Dos and Don'ts for Event Goers
Dos and Don’ts for Event Goers
(See my previous articles, “How to Put on a Bad Event” and“How to Put on a Good Event”)
Don’ts
1. Don’t go with a friend or relative, and if you do, split up so you can meet new people. And do not schedule time during the conference to meet with your obscure second cousins from Tarzana. Meet them after the conference and take advantage of golden networking time.
2. Don’t hole up on your room! LUNCH with people you don’t know. At a writer’s conference, everyone disappeared. You may be a writer, introverted, shy . . . but that’s no excuse, you have a built-in ice-breaker by your shared experience and you’re missing out on making some valuable connections! Try to eat every meal with people you don’t know. “Is anyone sitting here? Do you have room for one more?” And invite others who are wandering around to dine with you at your table.
3. Don’t forget to bring snacks, almonds, celery, carrots, protein bars. When you are hungry, you can’t concentrate on the speaker and most times the hotel store is filled with candy, candy, candy.
Dos
1. Bring warm throws and fluffy socks. I went to an event in LA in March. People coming from colder climes were wearing sandals because they thought, Hey it’s LA, it’s warm there. I even checked NOAA. That’s true, it is warm outside in the sun, but at most events the rooms are kept cool and the short-sleeved and sandal-clad are freezing.
Why do they freeze us?
- Because the host is sweating up there under the lights.
- Because it keeps people awake, and
- Because studies have shown that when prospective buyers are uncomfortable, they buy more.
Is your host more concerned about your comfort or about making “torture sales?” I think if you aren’t comfortable, you may actually be miserable, and miserable, angry guests become resentful of their “captors” and they don’t buy. Check out my event reviews here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qqtr-P1FNc; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8nXyNQ7vSU
2. Bring what you need to stay healthy and pampered: vitamins, any medications, bath salts, body lotion, power shakes, etc., especially if the hotel food is bad. At an event down by the LA airport, the food at the Westin was gourmet, out of this world, uncommonly great. Everyone was remarking on it. This is an exception to the rule.
3. Keep a Travel List on your desktop to print and check off whenever you’re on the go.
4. Have genuine, meaningful conversations and make connections, rather than being “the person with the most business cards.” Follow up with the people you met as soon as you get home. They could be important to your future. Finally, bring your sunny attitude. A few grumpy comments are okay with people you know, but try not to complain too much because connections like to work with agreeable people, and, after all, with my tips, you should be on top of your game and feeling great.