One of the most stressful things about traveling for many people is packing, and it can be even more stressful when packing for a business trip or conference, whether you are a speaker, content creator or other attendee. Even veteran conference travelers have been known to forget to pack something important, leading to a last-minute search for a local store that has the needed item. To help TECHSHOW attendees avoid this problem, here is a TECHSHOW packing list which can also be modified for other business trips.
Since this is TECHSHOW, we’ll start with technology needs.
Most conference attendees can probably get away with one or the other, depending on how you prefer to take notes and connect with your office while you are out of town. But if you are presenting, in my experience, laptops tend to work better when connecting with projectors for your presentation. So, if you intend to bring a tablet for general use, make sure you pack your laptop as well for your presentation.
For some, this may be your laptop or tablet. Personally, I like to handwrite my notes, since I seem to retain more that way, so I take notes on my reMarkable tablet, which doesn’t allow me to surf the web or check my email. Others may prefer to bring a pen and notebook for old-school note-taking that doesn’t require a charger or an internet connection.
For most of us, our phone is our lifeline, so double- and triple-check that you have your phone before you leave the house. Even if your phone is permanently attached to your hand or always in your pocket or purse, it can be easy to forget the charger. I purchased an extra phone charger to keep in my travel kit so I always have one when I travel, but that might not be necessary if you don’t travel often. You might also consider purchasing a multi-use charging cable that has a USB-C, micro-USB and lightning cable all in one so you’ll have a cable that charges any device.
A portable charger can be extremely helpful at conferences, as many conference venues have poor internet connections and cell signals, which can drain your phone battery quickly. Having an available phone charger means you don’t need to be tethered to an outlet or charging station while charging your phone.
Not only are earbuds a necessity if you want to watch videos or movies or listen to a podcast or music while you’re traveling, but they are helpful if you need to take a phone call while at the conference venue.
Traveling with lots of tech can be tricky. To reduce the chances that your tech doesn’t go missing permanently while you’re traveling, it is a good idea to invest in tracking software or other tracking equipment, like Tile trackers, Airtags or Samsung SmartTags.
If you are presenting at TECHSHOW, you may want to pack some additional tools to make your presentation run smoothly, including a presentation remote and adapters or dongles to attach your laptop to the presentation device. Not all laptops have VGA ports, for example, so make sure you know what you need before you go.
If you are a content creator and want to document your conference experience, conduct interviews or create video while at the conference, you may need some additional equipment. Consider including a microphone, portable tripod, ring light or other lighting and even a portable green screen. Don’t forget about extra batteries and memory cards, too.
If you’re planning on doing a substantial amount of work while you are traveling, you might consider getting a portable laptop stand to help reduce neck and back pain by elevating your monitor to eye level (also helpful if you plan to attend virtual meetings while you are traveling). If you’re used to multiple screens at work, bringing a portable monitor with you can help replicate your typical work setup and make you more productive.
One of the best things about attending conferences is meeting new people and making business connections. You may have opportunities to meet industry leaders, vendors and presenters, so you’ll want to be prepared.
TECHSHOW is a very well-attended conference, so you will want to make sure that the people you meet remember you. Take some time to prepare a simple, short, but memorable elevator pitch that clearly articulates what you do and who you do it for. Be prepared to be able to talk about how you can help others, as well as what you might be looking for or need from others you meet at the conference.
It is a good idea to check out the program, speaker and attendee lists, if available, before the conference to see who you might like to meet so you can look for them at the conference. To make sure those connections last beyond the conference, bring along business cards so you can easily exchange information to follow up. If you receive business cards at the conference, rather than waiting until you return home to enter the information in your contact program, consider using a program like Google Lens or ABBYY Business Card Reader to scan the business card information right into your contacts.
If you are a LinkedIn user, you can create a personalized QR code in LinkedIn. When you meet a new contact at the conference, they can scan your QR code and be directed right to your profile, where they can easily connect with you. Or use a QR code generator to create a QR code with your contact details that you can share at the conference.
Here are a few additional items that you may find helpful when traveling for business or attending a conference such as TECHSHOW.
Note-taking and content creation can take a toll on your device screens. Having screen cleaner or wipes on hand helps keep your devices in their best shape.
All of those cords and chargers can get out of hand and wreak havoc in your bag. There are many types of cord wraps on the market to help keep your cords neat and differentiate device cords. A tech organizer helps you keep all your cords, adapters, chargers and other small tech organized and easily accessible.
I get easily dehydrated when I’m traveling. A reusable water bottle is a great way to make sure you stay hydrated both while traveling and at the conference itself, and lip balm and hand cream help soothe try lips and skin.
Lightweight and easy to fit in a pocket, purse, or laptop bag, a stain stick can be a lifesaver when accidental spills occur.
A whole article could be written on packing clothing for a conference, but it is always a good idea to wear comfortable shoes when walking around the EXPO Hall and conference areas. Hotels and other conference venues fluctuate in temperature, so I always have a sweater or wrap on hand.
Finally, have fun, and don’t forget to leave room in your luggage for conference swag!
