10 Successful Tips for Conference-goers

First off, I apologize for the lack of updates recently—both Ronin and myself took some time away from the blog, but I think we’ve regrouped and we’re ready to hit with some excellentmediocre content!

To start off the week, we’ll take a more business-y focus. Both Ronin and I have attended conferences related to our various professions, and we’d like to share some important tips with you rookie conference-goers to get the most out of your experience.

-Get freebies (or “swag”) in the exhibition halls- Often at conferences, vendors who sell products related to your field will set up in booths, and often hand out promotional items (also known as “swag”) such as waterbottles, pencils, pens, and personalized candies. What many don’t know, however, is that as a rule ANYTHING in the booth is free for the taking. Demonstration product, the rep’s ham sandwich, and any personal belongings such as keys or wallets are all good scores.

-Get freebies from your hotel room- The basic hotel bathroom includes all the basic amenities that one would need to get through a basic one or two day stay in a hotel.  The key is to take all of soaps and clothes they give you for free and put them in your bag after one use.  Then when they come through to clean the next morning, they’ll see the empty soap dish, and give you more free stuff!  This can be repeated throughout your entire stay.  Just remember not to put it all in your carry on luggage. Unless you’re a terrorist.

-Give everyone your business card - Connections are invaluable in the business world.  They can open the doors to new investments, jobs, hand jobs, and hand shakes.  Always have plenty of business cards when you go to a conference.  A good rule of thumb is as follows:

Pop. of conference city ÷ conference attendees = # of cards

Here would be a an example from a trip I recently took to LA:

9,862,049 ÷ 50 = 197,240.98

-Ask questions during conference sessions - Of course, by this I mean go to conference sessions that have little relevance to your area of expertise, then ask “questions” that are really just a means to express how self-important you are.

-Look Busy - When you go to a conference you are representing the company or organization that you work for.  It’s your job to make a good impression on the fellow conference goers.  If there’s one thing everyone knows, it’s that rich companies are busy companies.  Whenever you get a break, always stand up and start talking loudly on your cell phone about a big deal. Always appear as though you are multitasking.

Most importantly, have a smart phone. If you have a regular phone, they’ll think you’re an amateur texting, but if you have a smartphone, people will think “Hey, look how smart this guy is!” Also, it is acceptable to be talking on one phone while reading an email on another.

-Tips for eating alone on a business trip - For some people, eating alone can be a very calming, pleasant experience but for the vast majority of people, it sucks.  Everyone in the resturant just looks at you and whispers to everyone around them how lame you are. I have a couple quick tips to help avoid this;

• Eat at the Bar: the bar is a great place to seem like you’re not alone when you actually are.  Not only do they generally have a television to keep you entertained but you can talk to the bartender, other drunks, your beer, or the television.
• Don’t bring anything to read: This may go against common thoughts on the subject.  In my opinion, when you bring a book to a resturant (unless you’re a child) everyone knows you’re eating alone.  When they find out you’re alone, they’ll think less of you.  By not bringing anything and checking your phone often, people will just think you’re waiting for your hot date.

-How to hold a drink and a small plate of hors d’oeuvres while chatting with important people during a social - There actually is no good way to do this. Well, you can hold the items as long as you want, but drinking or eating becomes awkward. I’d suggest picking things directly up off the plate with your mouth.

-Save some time for local sights - Definitely take the time to get away from the conference for a bit and enjoy some local sights or R&R time. This will allow you to relax, refocus, reframe, and experience a new place you haven’t been. Visiting Detroit? Take a walk around and count the number of cars you see up on cinderblocks. In Cleveland, be sure to check out the Cuyahoga River, now no longer flammable! In Cedar Rapids, Iowa? Visit many sites formerly under water! -Rekindle connections - “Hmm, that guy over there looks familiar. Oh, snap, that’s John, the guy who had the terrible interview…damn, he saw me, here he comes…” Conferences are a great time to hold awkward conversations with people you don’t really like about the things they’re doing in their life now.

You say: “Oh, you moved to Gary, Indiana for a new job? Yea, how are you liking that? Sounds like a good place for you”
Translation: “So you moved to the armpit of the earth to take an inferior job at an inferior company that’s going to lay you off in 6 months? I hear Denny’s is looking for a new night manager.”

-Lie to the competition - At many conferences you may run into your competition.  This is an excellent time for a few well placed half truths to give you and your company the edge.  You always want to inflate sales figures, deny widely published bad press, and invent foreign investment firms.  This may also lead them to open up about their business secrets but be cautious…they may have also read this article.

by mashthekeys
2 years ago