Five Things You Must Bring to a Conference

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1. I always travel with a Belkin travel surge protector. It is a little long but it swivels so it should work in most spaces and it has USB ports in addition to the actual outlets. I also travel with a small portable charger.

   http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-SurgePlus-3-Outlet-Charger-Protector/dp/B00ATZJ5YS/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1444928658&sr=8-10&keywords=belkin+plug

   1. Also have this and love it. I travel with either that or a 7 USB port Anker charger.

2. For the conferences I go to, I always bring a spare pair of shoes (tons of walking), tylenol (out late drinking with prospects/clients), and a battery pack for my various devices (never any outlets when you need them).

   I also try to set up time to meet with people in advance, if possible. coffee, lunch, drinks, etc.

3. A notebook or tablet.

   I have the same surge protector as Anon Bee and I love it. I would also bring a battery pack in case I don’t have access to an outlet.

4. Always make sure you have Band Aids for blisters or the Band Aid invisible bandaid in a tube stuff to swipe on your feet to manage the inevitable sore feet-from-shoes-I-don’t-wear-that-often-but-need-to-look-good-in situations. Hard to do aggressive networking when your feet are killing you. Same thing with a pain reliever – keep some Motrin handy. Other helpful things – a flash drive, portable snacks, and dress in layers.

   1. Oh and if you have access to the pre-registration list, be sure to review it before the conference starts so you can make mental notes about people you want to be sure to connect with as well as refreshing your memory about names and affiliations.

      1. This is also a good time to double-check that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date if your industry uses LinkedIn.

   2. Dr. Scholl’s Blister Cushions are the best for this – I’d never go back to bandaids.

5. I’m a junior in my field (a wee bit senior to my husband, also in the same field). I feel like I have hit a wall in terms of both salary and opportunity where I am at (major city). There are a bunch of reasons, one is that the market is very saturated for the service we provide. There are people undercutting us and people very senior to us with more name recognition. I know there is availability for more high pay and more interesting work in more remote areas and I believe I will be receiving my first job offer to a middle of nowhere position early next week. It’s over twice what I currently earn to put it in perspective and much more in line with what I want to do. I’ve spoken to the middle of nowhere office team and they seem nice and I would for once not be the only woman around. That’s honestly a big factor for me – I would really like to work with another young woman with a kid (I know no one locally in my field right now who fits that description). The husband wants to stay put. He acknowledges that he has also hit a wall in terms of salary and professional growth but wants to start his own boutique company (he has never run a business before). He also wants to stay where we are because it offers more (restaurants, shopping, stuff for the kid etc). We don’t really have the savings to support him starting a business or the time it would take to get it off the ground. I also think that he wouldn’t stand much chance of earning very much on his own (very saturated market). Thoughts? We have decided to talk this over with a counselor.

   1. I would be siding with your husband. You can afford you life now, you like it, I don’t see any justification for moving to the boonies where he has no job. Frankly, it’s weird to me you even applied.

      1. Can we ban ellen already and the ellen posts?

   2. I just want to know what field pays more, has more promotion opportunities, and has more women in the boonies than in a major city.

      1. oh! I know one! medicine! I know at least in large cities with good brand name hospitals, everyone wants to work there and the competition is high/ pay can be low. a very good friend of mine went from earning 350k to 750k by moving from Boston to the boonies of Wyoming (same job, fewer hours). He’s a radiologist.

      2. I’m just going to say it’s oil related and leave it there. :)

         1. Wouldn’t the salary increase allow him to start his business in the new town? If it’s twice what you make now, you can maintain a similar quality of life (minus some restaurants) with him doing a job he wants and you doing a job you want. If he’s successful you can start making headway on savings, if he’s not you can pick the next place to move together – by then you’ll have new experience and contacts and he’ll have whatever experience/contacts he gains owning his own business

   3. I’ve been there (more or less anyway). Good that you are seeing a counselor. That helped us a lot. If I were you, I would totally want to take that job. Twice the salary and other women around are both HUGE. Twice the salary in the middle of nowhere is enormous. You didn’t talk about the process you and your husband went through in deciding for you to apply to this job, though. How did you get to this place? You have to understand that, for most men, taking a back seat to their wives’ careers is very very difficult on the ego, even if that seems (or is) irrational. I got some of the “I’ll start a business” talk too, which didn’t make sense to do but was a defensive way of asserting himself without having to line up an actual job that could compete with mine. And your husband does deserve to have his interests and his career matter. Try to be sensitive to that and focus on what might be in it for him. If you make twice the money in a cheaper place, perhaps he CAN start a business? or change careers to something he wants to do? We got through this and you will too, but I’m not surprised it’s very hard. Good luck!

