I love attending live events because I love to learn new things for my business and personal development, as well as connect with people in person. Whether if I’m an attendee or I’m there to photograph the event, there’s always prep involved.
In this post we’ll focus on preparing as an ATTENDEE. Preparation is key! It’s better to be over prepared than under prepared!
1 – Do Your Research
When you sign up for an event, they may include a private Facebook group for the event. Join it!! Introduce yourself and start getting into conversations. Research the people in the group so you can familiarize yourself with their businesses. Also do some research on the host as well as any special guest speakers that will be there. You’ll have more to talk about when you see them in person other than a quick hello.
2 – Wardrobe – First Impressions Count!!
Put some thought into what you’ll be wearing. You want to be yourself as well as get a feel for the vibe of the event. Although your style may be a t-shirt and yoga pants, that’s probably not what you’ll wear to a biz event. That doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit either!! Be neat, clean and professional as well as dress to reflect your personality and business. For example for me as a creative, I wouldn’t wear a business suit. It’s just so not me!!!
You never know how cold or warm the venue will be either. In my experience it’s usually on the colder side so I would suggest bringing an extra sweater or jacket that you can take on and off as the temperature in the room changes.
3 – Hello My Name Is…
You’ll be meeting new people so you want to think about how you’ll introduce yourself. Do you have a short elevator speech prepared? You don’t need to tell your whole life story or your full resume dating back to your college days. Keep it clear and concise yet leave room for people to still have questions about you. This will lead to organically developing into a real conversation.
4 – Note Taking
Decide how you’ll be taking notes. Will it be on your laptop, tablet, phone or actually writing it down? I think the most effective for remembering is when you actually put pen to paper. The host may provide a pad and pen but you never know so bring your own – at least a few pens so you have extra in case one runs out.
5 – Stay Hydrated & Snack Attack
At most events at minimum there will be water, coffee and tea but again, you never know so at least bring your own water bottle. If you frequently get hungry during the day and especially if you have dietary restrictions, bring some healthy snacks like granola bars or fresh fruit. I would say nuts as well but you never know about allergies. Nothing that will weigh you down and make you sleepy.
6 – Make a Plan For Your Absence
Whether you run your own business or work for someone else, try to get loose ends at work tied up before you go. You can create content and schedule it to post, set an autoreply on your email, or just delegate. Same goes for personal stuff. Are you the one that normally cooks dinner or picks up the kids from school? Make a plan to have these things covered. You want to make sure you’re fully present at the event and not worrying about what’s going on at work or home.
7 – Rest Up
Get a good night’s rest the night before. You want to feel energetic and alert so you can pay attention to what you’ll be learning and for all of the new people you’ll be meeting. Self care is key!!
8 – The Extras
Mints, gum, a travel size toothbrush, toothpaste or mouthwash and of course your chargers and business cards!!!
Being prepared is part of self care. You’ll feel more at ease and less stressed and in a better position to make the most out of the event.
Do you attend a lot of events? I’d love to hear how you prepare. Share your tips for preparing in the comments below
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