10 Tips on How to "Event" in The Times of Covid

So here we are...back to "normal-ish" and #events are regularly becoming something #career #professionals are leaning into with excitement and uncertainty all at once. It's completely understandable to be both thrilled to be back in the face-to-face #networking game as well as being unsure if you're ready to mingle the way you once did pre-pandemic. From whatever angle you approach the topic, it really comes down to what are some #strategies you can implement if you're deciding to get back out there to maximize "eventing" once again?

Well first of all, let me just say that I consider myself to be an #expert within this topic (well, a self professed expert as there was no nominating committee, no awards granted...) However, the reason I feel pretty darn qualified to speak on this topic as I've attended and/or spoke at around 16 big events since the beginning of this year alone (and we still have 5 months left in 2022) Since January I've traveled --> San Diego to Orlando, --> Los Angeles to Arkansas, --> Ontario to Boca Raton, --> Las Vegas to Miami, --> San Diego (again) to Kansas City, --> Las Vegas (again) to Manhattan, --> Santa Ana to Austin, --> Anaheim to Chicago, --> Las Vegas (again) to Scottsdale, --> Atlanta to St. Petersburg and --> back to Las Vegas (yet again) to find myself back in Temecula where I'm now #writing this #newsletter to all of you.

What have I learned over the course of the past 8 months #traveling during what we oh so fondly now call, "Life in the Time of Covid"?

Well, a lot really...and knock on wood, I've not tested positive this year...at least not yet.

First of all, this isn't intended to be a "you should do this" or "you shouldn't do that" kind of #oped , rather I'm just going to share some #observations I've made along the way as well as some behaviors I've personally adopted that you can either apply to your own #travels moving forward or you can disregard and leave me some #feedback about how lame all of this advice is...but either way, I assure you that truly love #conversation & #engagement so I won't be flustered either way. I believe we all deserve the right to think & speak freely. ;)

Okay so here's what I've seen...

• Airline staff care very little about cleaning up airplanes in between flights.

Maybe this is something that has always been this way, but if that's the case I am just now noticing that flight attendants have very little time to get passengers deplaned and then get the next #flight onboarded, so it seems that they really count on the previous #flyers to do all the cleaning for them. They ask you numerous times during the flight to toss all your trash as they come down the aisles and provide wipes for you to wipe down your tray areas etc...but even with all these precautions, every single time I get on a #plane ...it's clear that the previous #passengers don't obey, because I find myself digging out their trash from the pouch area and wiping down their food messes and greasy fingerprint smudges of windows. The struggle is real folks.

#Tip 1 carry your own wet wipes & plastic gloves in your bag so you can avoid the hassle of grimy & germ infested fingers.

• Planes seem to feel less stuffy than they used to. I was told by a flight attendant recently that the new #airpurifying systems that planes are using due to #Covid are now actually making the air we breath onboard a plane much more #clean and #sanitary than the air we breathe simply walking throughout the #airport . I'm not sure I'm completely buying into that rationale, because I still get freaked out thinking about all the recirculated #germs we are all inhaling every time we step foot on a plane & I hear coughs, sneezes and smell the flatulence...yes, I went there. (Hence WHY I still mask up on the plane, even though we no longer HAVE to.)

#Tip 2 wear your mask on the plane...even if it's just to mask the "strange" scents...trust me it's well worth it.

• Anytime you pass by a restroom, get in the habit of popping in to do a quick hand washing session. I know this might sound a little #neurotic , but the truth is that we don't even REALIZE how often we touch surfaces and then immediately touch our eyes, our nose, our mouths...it's completely unintentional and most people never ever realize they are doing it, so it's just a good #precautionary action to take when you're in a crowded area, be it the plane, the airport or the #conference center itself...

#Tip 3 Turn on the hot water, pile on the soap and quietly sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself (twice completely) to provide yourself with the best scrub-a-dub ever.

• Request a COMFORT LEVEL BADGE from your event coordinator (or bring your own). I can't remember an event where we weren't given the option of wearing something that said; RED - No #hugs or #handshakes please, YELLOW - I'm #cautious , but don't mind #elbow bumps or GREEN - I'm a #hugger , get over here! Whatever YOUR comfort level is, wearing this #badge will give others the #intel they need to approach you in a manner that's within your #comfortzone . Now granted, there's always folks that are so excited to see you that they forget to look...so if you are more cautious be sure be vigilant because you may have to run your own form of interference.

#Tip 4 Wear or bring your own #ThisIsMyComfortLevel badge.