      1. XD thanks! it is very hard with both of us in the same profession. I am senior to him and I’ve always earned just a touch more and it’s always been a sensitive issue. A lot of comments about how I am an “affirmative action hire” etc. The salary would be enough to support us both plus fantastic benefits and a lot of other perks. It would be a truly 9-4 job for the first time in my life. If we wanted more kids there would be maternity leave pay at salary for a period of time, stuff like that. And if I had a job that stable I would be totally cool with my husband starting his own practice (it would possibly do well in an under serviced market, we would have to look into it) or working on getting another job out in the boonies with me which I feel he could. My husband also does not like his job (it kinda sucks when you’ve peaked) or his coworkers, he just likes the work itself.

         1. It sounds like the move would benefit your husband’s career as well as yours and improve your home life. Is your husband the one saying you are an “affirmative action hire”? That’s not very nice. My husband and I work in the same industry at the same company (after graduating at the same time with the same degree) but he started a review cycle (just a few months) before I did so his salary has always been a little higher and he has always gotten promoted before me. That’s hard for me sometimes but I never vent to him in a way that belittles his achievements. Just because I didn’t get a raise/promotion that I deserve doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve his.

            1. I would be beyond pissed if m husband told me or implied I was an “affirmative action hire.” Not okay.

            2. I’m used to it. It’s really the least of my problems right now haha

            3. Its really not the least of your problems- I think knowing he talks to you like that puts the whole thing in more perspective.

         2. The “affirmative action” comment is awful. Presumably all else is good in your marriage, and we are all flawed, so I will give him a sorta pass. One construct that might work for you is what I like to say to my husband – “you know, the world of work is just not fair, and you have gotten the short stick. I feel terribly for you because I know you are amazing.” (which in fact I do). That way, it doesn’t have to be that the good stuff you have is not deserved – it’s just that he deserves more than he has gotten. Quite frankly, it might be great for you guys if he goes into a different field so there are less obvious comparisons.

            1. He refuses to leave his field – which is fine by me, he loves what he does. I am more open to doing other things but honestly when you’re trained to do one thing and only do that one thing for years it’s hard to branch out. Not particularly interested in retraining.

   4. Maybe I’ll be the lone dissenting voice here, but I say take it. You could even move to middle of nowhere by yourself for a bit, if you’re willing to take a chance on an LTR.

      1. No. You don’t just apply to a job in he middle of nowhere and expect your family to follow you or abandon your spouse and children. What was the process like when you thought about applying? Did he agree to see what the offers looked liked? Is the salty increase enough to support you both?

         1. I used to work in a remote location (I moved at wishes of the husband) and I am fairly prominent on some online professional databases so I get headhunted for remote location jobs on a very regular basis. I pursued one opportunity out of curiosity (husband was aware) and was surprised by how much it really appealed to me and what the difference was in salary.

            1. I’m the same person from above. I should say that I ultimately took the job. But managed to do it in a way that made husband feel included, valued, and understood, even though that wasn’t easy because he was being difficult about it. Marriage counselors FTW.

   5. I’ve been there. Moved to a small town from somewhere I loved just for a job. I promised myself I would try it for five years and nothing more. Best decision I ever made. I stayed for exactly five years, earned enough money to buy a house on my own and to put myself through law school. Now I’m in my dream job in my dream city. Can you compromise that you would try it for just three years (or five)? Keep your house and rent it out to maintain ties in your city now, and then reassess in three years. If he still wants to move back and start his own thing, you should have gained the money and new experience to take on something new back in the “big city”. Good luck, big decisions.

      1. I understand your reasons for applying and why you are interested in the opportunity. Frankly, men apply to remote jobs and drag their families around the country in the name of their careers all the time, so it shouldn’t be any different when a woman makes that choice. It does make a difference to some, but it doesn’t have to in your relationship.
         With dual career parents I’ve learned its very important to respect each other’s careers and both parties need to accept that there will be give and take at times. One career may need to be given priority for a couple years then things shift. If its a collaborative process and you view it as a team the logistics will fall into place in the long run.
         His comments demeaning your success are concerning to me because it signals an underlying resentment. Its good you are both doing counseling and I’d for sure bring up the comments and talk through the general joint-career strategy for your family. It sounds like there are scenarios where you could both get what you want, in time, but maybe not at exactly the same moment.
         Good luck, touch choices, and relationships that break the traditional mold are not easy.

