Loading ...COMPOSITES 2010 is one week away. To make sure you get the most out of your investment, Composites Manufacturing magazine has compiled a short list of things you should do beforehand to ensure a beneficial and enjoyable experience.
View the Show Website. Visit www.acmashow.org for all the up-to-date information you need to plan your trip. Our Conference department has spent countless hours finding deals for attendees, so take advantage of them. Venture past the show homepage to side tabs. There you will find exhibitor information, the conference program, maps—you can even make restaurant reservations!
Create a Game Plan. A show is meant to benefit your business, so make the most of the short amount of time you’re there. If you’re going alone, remember that you represent the interests of your entire company. Sit down with fellow employees (remember their time schedule is not the same as yours) and review the exhibitor list. Discuss people they need you to contact, booths to visit, questions they would like you to ask and information they need you to gather or disseminate—and write it down!
Schedule ahead. If possible contact exhibitors ahead of time to schedule an appointment. The My Planner option of the Web site can help you find exhibitors and budget your time. It’s also a good idea to look at the attendee list. See who you know and also who you want to know ahead of time, it will save fruitless searching and time at the actual show. Then, on your own, rank educational sessions that you would like to attend. Rank a few classes that you feel you can’t miss and have a back-up session in case the first is not what you expected.
Contact Information. Remember to leave the appropriate contact information with your coworkers and on your voicemail for clients who may call in your absence. To save yourself the post-business trip scramble, set your out-of-office reply to one day after you actually return. That way, your first day back is spent digging through emails without the expectation that you respond to everything in one day.
Check the weather. Before you pack, check your destination weather, and choose business casual appropriate clothing. Suitcases and shipping cost money, so use space wisely! Bring the right kind and the right amount of anything you need, and no more.
Stuff to Bring to the Show
Your time at the show will be busy so do all the planning you can beforehand. When work deadlines overlap with conference preparation, undoubtedly you arrive at your destination minus one or two important items. Here is a short list of things that are easy to grab and are worth the few seconds they take to find.
Business cards. It is always better to have too many than not enough. Make sure your cards have your current title, email address and phone number.
Comfortable shoes. A pair of shoes might seem comfortable, until you have to stand in them for eight-plus hours per day. Conferences are not a time to break in a new pair of shoes; go with what you know and what feels comfortable.
Print copies of your boarding pass, hotel confirmation and registration confirmation. These valuable sheets of paper will save time at express check-in counters.
Bring Cash. Unless you have a scheduled way to reach the airport and your hotel, you will need to pay for some mode of transportation, most of which do not look kindly on credit cards or checks. Make traveling easier by bringing a small amount of cash—both small and large bills.
Mints. It is a known fact that humans eat four to five times per day. While conversational etiquette outlaws chewing gum, it doesn’t mean your breath should accost those you speak with throughout the day. Grab some mints, put them in your pocket and offer some to others. It can strike up a conversation and may even save your sensitive olfactory.
Pens. Never get caught empty handed. If you need to jot down an important piece of information, you can always find something to write on, it is much harder to find something to write with. Don’t make that mistake!
