Congress/Festival Survival Guide

Congress season is upon us, well for some of us! I have already been to 2 congresses and 3 festivals and there is something to be said about being prepared. My first congress, the Orlando Salsa Congress, was amazing, but a disaster. I ended up overwhelmed and exhausted, and then a week later sick.

So learning from that experience has given me a few tips to share with others, and now doing a 3-4 day festival is no big deal. And I try to attend a little of everything, workshops, performances, pool parties and social dancing. Throw in an afterparty even.

These is my survival guide for making it through unscathed.

1. Pace Yourself.
- Remember it is normally 3 full days and 4 nights of entertainment. You won't be able to make it through everything if you attack it "balls to the wall" style. Know your limits and listen to your body. Also do not push yourself into classes that are not to your level, push yourself for sure, but dont jump in feet first into advanced if you've never tried that style of dance.

2. Plan Your Day Carefully
- There are a lot of workshops everyday, pick and choose which mean the most to you. My first congress I tried to take as many workshops as possible, and ended up retaining almost nothing. Also remember to plan in time to EAT and relax. Some congresses allow a lunch break, some do not.

3. Find Downtime/Rest
- Pool party time is a good time to get in some rest. Grab a lounger in the shade and take a rest, or hightail it to your room and get a power nap for 30-45 mins. If you can sleep in - awesome - but if there is a 10am workshop you really want, remember that at the end of the night, there will always be an afterparty tomorrow.

4. Do your Research
- Figure out if the hotel has restaurants or cafes, and check prices. Check nearby restaurants available. Also check your accomadations, Fridge and Micro in the room is a god-send. Is there a cheaper hotel within walking distance, anything to help shave off some of the costs is always a good idea. Can you share rooms with others and bring the costs down.

5. Eat Well/Take Care of Yourself
- The drinks tend to flow pretty freely at most congresses I've been to, and people tend to grab food when they have to. Taking the time to stop and really eat well, will reward you in the long run. Eat a good breakfast, one of my favorites is the oatmeal from Starbucks and a banana. Drink lots of water, and take some Emergen-C every morning. Eat a decent lunch - and make sure to include fruits and veggies, not just burgers and fries. You dont want to crash. I do tend to eat pasta or a baked potato for energy. Pack little snacks in your dance bag to keep you going. This is where the fridge comes in handy.

Hopefully this will help someone get through Congress, especially those who do not know what to expect. It's exciting and hectic, but with a little planning you can really get the most out of the experience.