         1. I have been dragged to 3 remote communities for spouses job. Not easy, and not lots of conversation about what I would do. Go, take the better job, deal with the consequences. I think the fact you ask indicates you want to.

            Fwiw, 12 years later, we are back in civilization and I am earning decent money with a job that matches my skills.

   6. I’ve been in this position before and I know it seems like a no win situation. One of the questions I would suggest asking yourself is whether you will resent your husband if you pass up this opportunity (and vice versa if you take it). Marriage can survive a lot of things but resentment (in my opinion) is one of the hardest things to get over. I think talking to a counselor together is great. You may want to consider also talking to someone on your own like a different therapist or a life coach. A coach may be able to help you figure out how this new opportunity fits with your overall vision for your entire life, not just the career aspect. This article explains how coaching and therapy are different yet compliment each other.

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/benefits-of-therapy-life-coaching_us_567ac127e4b0b958f658d53a

      A lot of coaches offer free sample sessions so you could talk to several different people. When facing such a big decision I think the more you talk it through with other people the clearer you get on what it is you want.

      (Full disclosure I am a life coach but this is not a sales pitch. And I’m also a lawyer.)

6. To the woman attorney at the courthouse this morning who was wearing the blue and white seersucker suit with opaque black tights and black shoes trimmed in brown, please just stop. No more.

   Its mid-October and this is NY. Please make up your mind what you season you think we are in.

   Usually, I wonder about women who don’t carry a purse, tote, backpack or a bag of some sort, but I am going to make an exception in your case. I am afraid I would have been reduced to tears if it had to see what sort of bag you might have (ahem) coordinated with the multi-seasonal getup.

   Oh, I feel so much better now.

   1. I’m going to go ahead and assume that this person had a perfectly seasonally appropriate suit on, spilled all over herself on the way in, and was left with the only thing in her office as a spare (or possibly had to beg a coworker for a spare) and is absolutely mortified because she knows how silly she looks. Perhaps also her bag was stolen.

      There is no other possible explanation for that getup.

   2. Was this misdemeanor court in NYC? I have seen worse there. Ratty sweaters, sequined tote bags, the list goes on.

   3. Gee, I hope she doesn’t read this blog because this is very specific. Honestly, does it really offend you so much that someone doesn’t have the same fashion sense that you do? This just seems so petty and mean to me.

      1. +1. I also think there is a good chance of a wardrobe mishap. Most of us have had them at one time or another and are sympathetic rather than judgmental of others’ attire. OTOH, I am getting much less tolerant in my older age of people who spend their time gratuitously criticizing others, who they know nothing about.

   4. Mason was probably carrying her bag. And Ellen must’ve spilled on her season-appropriate suit. She wouldn’t otherwise combine those items in one outfit.

7. Some concealer, powder and bronzer (or whatever you use to freshen up your makeup). Sometimes I feel like conference sessions lead into happy hours and dinners and there’s no time to stop back in a hotel room to freshen up. I keep these in my a small makeup bag w/other essentials (aspirin, bandaids, extra hair tie, etc.).

   1. +1 Small make-up bag with items mentioned above, plus those little single-use toothbrushy-things, band-aids, safety pins. My hair is crazy fly-away, so I also have a tiny bit of product to tame it. Point is, carry a small bag with YOUR essentials. As Amy S said, you often can’t get back to your hotel room between sessions and socializing / networking.

      1. Agreed! I always carry chapstick/lip gloss, mints and advil in my little bag.

8. I have a little charger that is about the size of a business card that will charge your phone. I use that when I travel but I think it’d be really helpful for a long day at a conference. You can just stick it in your bag and charge your phone as you go without needing to look for an outlet.

9. Speaking of conferences, what would you wear to an event in the evening after the breakouts which is on the beach and includes reception & dinner followed by games, cigars, and smores? Per the agenda: “(ditch the business casual clothing –there is no need for a tie at this event).” In Florida if it matters.

   1. a relatively conservative (ie not low cut) maxi dress and a cardigan,. Or possibly ankle length black pants and a fun flowy top.

   2. This time of year, capris and a nice t shirt or sweater. It is still hot in Florida. A maxi on the beach sounds difficult to deal with.

   3. Don’t wear pumps! Flats or sandles. A simple dress will be fine but I wouldn’t go long and make sure it won’t blow in the wind, revealing too much.

