassadors, Visionaries, Hall of Famers - they're used to people coming up to them and they genuinely care about new faces. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

• Have a 30-second intro ready. Who are you, what do you do, what are you hoping to get from TC26? Practice it. It makes everything less terrifying.
• Use a great ice-breaker question. "What version of Tableau did you start on?" works every time. So does "What's the one session you're most excited about?"
• Don't wait to be introduced. Go First. At Seattle 2014, Fi sat on the fringe for the whole conference. There were zen masters (visionaries) and data leaders walking past and nothing happened because of fear. Those are years you don't get back. Go first.
• Set your LinkedIn QR code as your lock screen. Make it effortless for people to connect with you. No fumbling - just hold up your phone.
• Find us first if you need a warm-up. Come and say hi to Fi and Sarah. We'll introduce you to someone. Break the seal with us and it gets easier from there.
• Remember: the voice wobble is louder in your own ears. If your voice shakes a bit when you ask a question in a session, you're the only one who notices. People are focused on what you're saying, not how you're saying it.
  
  

  02 — Packing

What to Pack for Tableau Conference 2026

You will walk somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 steps a day. Plan accordingly.

👟 Two pairs of comfy shoes - alternate daily to rest your feet

🧥 A hoodie, wrap, or layer - conference centres are cold

🔋 Portable battery pack - your phone will die mid-day

💧 A refillable water bottle

🎧 Noise-cancelling headphones for flights + loop earplugs for noisy events

💊 Blister plasters - essential by day two

⚡ Electrolyte sachets - just in case

💻 Laptop if you're joining the hackathon

📱 Travel eSIM - don't rely on conference Wi-Fi alone

🔌 Set your phone to battery saver mode from day one

📝 Your preferred note-taking setup decided in advance

🤝 Stickers, swag, or something to trade - it makes you memorable

 On clothing: this is a tech conference. T-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and chinos are completely fine. Don't dress to impress unless you have some important meeting! Dress to move. The only thing that matters is comfortable shoes and your ability to layer up when the air conditioning hits.

If you're thinking about rooming with someone to split costs - especially if you're self-funding the trip - reach out in the Tableau Community Slack or on LinkedIn. It's common, it's practical, and some of the best conference friendships start that way.

  03 — Visibility

Social Media & How to Share Your TC26 Experience

Tableau Conference is one of the best events of the year for LinkedIn. The Data Fam floods the platform during TC and it's a huge opportunity to build your profile, connect with people you've met, and capture insights while they're fresh.

• Use a hashtag: #TC26, #DataFam, and #TableauConference are where the conversation happens. Use them on every post.
• Post during the event, not just after. Real-time posts get more engagement and make it easier for people who didn't attend to find and connect with you.
• Share your one key takeaway after each session. You don't need to write an essay. One insight, one session, one hashtag. That's enough to be visible.
• Set your LinkedIn QR code as your phone lock screen. When someone asks to connect, you're ready instantly.
• Follow along from home: If you can't make it to San Diego, follow #TC26 and #DataFam on LinkedIn, watch the Devs on Stage stream live, and keep an eye on Salesforce+ and the DataFam Tug for recordings post-event.
• Come and find us on the ground: We'll be roaming San Diego capturing the Data Fam for unDUBBED. If you spot us - or you want to share your take, be interviewed, or just say hi - find us. We're giving away swag (and possibly some temporary tattoos). We want your voice, not just ours.
  
  

  04 — After TC26

Post-Conference: Don't Waste the Momentum

 Most people crash when conference ends. They're exhausted, they have a mountain of emails to catch up on, and within two weeks the insights and connections from San Diego have faded. Don't let that happen.

• Don't plan anything big for the week you get back. Block recovery time. You will be genuinely exhausted, and if you try to dive straight back into a big project or presentation, you'll underperform on both. Protect that week before you leave.
• Follow up with new connections within 48 hours. Send a LinkedIn message to everyone you connected with while the conversation is still fresh. Even one line - "Great meeting you at TC26, let's stay in touch" - is enough to cement it.
• Watch the on-demand sessions you missed. Salesforce+ has most of the recorded content, and the DataFam Tug on YouTube hosts community recordings post-TC. Go back with your notes and fill in the gaps.
• Share what you learned with your team. Even a 15-minute summary session for your colleagues - "here's what I took from TC26 and how it applies to us" - converts your attendance into visible team value. It also helps build the case for going again next year.
• Act on at least one thing. You'll come back with pages of ideas. Don't let them all sit in a notebook. Pick the one thing that's most actionable for your environment and move on it within the first week.

"Conference is what you make it. Lean into what you want, figure out how you can get it, and squeeze the most out of it."

— Fi, unDUBBED Podcast     Ready?

See You in San Diego — 5–7 May 2026

Whether this is your first TC or your tenth, we hope these blogs help you walk into the San Diego Convention Centre with confidence, a plan, and the right expectations. It's going to be a big one.

Come and find us. We'll be the ones with the Undubbed stickers and the recording gear. Say hi, share your take, and let's make TC26 something worth talking about.

PS - There's So Much More!

For those of you wondering, there's stuff we haven't mentioned. We promise there's something for everyone! Hands-on training, certifications, roundtables, Tableau Doctor Appointments, plus so much more. What are you waiting for?!