Tips for Surviving A Conference

This July, I will be attending the 2016 Romance Writers of America conference. The last conference I went to was in San Antonio in 2014. After an exciting week of meeting people, attending workshops and partying with publishers, I came home happy and exhausted. As I prepare for this year's conference, during which I will be signing my Regency romance novel A Too Convenient Marriage, I want to offer you some tips to help you survive a conference week.

1)      Pace yourself. You can’t do everything, so don’t try. Do what interests you the most and if you have to miss something, like a workshop, try and find someone you know who is attending it who can share their notes. You’ll get the highlights without stressing out about being everywhere at once.

2)  Sleep. You will have a long day at conference and then stay up late talking with your roommate and going to parties. Then you will get up early again the next day and do it all over again. Try and get as much sleep as you can, and don’t be afraid to go back to your room between events for down time.   

3)      Eat. Don’t let your energy wane by getting hungry. Caffeine can only carry you so far and it is hard to have fun when your stomach is growling. Pack healthy snacks and carry them in your purse to keep you going between meals.

4)      Network. Conference is all about meeting people so don’t be afraid to speak with someone in the elevator, or sit next to a stranger at lunch. You are all there because you have something in common. Talk about it, have fun and make some new friends.

5)      Business cards. Take any offered and pass yours out. No one can remember everyone they meet, but a business card with or without something written on the back can help.

6)      Learn. Everyone there has a slightly different experience than you, or perhaps experience you don’t have. Talk to them and learn from them then share what you know.

7)      Don’t overindulge. Depending on the conference, there may be events with alcohol. Remember, this is a professional event so you don’t want to be the sloppy drunk.

8)      Dress the part. This year I packed only dresses. It made getting dressed in the morning easy because I didn’t have to coordinate anything. They also helped me to look professional and well put together. I also packed flat but stylish shoes. You are on your feet a lot at conference so you have to be comfortable.

9)      Have fun! If you are in a new city do some sightseeing. Get together with friends, both old and new, and go to dinner. Smile and enjoy yourself. You will make a lot of great memories and be fired up to use what you’ve learned once you get home.

I hope these tips help you get through a conference week. I would love to hear about some of your suggestions. Leave them in the comments below!

If you enjoyed these tips you will enjoy my books www.Georgie-Lee.com