Things I learned:
Put feed dogs down
make sure FMQ part is screwed on tight - mine was loose
lengthen stiches
reduce tension
don't go too slow
make sure the material glides across your sewing arm
manually put your needle down and then up while holding the top thread to pull the bobbin thread through then stitch 2 or 3 stiches in place and then trim both threads
ball point needle
Don't move the material too fast - in fact don't move the material - slide/glide the material around your work surface - everytime I "move" the material I get skipped stitches or the bobbin thread comes up top
That's all the newbie tricks I learned last week!