   4. Linen pants are my go-to in this situation. You don’t have to worry about wind and they are super comfortable. I would pair with a nice tshirt or sleeveless blouse with a sweater and maybe a colorful scarf. I have these in black and I always get compliments on them. They don’t wrinkle as much as other linen pants. Hope this helps.

      http://www.zappos.com/product/7635548/color/341

10. First, I don’t know how I missed Kat’s re-vamping of the mobile site but I love it!!

    Two, does this list of things change when you’re going for an out-of-town CLE?

    1. I think the list is the same for a CLE. You might be able to get away with stopping by your hotel room between/after sessions to freshen up, take a call, drop off your materials, etc.

    2. I also think it’s the same. I did carry a small Kate Spade purse that’s clutch-sized inside my briefcase with my wallet, phones, portable power bank, lip gloss, and contact stuff so that if I was invited out, I just had to literally drop my briefcase in my room and pull this out. I also carry a water bottle in my briefcase because the conference water glass situation can get weird in breakout rooms.

11. I’m attending a one-day conference in a couple weeks. Fortunately, it is in my city. However, I am still nursing. I guess there is no way around a bag for my pump/cooler AND my laptop bag? Just seems like a lot. Has anyone found any solutions?

    1. Could you see if there are refrigeration facilities available at the hotel? Otherwise, I think you’re kind of stuck.

       Don’t bring the laptop if you can help it. Honestly, the Girls are more important to tend to than a laptop, IMHO!

       Can you find an ungodly large bag to hold ALL.THE.THINGS together? I ditched the bag that came with my pump for a 31 tote bag that could hold a little more stuff so that I didn’t have to bring so many bags…Disassembling your pump into the bare minimum may help to contain it in a different configuration…

    2. I know NOTHING about this so pardon me if this is not helpful, but maybe you can leave the pumping equipment bag at the front desk between uses?

    3. From experience- do not leave your pump unless you can afford to replace it and have the time to do so immediately if something goes wrong. Someone nearly stole mine once (awkward moment when you walk into the courthouse lounge and someone is stealing your bag form a courthouse fridge). Also be careful in case you can’t get to it fast enough or when you need to. I needed to pump every two hours and it was always a struggle to manage pumping let alone going to find my pump at a fridge. I would take the cooler bag with me if I was you… Once I was tired and forgot my pump at the courthouse fridge and it sucked so much having to go get it.

       1. Whenever I have to remember to take something with me, I leave my car keys in said thing so that I can’t leave without it. Frequently I have lunch leftovers in my office fridge and my keys stay right on top of the takeout box. It might help you to never forget your pump stuff in the fridge again. Though, once or twice I have been frantically searching for my car keys forgetting I left them in the fridge with the leftovers!

    4. I actually know an answer to this one! I just did this. Contact the event coordinator ahead of time and tell them you’re pumping and want to know where you will be able to pump at the conference. They should be able to provide you with a pumping room. Then just ask if you can leave your pump and cooler there in between pumping sessions. If not there, try the front desk or coat check room — a hotel or conference center should have someplace for you to stash your bag.

       1. This has never been my experience. Ever. I think it’s awesome it is your experience though.

          My workplace accommodated me which wasn’t that helpful given the amount of time I spend in court. I pumped largely in a handicapped washroom stall.

    5. I never figured out a good way to bring my pump and laptop bag, even after two kids!

       I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving my pump anywhere out of my reach (e.g. front desk, coat check). It would be very easy for it to get stolen or misplaced, put on a radiator (mmm, curdled milk!) or switched out because the bag is so plain.

       I just wanted to recommend that anybody pumping DEFINITELY bring a wrap to a conference. I had two separate occasions when I was told I could have “private room” to pump in that people walked in on (or, in one memorable instance, refused to vacate with an airy “Oh, I don’t mind!” I figured well, if you don’t, I don’t!) Might come in handy to drape over you to avoid any *ahem* awkward encounters.

12. Things that aren’t on Kat’s list:

    Notebook and pen: I find it SO much easier, and quicker to take notes by hand.

    Reusable water bottle: Growing up in the tropics means I ALWAYS carry water.

    Anker external battery: I LOVE this. It’s about the size of a pencil cases, and charges my iPhone 3x with no trouble. I’ve also heard good things about Mophie.

    Small pouch with make-up, meds, and other essentials: Like someone mentioned upthread, there’s no way of knowing what might happen, so best to be prepared.

    Reusable bag: For all the swag you inevitably pick up at these things.

    Journal + my favourite book: Conferences can be overwhelming, so I like to build in a little time to grab a coffee by myself away from the conference hotel and just relax.

