How to Get the Most Out of a Conference

Conferences are great places to get inspired, meet people and learn new stuff. They're also chaotic and crowded. How do you get the most of what a conference has to offer? Here is a guide that will help you. Wear something bright, weird or different so people recognize you
Conferences are often hot, crowded and uncomfortable so it makes sense to wear something comfortable. Do that but also make sure you stand out from the crowd. Got a funny hat that you like? Wear it. Got a pink sweater with an embroidered turtle on it? Go ahead, wear it. You will be walking around a crowd with 1000+ people so anything that provides a visual cue of who you are helps other people recognise you. Word of warning: don't go all out with the chicken suit, unless you really feel comfortable in it .


Read the agenda in advance and plan ahead
Keynote speakers, multi-track programs, demo booths and parties... there is always alot going on at conferences. Take a good look at the agenda before you go to the conference and make your own planning. Find out which keynote speakers you really need to see and which ones are 'nice to haves.' You can always change your plans along the way but it helps to know what the options are.

Go with the flow
You need to have an open mind and be prepared to go with the flow if opportunities are presented to you. When the CEO of a big company asks you to join her for dinner you want to be able to say 'Yes!' without hesitating and not having to think 'oh no, I have a big bag with me, no money and no idea where my hotel is and how to get back'. Travel light, bring cash and credit cards and be flexible.

Sit at crowded tables during lunch
Nobody likes networking. It feels forced and unnatural to most of us. Still, conferences are great places to meet new people and strengthen ties to business contacts. The safe thing to do is grab your lunch, sit at an empty table at the back and hope for people to approach you. Resist that urge and take a look at the table where the most laughter comes from. Move up to that table and sit there. It is so much easier to jump into a running conversation than strike up a new one.

Ask questions
If you are listening to a keynote speaker, or any presentation at all, always think about what questions you could ask at the end of the presentation. Speakers like questions and the audience like it when questions are asked. You might not have a spot onstage but that doesn't mean you have to stay in the limelight. Take notes during the keynote and have your questions ready when the speakers finishes. Mention your name before you ask the question so people know who you are.

Don't overdo it either. If you ask a question after every keynote people will start noticing. Ask a question every other speaker and you should be fine.

Attend parties and dinners or organize your own
Go to the pre-conference Drinks or consider hosting your own. Usually it is as simple as emailing the other attendees and paying a few hundred at the bar. People will love you for offering you a drink and you will appear to be the person in charge. Paying for a few drinks the evening before the conference can be worth more than having a booth, in some cases.

Always attend the parties too. People unwind and the connections you make during parties, when people are relaxed and less goal focused, can last a lifetime.

Contact the organization and ask them if you can help
Organizing a conference is a LOT of work. If you have time to chip in you will most likely earn free entrance to the conference, back stage access to speakers and ties to all the people that matter around the conference. If you already have a full-time job, this might not be the option for you. But if you don't and can spare the time, this might be the best way to attend a conference.

Take a digital camera
At conferences you typically meet dozens of people and are bombarded with visuals over the course of a few days - there is no way you will be able to remember everything. So why not carry a small digital camera as an extension of your visual memory? Make photos of slides during presentations that are interesting, including that last slide with the speakers contact data. Take photos of people you meet. Take photos of booths with products that might be interesting. Even take photos of the little notes you scribble on the backs of ticket snubs and receipts. And if you're really adventurous, blog about it. It's a great way to remember what you saw and make new connections after the show.

Contact the speakers
A lot of speakers post their email address in their last slide and invite people to give them feedback. Hardly anybody ever does. Take a photo of that last slide and email the speaker. Tell them what you liked about the presentation (no criticism needed) and feel free to ask them for advice on something. Speakers love to hear from their audiences and I can guarantee you will get a reply if you write them a personal note.

Be fashionably early
Get to the conference area early. Security will be easy and chances are the conference organizers are there too and still relaxed enough to talk to. Walk around, chat with booth owners, see if you can lend a hand anywhere. Then get to the main stage before anyone else. You might even bump into the keynote speaker who is preparing for his keynote. Don't bother him or her too much but do say hello and wish them good luck. Get front row seats and start thinking about your questions.

Conferences can be great fun, very inspiring and worth every cent of admission. Sure, you could just go and have a great time. Or you could spend a little extra time preparing for them and turn a great event into a valuable investment of your time.

How do you prepare for conferences and what tips would you give someone to get the most out of an event?

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