- Dreamforce is Salesforce's signature conference that takes over downtown San Francisco every year.
- It's a chance for employees of the software giant, customers, and vendors to network, attend one of the 2,700 sessions, and party at exclusive events over the course of the four-day event.
- This year, former-President Barack Obama, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Games of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke are all on the schedule. Fleetwood Mac is also performing for the more than 170,000 attendees.
- Business Insider attended and took pictures to give a behind-the-scenes look of the first few days of the blockbuster conference.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -- Dreamforce is in full-force.
The four-day conference put on by software giant Salesforce takes over downtown San Francisco — literally. It's hard to walk on the street and not be surrounded by blue lanyards and the Dreamforce backpack, the hottest accessory of the year.
The event is a chance for Salesforce to announce new offerings. It also lets employees, customers, and vendors network, learn more about the company's signature products, and, yes, party. Companies rent out whole restaurants, bars, and other locations for the week to host events for the conference's more than 170,000 attendees. On top of that, 13 million people are expected to follow along online. One attendee told me is was like "Burning Man for people with jobs."
Data visualization-firm Tableau, which Salesforce purchased in 2019, even had the rapper Macklemore perform on Tuesday at Masonic, a music venue in San Francisco. Fleetwood Mac performs at Oracle Park on Wednesday. And at the conference, attendees are treated to free espresso-based drinks, live music, and speeches from luminaries like Apple CEO Tim Cook and former-President Barack Obama.
This year wasn't without its controversy. Protesters interrupted Salesforce CEO and co-founder Marc Benioff's keynote address over the company's controversial contract with Customs and Border Protection.
Below are a few pictures that sums up what makes Dreamforce such a standout event for so many people.
SEE ALSO: Salesforce's chief recruiter says arrogance is the biggest red flag in hiring. Here's how the company spots it during the interview process.
The entrance to the Dreamforce conference at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in downtown San Francisco encapsulates the theme — a tribute to the U.S. National Park System. Salesforce commonly uses this theme across its business, like in the educational pathway program Trailheads.
The theme is inspired by the ability of anyone to visit any of the 61 reserved locations within the U.S. National Park System. It ties to one of Salesforce's key values: equality.
There's ample places to sit outside, enjoy the erratic San Francisco weather, and watch the herds of people rush by — all while listening to live music.
The national park theme continues into the press room, where reporters can view keynotes, eat breakfast and lunch, charge laptops, and sip on strawberry-infused "spa water." Leaves are projected onto the walls, making the space quite calming amid the craziness of the conference. It was one of the most impressive press rooms I've ever been in.
This year's Dreamforce is the most environmentally sustainable one yet, according to Salesforce. The furniture used at the conference is rented, for example, and returned after it concludes. All the plants are also real, like these in the press room.
A huge Salesforce installations greet attendees going into the main keynote area.
Attendees were literally running in to the main venue to hear Salesforce founder and co-CEO Marc Benioff kick-off the conference.
The main venue was a square-shaped-stage surrounded on all sides by seating. Danny and Anna Akaka — two friends of Benioff — started off the keynote with a Hawaiian song. This year's conference was dedicated to Bernard Tyson, the Kaiser Permanente CEO who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Tyson was a member of Salesforce's board of directors.
Benioff's speech to officially launch Dreamforce was interrupted several times by protestors who were objecting to Salesforce's controversial contract with Customs and Border Protection. At the end of the presentation, Alicia Keys performed. This is also the stage where Benioff will interview Obama on Thursday.
Attendees can treat themselves to free espresso-based drinks while on the conference grounds.
The hottest accessory this year was, without a doubt, the Dreamforce backpack — a freebie from Salesforce for all those who attend. It was tough to peruse downtown San Francisco and not walk behind one of these.
The dress code for Dreamforce is business casual. It was common to see the typical dressed-down executive look for men: slacks, open-neck shirt, and a pair of what you'd be tempted to call "dress sneakers." Women tended to go with a dress and tights combo — critical to surviving the temperature changes throughout the first few days — or a simple t-shirt, dress pants, and blazer look.
A stage outside the conference center played host to a rotating series of live bands who serenaded attendees as they went between the more than 2,700 sessions.
The festival continues until Friday.
Many people told me to brace myself for Dreamforce before coming and the conference has exceeded all expectations so far.
As a big classic rock fan, I'm most excited about Fleetwood Mac on Wednesday evening and will report back on whether the band has still got it over 40 years after the release of the blockbuster "Rumours" album.
