2016 Conference Survival Guide

There are so many great conferences I will be going to in 2016 that I thought I’d share with you my tips on how to survive the conference circuit.
Never been to one and this is your first ?
Class yourself as a professional conference attendee?

You may think that a lot of this is common sense but I ask you … as you read this … do you know the person who doesn’t do this ? Maybe point them to this blog !

Before you get there

Once you have your ticket and have your time already authorised off, buy your train and hotel tickets in advance… the earlier in advance the cheaper they usually are.
Plan in advance, who you want to see, seminars, meet ups seminars etc.
Follow Twitter and LinkedIn to see who of your contacts are going and if so, arrange to catch up with them.
Have a list of your known contact names next to companies you know to remind you of that person…
“Y’know him, he’s got the weird eyes and the hairy ears, his hands are, y’know him, with the beard”
“It’s me … I shaved my beard.”
If there is an app for the show, it might be useful for planning your visit, floor plan etc.
Stay in a hotel close to the venue the night before and if possible afterwards that way you can start your day off, refreshed and clean.
Wash, shower, brush your teeth, change your clothes, no excuse. Personal hygiene will be your number one killer at any event.
Consider a pocket-size deodorant if you plan to be there all day and use it at lunchtime.
Have a decent breakfast too, you don’t necessarily know when you will eat next.
Never assume that a) the venue will have food b) the food will be edible c) you will be able to afford the food (I’m looking at you Infosec EU)
Business cards, take loads, make sure you pack a pen to write on their cards what you talked about.
Print off your ticket, maps, itinerary etc. There may not be signal or internet when you get there.
Charge your phones.

How to wear for the day

Good shoes, not sneakers or running shoes. Comfy shoes that do not rub … I use Dr Martens dealer boots.
Wear comfortable clothes but not scruffy – jeans, shirt and a jacket / suit with tie or without.
Avoid comedy/rock band t-shirts and board shorts.
The more that you look like a vendor, the less your badge will be scanned.
Pockets … put nothing in an outside pocket. Phones go in the inside pockets of your jacket, business cards go in the ticket pocket of your jacket. You should carry a couple of notes of currency in your back pocket but put everything else securely in your bag. I may let you carry mints if you have to.
Use RFID protection on debit and credit cards.
Be comfortable and keep your hands free.
A pale shirt will cover up sweat patches but are also susceptible to coffee stains.
Jeans/trousers should fit you … no-one needs to see your Batman underwear !
Wear a small rucksack to put all the stuff you’ve emptied from your pockets. Also, put a small box for the business cards you collect (pack a Sharpie to write on them with).
Think … do I need this with me ? Laptops tend to be useless at most conferences.
WiFi at events is usually rubbish, monitored and can be insecure, so don’t take devices you don’t need to.

When you’re there

On Arrival

Use the cloakroom to ditch your coats, bags, jumpers, umbrellas, llamas and significant other people – you need to travel light.
Conferences are paid for by vendors, expect a vendor pitch or two.
Cover up that badge or it’ll get scanned – if they ask to scan it, tell them you’re a competitor.
Don’t try to go to every seminar, pace yourself.
Turn your WiFi and Bluetooth off to prevent any malicious activity.
First job, walk around the venue, work out where loos are, drinks are and get yourself comfortable.
Turn your phone to silent and vibrate.

Swag

Be aware of free tech e.g. USB pen drives, you don’t know what they really contain.
Free hands are useful for picking up swag, but don’t get suckered into free bags.
If you’re going to take swag, you’ve got to carry it, get a decent bag.
Most swag only costs pence to maybe a couple of quid … realistically, it’s not that great!
Swag is only handed over in exchange for your badge being scanned – be prepared.
Booth babes are a no-no, they don’t think you’re hot, they don’t want your business card for a date, they are paid to get you on a stand then move on.
If a stand has booth babes, think – is their product so bad they have to hide it behind a push up bra and spandex?

Food and Drink

Drink water not alcohol.
Get fresh air at lunch, go outside even if it is raining.
Food and drinks inside the venue tend to be expensive, find a local supermarket.

General Etiquette

Take your time, do the stands you need, then take in the sights.
Walk with a smile .. I know it’s 8am and you’re tired … but if someone spots you and wants to go over and talk to you, they’ll avoid you if you look grumpy.
Each company you meet might be a potential employer, behave!
Get in the queue for seminars early, I have missed many great seminars by the queue being too long.
After a seminar, if you have a tricky question, call at the vendor stand it is not nice to kill a presenter on stage.
Anyone can be a smart-arse and show off superior knowledge, conferences are not for that.
Tweet, lots – and use the right hash tags for the event.
It is likely you’ll meet people you know, if you are slightly shy, have a pre-prepared “Hi, how are you? what are you up to? how you finding the show so far?” statement. If you need to get away “great catching up, you around for the rest of the day? I’m just popping up to a seminar”
If you receive a business card, thank them politely, pass them your card and put their card in your outside jacket pocket. When you are away from them write on the card any actions you need to do and then stow that card securely.
People you talk to on Twitter will not know you in real life, know the difference and introduce yourself and treat them like a human. Hashtag IRL for reals.
Rock-stars in your industry have no idea who you are, be respectful and treat them like a human. Before you completely fan boi yourself, know what you want to ask them. They are there as they want to meet people too and find out new stuff for themselves.
Enjoy it, but remember, there is a reason you went – make sure you don’t leave without that objective being completed.

Aftershow parties

After parties, behave! Don’t be THAT person.
Drink responsibly.
Some sectors are rife with sexism, don’t hit on people because you think you can, be respectful.
Be aware who you are talking to at an after-party.
Treat every new person you meet as your new boss.
Afterwards have somewhere to crash and recuperate.
Don’t drink and drive – always cab or walk.

Post-event wash-up

When you get back to your hotel room go through your swag and ditch the useless stuff, leave it for your cleaner with a nice note, “Saw this and thought I’d treat you – thank you for cleaning my room”.
Ditch any brochures, product guides for vendors that do not relate to you.
The train journey home is a good place to think about the event.
Write emails to everyone you met to say thanks for a great show and that you’ll follow-up shortly with them.
Spend some time writing up the show in a pad, who you met, what was good, what you didn’t like or didn’t see.
If you missed a particular seminar, contact the person who gave it and ask them if they could have a chat with you, look out for downloads of presentations too.
Don’t do any of the above if you’re still drunk from the after show party !
When you go back to your place of employment, try to be subtle with the swag, it may give off the wrong impression – i.e. you just went there for the fun.

Hope that is a useful list. If you have any top tips, the fire them over to me below and I’ll add them to the list.

Thanks.

@SPCoulson

HiddenText Ltd