Well, not quite a veteran, but at 6+ DrupalCons, I know a few tips worth sharing.

TIP #1 - THE PRENOTE 

This is something of a tradition at all DrupalCons. Before the actual Dries' keynote, you have the chance to attend an extremely funny show called "Prenote". The Prenotes are usually organized by Jam (Jeffrey McGuire) and Robert Douglas together with a group of volunteers. At DrupalCon New Orleans, it's on Tuesday at 8 o'clock and, believe me, you do not want to miss it. It's a musical, it has a plot, it is about Drupal, and it involves Dries! Check out the latest Prenote from DrupalCon Asia:

TIP #2 - BOFs 

DrupalCons and DrupalCamps have a more unusual and unofficial session track called "Birds of a Feather". These are meetings/discussions of like-minded individuals who wish to discuss a certain topic without a pre-planned agenda. BOFs allow groups to meet and discuss issues relating to regular conference sessions and talk out common problems facing the community. It's the perfect place to have niche talks with a small group of people that share the same interests as you do. All ideas are good ideas, and you won't get the chance to be bored, as they usually end after 15-30 minutes. All the ideas are usually listed on a board or in a special calendar on the DrupalCon website.

TIP #3 - SOCIAL EVENTS AND EXHIBIT FLOOR 

Besides the official schedule, all DrupalCons have many parties going on in locations near the event. Check the social calendar, ask around, or if you visit the exhibit floor, some of the exhibitors hosting those parties will give you party invitations. My piece of advice is to be there at the agreed hour, as the free drinks won't last forever. Free drinks last until the budget is used, and with such a large conference as DrupalCon, they do finish quickly, so be there early if thirsty. Always be connected to your Facebook account and be sure to be following the #drupalcon hashtag to see where the crowd is going afterward. At the end of each day, you could also get a drink as some of the exhibitors have a beer hour. Another typical (secret) event is the Whiskey BOF, but I'll let you find out what that is.

Hope this helped a bit and enjoy your DrupalCon!