Update: I’m going to close the survey and the raffle tomorrow around midnight. So you have the whole day to fill in your information and take part in the book raffle. I will then evaluate the feedback and publish the results. Thanks to everybody who took part in the survey!

This morning Joschi asked an interesting question on Twitter.

Pls help me w/ this one: What's the average lead time you need / prefer for planning your conference visits? Thanks!

I find it interesting not only because I’m running my own event, but because I think I can’t really answer this question myself like a usual attendee. I’m attending so many events, that sometimes I decide to go to an event just the day before it takes place. Sometimes I need more time as I want to make sure to really have the time to attend as usually other – maybe family related things – might come in the way. Or someone books me to take photos at her/his event and I need to be there to make some extra shots from the setup, workshops or side events for example. Surely I plan everything for beyond tellerrand really early and also for SmashingConf, as I am a board member and part of the team, but especially events I have never been to with cities and countries I never been to, I try to make some extra time.

Sometimes it does not work out to have extra days before and/or after an event. As said, I am away quite a lot on many events and my family is happy for every day, that I stay at home, of course. Then I prefer to arrive a day prior the event to not miss anything on the first day and I like to leave a day after the event not too early to at least being able to take part in some of the networking opportunities that most events give after the event is over.

To get a more detailed impression, I created a survey that helps to understand how others plan their trips and event journeys. It would be really helpful, if you take part in it. All results will be publicly available.

I think especially (twitter: @jkphl text: Joschi) and (twitter: @briansuda text: Brian Suda), who are planning an exciting event in Iceland, are interested in the outcome of the survey (I guess this was also the reason for Joschi to ask), but of course I will publish all the results.

This way to the survey.

Thanks for taking part in the survey!

Update: forgot to mention that you can win one copy of the Smashing Book #5 or one of the new edition of Andy's Hardboiled Web Design Book, if you take part and want to win. Good luck and thanks to Smashing Magazine for giving the books.

I guess with these lovely notebooks planning of the next events is done already. Thanks (twitter: @justinavery)

What a fantastic present. Thanks so much for the lovely gift and the card, (twitter: @brad_frost) – you rock!

New family member: The Botanist. Directly made the base for a #Gimlet. #gin

Erik Jung has written an understandable post about responsive type sizing. Well written and explained

⇾ Visit: Responsive Guide to Type Sizing

Campaign monitor writes really good and helpful articles about newsletters and campaigns. This time about structure for readers that don't read, but scan their emails.

⇾ Visit: Structure Your Email Campaigns for Scanning Readers

Socks seem to be a thing right now. The lovely people at (twitter: @mailchimp) sent me great Freddie-Socks.

Wonderful Christmas presents by my friends from (twitter: @siteground) – thank you!

Back from running I find this in my post box. Fantastic. Thank you, (twitter: @wiegimania)

For a few days I feel, like I fell into a big, dark hole. I always describe the situation like this: I am walking my dog in the forest I live in and I feel this never-ending loneliness. Everything is so silent. I hear every sound much more intense. Birds, the wind in the leafs, the train passing by in the distance. Somehow it feels sad and absolutely lonely. If you want, you can say it is the opposite of what I experience right before and at the event itself. And because no one is talking to me, I get into self-doubt again.

An article on the beyond tellerrand blog about how and what I feel before, during and after an event.

⇾ Visit: An Event's Lifecycle: The Highs, The Lows, The Silence