• If you DO decide to mask up on an non-stop basis, check out some of the suggestions on how to not suffocate. I tell you this as someone who's learned the hard way. First of all, the cutest #masks are sometimes the most difficult to #breathe in for long periods of time. Second, if you wear a mask that looks like a hunting or runner's scarf...those things are not fun to breathe in for long periods of time.

#Tip 5 get a disposable N-95 mask (some pharmacy counters are handing them out for free!) Even though they are ugly and make you feel like you have a beak, they are BY FAR the easiest masks to breathe in for long periods of time.

• Drink lots and lots of water during events...at least 2X's what you normally drink. Staying #hydrated is not only the way to maintain your #brain 's #focus during long sessions of #learning , it also helps to ward off the excess of booze you may have drank the evening prior...but most important of all, it's a fantastic way for your body to keep flushing out any #toxins that it has encountered during the day.

#Tip 5 carry a #hydroflask around with you everywhere you go!

• Make epsom salt soaks your new wind down activity at the end of each evening. One of the things I look for when I book a hotel is a room with a #tub . Not because I'm a diva, but because I know that if I soak in an #epsom salt #bath nightly it will help with #aches & #pains from walking around all day, but it was also help my body to release any #toxins it's acquired and been holding onto from my long day of #eventing . If your #hotel doesn't have a #bathtub , my #chiropractor taught me to fill the bathroom sink up with hot water and add #epsomsalt . Then put your washcloths in the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Wring out the excess water and apply the washcloths to the bottom of your #feet . Wrap with a dry bath towel and sit for 15-20 minutes scrolling your phone, listen to a #podcast , #read a #book or watch some tv...just let the epsom salts do their job.

#Tip 6 either pack or buy epsom salt soaks for your hotel room.

• If you insist on wearing cloth masks, consider adding a drop of essential oil to the mask after you wash the mask and allow it to air dry. This provides a lovely scent as well as a calming side effect each time you put the mask on. I like to hand wash my mask at the end of each day and then add a drop of my favorite #essentialoil (something calming) and if my mask is not quite dry by morning, I use the blow dryer in the room to finish it off.

#Tip 7 bring some zen to your nose via essential oils in your mask.

• If you feel uncomfortable in rooms where people are seated too closely together...choose an end row seat. What I mean by this is that most seats are hooked together in #convention centers and many people don't realize you can actually unhook those seats if you're on the end and simply move your chair further away from the person next to you. This little pro-tip I actually learned directly from #TikTok #influencer Glennda Baker while we were in #LasVegas together during the #luxuryconnect portion of #Inman .

#Tip 8 always look for an end seat if you're feeling too closed in...or sit on the sides of the wall or the back of the room away from others. Nobody will wince at your #choices ...it's whatever makes you feel most comfortable that matters.

• Always carry cough drops, hard candies or gum in your purse or backpack. Okay so this little trick, I know Kendyl Young will vouch for me on this because let's face it, we are ALL afraid to #cough anymore. As soon as you do there's inevitably someone glaring at you like you're the Covid-Kid, even though in reality it could be the dryness from too much air conditioning exposure, #seasonal #allergies , #asthma or even just swallowing something incorrectly. So if you keep some lozenges in your bag you'll quickly #rehydrate that dry throat and keep the glares away.

#Tip 9 be like your grandpa and carry hard candy with you everywhere.

• Last but not least, if you are wearing a mask in a public area and you suddenly need to sneeze or cough...for the love of Zeus, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR MASK ON. Seriously. I'm assuming in that split second decision moment, you're probably logically thinking, "I don't want to get #saliva all over the inside of my mask and feel wetness for the rest of the day", and look, I totally get that...but it's just the biggest no-no in today's society to choose to do that. It's the equivalent of picking your boogers and eating it really. So pretty please, if you feel that tingle coming on...

#Tip 10 leave your mask on when you sneeze or cough. It's called manners people.

None of this is #rocketscience and none of this must be done either...but it's definitely #helpful #advice if you're concerned about #germs and/or if you're just a person that wants to be considerate in general. Now keep in mind, there WILL BE people walking around mask-free, there will be people laughing, hugging, eating together, saying "taste this"...and none of this behavior makes folks bad people, they are just not as worried about getting sick as you may be. So the best thing we can do is do what's best FOR US and be understanding that what's best for us may not be what's best for another...but the beauty is that we have the #freedom of choosing what we want to do or not do for ourselves. Which may even include not going anywhere at all.

/endrant - Well it wasn't really a rant because I'm so NOT picking a side here. I'm just telling you what I've seen and what works for me.

What event tip did I forget to share? Please consider replying to let me know. Oh and stay tuned for next week's newsletter because I have a REALLY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE...#staytuned