#TCDisrupt: Bye bye LA Helloooo SF!! (and I'm traveling around for free too! Here's how!)

Sep 6

A few weeks back I got hit up on twitter by the founder of the South American startup AndesBeat asking if I would mind covering the SF TechCrunch Disrupt for them. See, they can't afford the expensive trip to the states to cover the event so they wanted to find someone local-ish to guest report for them and rock a t-shirt promoting their company.

Dude, corporate sponsored trip to a tech conference??? UUHHHHH yes please!

Carlos and I then connected, they paid for my bus ticket - and boom! Now I'm headed to SF this Sunday to cover the conference!!!

Of course, like a good nerd, my brain IMMEDIATELY went into strategizing the rest of my trip. The last few times I've been to SF I had a car from Ford, or was with someone - so no matter what I always had a place to stay.

Having genuinely never had to take the transit I then tweeted out if SF was a completely transit friendly city. Not only did you guys respond very favorably but a few car service companies read the tweets and offered me free car service!!

Now, thanks to LYFT and SideCar, I will be completely taken care of for the duration of my time up there while I also test out their services and provide honest feedback of the apps.

Transportation to SF: check

Transportation around SF: check

Now, I needed lodging.

Remember a few weeks ago when my buddy @brokeassstuart was in town? Well, he offered up an air mattress at his place ANNYYY time I wanted to come for a visit.

How did Stuart and I meet originally? Twitter, of course!!

We had a TON of mutual readers and you guys actually connected us. Dude, a broke ass and a corporate sponsored minimalist? TELL ME that isn't a match made in heaven.

I hit him up this morning to confirm his availability ...

For the rest.of.my.life. I am going to have to have an extra couch for peeps to crash on in all the places I live. I'm genuinely super good about it now anytime someone hits me up - but I HAVE to keep all my karma in check.

Either way, food and drink are going to be SUPER easy since at conferences there are ALWAYS a ton of mixers and hosted events. I'm already schmoozing my way on some lists ... but I'm going to hit up Trader Joes before the trip as well to get some meal bars (which run under $5).

Dudes, literally that is going to be my ONLY expense for this trip and that is a SAFETY!!!

How AWESOME is that and how NEEDED is this trip in my life?!?!!?!?!

I've had a very reflective couple of weeks, and traveling is on my bliss list so to be able to get out of town for LITERALLY next to nothing melts.my.soul.

So far here is my schedule ...

I get in at 8pm Sunday night, followed by Monday and Tuesday being at the conference all day. Wednesday morning I might hit the conference again if it is still rocking and rolling, but otherwise I am just going to spend lunch at Twitter HQ and then the entire afternoon and evening taking meetings with various start ups.

If you guys want to meet up please please please reach out!! I'm only in the bay area every few months, so I'd REALLY like to meet with you. (hit me up via twitter @jenfriel or email: jenfriel@talknerdytomelover d c)

THEENNNNNNN ... depending on how busy I am, I might stay until either Thursday or Friday.

A friend of mine is coming into town on Friday, so I might stay and see him - but fortunately when you're taking the bus the departure is always SUPER flexible.

Very very very special thank you to Emily at LYFT, Blake at SideCar, and of course, Carlos and crew at AndesBeat. If you spot me at the conference say howdy!! I'll be in the AndesBeat tee!! Wahoo!!!!

Rock on, nerderinos!! Can't WAIT to meet more of you!! xoxo