Live Events and Conferences

Live Events and Conferences: What to Expect

You’re attending your first conference. You’re looking forward to meeting new people and learning new things. But you’re also nervous. You don’t know what to expect or what you should do when you arrive. If that describes you, don’t worry. Here’s what to expect and how to handle everything at live events and conferences…

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Ask Questions Ahead of Time

Before you attend a business conference, there’s usually a Facebook group or page to connect with other attendees. You’ll most likely get emails from the conference coordinator. She might send reminders, directions, or maps.

But if some of the information isn’t detailed enough or you still have questions, don’t be shy about reaching out. Reply to her emails or if there’s a phone number, leave a quick message with your questions.

You should also ask the event coordinator about any advance virtual events, like webinars or live video streaming. Watching these events before the conference can help you know what to expect when you finally meetup in real life.

Look for the Registration Desk

When you arrive for the conference, there will be a registration space where you can pick up your name tag and any materials you may need. At the registration desk, you can ask about the social or reception area. This is where other attendees will be mingling.

It’s also where you can grab coffee and a snack and meet other people in a relaxed environment. Sometimes, the attendees will be meeting up at other locations before the conference kicks off. For example, most of the attendees might be going to restaurant across from the hotel for dinner.

Scout the Event Room

Some events are similar to theater setups. They’ll be rows of chairs with a platform near the front of the room. Depending on the conference, there might be a podium for the speaker as well as a large screen for displaying visual content.

Other live events and conferences may have you seated at a table where you can set up your laptop. This is helpful if the event is going to be a workshop where you’ll need to use your laptop. Before you sit, pay attention to the shape of the table. A long rectangle means your devices are welcome if you want to use them. But a round table is usually set up for discussion and sharing. Using your laptop at a round table might be seen as rude by some attendees.

Take Note of Your Schedule

Large conferences may have several “tracks.” Tracks are events or workshops with a common theme. For example, if you went to a conference about online business, there might be a track that’s focused on blogging, another one that’s about advertising, and a third about creating info products.

With so many different events, it’s important to check your schedule and decide which ones you really want to attend. Keep in mind that there may be some breakout sessions. These are short discussions around a central theme that’s relevant to the conference. So if you’re attending a blogging conference, then there might be breakout discussions about how to grow a mailing list.

Breakouts can give you plenty of inspiration and encourage you to look at your business with fresh eyes. They also give you the opportunity to interact with other attendees.

Attending your first live events and conference may feel intimidating, especially when you first arrive. But don’t sit on the sidelines. Mingle with other attendees and start conversations. You may end up connecting with a potential client or a future joint venture partner.

Things to Think About with Live Events and Conferences…

1. When you think about attending your first conference, what makes you nervous?
2. How can you overcome this fear? For example, “I’m nervous no one will talk to me. So I’ll start conversations with three other attendees.”
3. Who do you know in your business circles that’s attended this conference? Is there a way you could ask what their experience was like?

Download a Special Report on Rocking Live Events and Conferences Here

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you are new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my comprehensive training on how to set up Funnels That Click and learn how to gain an unfair advantage when it comes to building a lucrative online business.