In my last post I wrote about preparing for the event.
It’s all about self management to make your time rewarding.
To avoid distractions before I even get to the convention is to:
- Make sure I have all the facts – date, time, location, where I’m staying.
- Some conventions send you an advanced schedule. I will download it off my email and keep in with me during the convention.
- Know exactly what it’s going to cost you and who is going to pay you: a client? Your company?
- Understand why you are attending
- To find out the latest trends and find out information about your business niche or to make contacts
- Plan you clothing. Make sure your shoes are comfortable. Keep in mind that this is a business. If the final awards dinner is formal wear a tux or cocktail style suit.
- Schedule your travel and convention so that you have some down time especially of you’re traveling to a different time zone.
Today it’s so much easier to bring everything you need to record expenses, take notes, and gather information. You can use your smart phone or note pad .
- You still need to bring your own business cards and lots of them.
I usually schedule one day for working at the booth and the next day working the hospitality suites. Then there’s regrouping when I get back home.
Whether you are in the booth or in front of it, the work occurs before you ever show up and ends after you follow through. If you’re new to the association giving the conference but it’s a great market for what you do, take the time to learn all about it. Talking about the association will make it easy to start a conversation with someone else attending.
I like to map out my route at the convention to make sure I visit the exhibits that are an absolute must. I make a list and carry it with me.
After my first convention I also learned to not take every one’s brochure or hand out or handful of candies. Not only will you be schlepping around 20 pounds but you are adding calories.
One last piece of advice that was given to me by a very scholarly gentleman at an education conference. Make an effort to sit with people you don’t know at dinners and luncheons. Introduce yourself to the people at your table. You may be surprised at how likely it is that you both have a friend or colleague in common. Shut your cell phone off and listen to everything carefully. When lunch is over stop and take notes and follow thru with a couple of the people you’ve met, maybe with an article about their area of expertise.
Enjoy yourself and keep smiling.
Ruthan
To your successful marketing yourself at conventions.
Ruthan Brodsky
Copywriter
Health Writer and Consultant
Business Writer and consultant
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