13. a map of the city you’re in, if it’s somewhere you’ve never been. Sure there’s app maps, but there’s a lot to be said about looking over paper maps, or at least really studying google maps prior to your arrival. Figure out where things are, in relation to where you’ll be. Where is there a drug store? Grocery? Where can you get coffee right outside the conference or hotel?

    Capsule your wardrobe or go Garanimals-style so that it doesn’t matter which top you pull out with whatever bottoms. Make sure they all match/coordinate. Switch it up with cardis or scarves.

    Unless you’re already a dedicated worker-outer, don’t bring workout stuff. You won’t use it. But my hotel has a gym! You still won’t use it.

    Hand sanitizer. Purse-sized lotion. Foam earplugs. Not-the-spendy-eyeglasses–bring the inexpensive ones. Legit paper & pen. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to really take notes and all I had was the tiny little hotel notepad…

    I’ll also say one of the things that I’ve done is to bring and wear my own badge lanyard. I know you get one with the conference, but I’ve “customized” mine so that it’s the right length (I have a short torso, so a standard lanyard puts the badge below my belt buckle sometimes…), and it has the name of my organization on it.

    1. Some of the fancier hotel chains, like Fairmont, will lend you the basic workout gear: shirt, shorts, shoes, socks. I hesitated at first to use this service, but then I figured, I’m sleeping on sheets that they washed, why am I squeamish about wearing clothes they washed? All I need to bring are a sports bra and underwear. Wonderful.

       1. That’s crazy, I’ve never heard of that! But then again Marriott is usually about as fancy as I get :p
          I do make time to work out when I travel. At least one day I try to run outside and see more of the area I’m in (assuming reasonable weather and safety!)

       2. Westin offers this too. Its only like $5 for an outfit, you keep the socks.
          If you must bring workout gear, make it something that’s loungy too so you can sit around in it while in your room when you could be working out but are too tired. A pair of yoga pants after a long conference day can be heavenly.

14. I second or third the extra, lighter bag for actually carrying around the conference. Nothing more annoying than having to haul your plane carryon bag everywhere just for your notepad and water bottle.

15. I just remembered a conference I once attended, and specifically the ankle bracelet a woman wore for the occasion – and the rest of her heavy jewellery and make up. The rest of her outfit was ok – pastel colours, but nothing offending, though on the creative side. I recently stumbled across a blog for 40+ women and there it was again – the anklet and its champions, including strong voices on how this is appropriate in a professional setting (law firms included). I am still too stunned to react…. And 40+… so depressing – if it were young girls declaring their love of an anklet I could maybe find it within myself to sigh and let it go. but 40 +? and professional? why???

16. Good list. My favorite extra bag to bring for carrying around at a conference is a Ju Ju Be Be Light in one of the Legacy prints. They are super light and very packable and fit a full size notebook/folder. The Legacy prints are all black and white or navy and white with gold hardware so they work with my business outfits and look much nicer than a plain tote bag. I carry my iPad mini, phone, lipstick and most of the stuff Kat mentions and leave my laptop and heavy but cute Tumi bag in my room. Making that extra conference bag packable is key – you don’t want a 3rd bag if you are carrying on a laptop bag and suitcase.

17. I really like a purse that also has a liger cross body strap so I can easily put it on my shoulders or even cross body if I need to be hands free. I carry business cards in a small card case. I agree about the charger. Bring a power source that doesn’t need an outlet if possible. Oh, and bring mints with you to easily freshen your breath and a small makeup bag with blotting papers, touch up powder and a touch up blush and lip product in case you don’t have time to go up to your room to freshen up before cocktails.

18. Ear plugs, sneeze mask, small flashlight, Swiss Army knife. You probably can’t take the knife if you are flying but you can take it on the bus or train. About the mask – I know it looks silly and is rude to wear. However, I’ve had pneumonia twice and can’t afford another bout of it. Sadly, far too many people don’t cover up when they cough or sneeze.

19. In tech here, so not sure if it will apply to any of the more hidebound industries, but I’ve started skipping the business cards in favor of being able to whip out my phone and collect emails right then and there. Means you definitely have their email and can follow up again easily (and the more motivated ones will also send themselves a message from your phone with notes on what they meant to talk to you about).

    The one exception has been networking with overseas Asians–that ritual gets completely interrupted if you don’t produce a countering business card, and not in a good way.

20. I would add a tablet. Most conferences send the materials out electronically before or during the conference.
    A small clutch inside your larger conference bag that can hold your essentials/valuables for times when you want to leave your conference materials at your seat while you walk around or step out to the ladies room.

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