Since I posted links to help you figure out what to do, what to wear and how to enjoy RWA Nationals, I figured I'd share a few tips I've picked along the way too:
1. You'll Need Power: Buy an external battery pack for all your electronics. In prep for RWA13 I purchased this charger from Amazon. There are smaller and cheaper versions but this size will work for my entire family when we're on the road. There are two charging ports and I can charge a cell phone and a tablet at the same time. I'm ready!
2. Know Where You're Going: Once you pick up your registration packet, map out the locations of your selected workshops against the hotel map. Knowing where to go when you leave your room will help save time and frustration if you're running late.
2.1 Load Up Your Calendar: If you have a Android phone - put all of your workshops in Google Calendar and set reminders. This way you'll have the same info at your fingertips. It will save you from flipping through the booklet every hour. :)
3. BYOWB (Bring Your Own Water Bottle): I would suggest that you bring a CASE of water to the hotel -- but that's not "green." Just pick up a 32 oz water bottle and carry it with you. Use the water stations that will be set up all over the hotel to replenish as you need. Make sure it's a "slender" style bottle that you can slip into the side pocket of your Registration bag for ease of transport.
4. EAT BREAKFAST!: I know this sounds weird. But really. EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST every morning. Even if that means getting up at the butt-crack of dawn to head down to the hotel restaurant or walking across the street to the local fast food joint. Just do it. You will be running 100 miles an hour the moment you leave your room. You'll need the calories to sustain you.
5. Bag It Up: Free books will be tossed around like candy the entire week. I'm serious. FREE BOOKS. Don't think that you'll be able to fit the books in your Conference bag. They won't fit. Don't believe me? Look at the photos below.
1. You'll Need Power: Buy an external battery pack for all your electronics. In prep for RWA13 I purchased this charger from Amazon. There are smaller and cheaper versions but this size will work for my entire family when we're on the road. There are two charging ports and I can charge a cell phone and a tablet at the same time. I'm ready!
2. Know Where You're Going: Once you pick up your registration packet, map out the locations of your selected workshops against the hotel map. Knowing where to go when you leave your room will help save time and frustration if you're running late.
2.1 Load Up Your Calendar: If you have a Android phone - put all of your workshops in Google Calendar and set reminders. This way you'll have the same info at your fingertips. It will save you from flipping through the booklet every hour. :)
3. BYOWB (Bring Your Own Water Bottle): I would suggest that you bring a CASE of water to the hotel -- but that's not "green." Just pick up a 32 oz water bottle and carry it with you. Use the water stations that will be set up all over the hotel to replenish as you need. Make sure it's a "slender" style bottle that you can slip into the side pocket of your Registration bag for ease of transport.
4. EAT BREAKFAST!: I know this sounds weird. But really. EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST every morning. Even if that means getting up at the butt-crack of dawn to head down to the hotel restaurant or walking across the street to the local fast food joint. Just do it. You will be running 100 miles an hour the moment you leave your room. You'll need the calories to sustain you.
5. Bag It Up: Free books will be tossed around like candy the entire week. I'm serious. FREE BOOKS. Don't think that you'll be able to fit the books in your Conference bag. They won't fit. Don't believe me? Look at the photos below.
Books collected during first wave of Book Signings at RWA11.
More books from RWA11
Pack a few of the reusable grocery tote bags to help carry your loot. The collapsable kind that you can carry around in your Conference Bag would be helpful. You can pick up several at your local grocery for less than $2.00 in most places. Or better yet. Connect with a good friend who's at the host hotel and ask for "storage rights" for your books. Meaning you can stash your books in their room periodically throughout the day so you don't have to carry them around everywhere.
6. Tablet or Paper?: Not every meeting room will have a table for you to set up your Ipad so you'll need to think carefully for how you plan to take notes. In some cases you'll only have your lap to rest your Ipad on so keep that in mind. I recently upgraded to a Samsung Note II cell phone. It has a larger screen and comes with a "pen" for writing. I'm currently testing it out as my sole electronic device for Nationals. We'll see how it goes. I'm bringing my IPad as back up - just in case :)
Well, that's my brain dump of ideas for next week. What are yours? Any tips to share? Will what I've mentioned work for you? Let me know!
6. Tablet or Paper?: Not every meeting room will have a table for you to set up your Ipad so you'll need to think carefully for how you plan to take notes. In some cases you'll only have your lap to rest your Ipad on so keep that in mind. I recently upgraded to a Samsung Note II cell phone. It has a larger screen and comes with a "pen" for writing. I'm currently testing it out as my sole electronic device for Nationals. We'll see how it goes. I'm bringing my IPad as back up - just in case :)
Well, that's my brain dump of ideas for next week. What are yours? Any tips to share? Will what I've mentioned work for you? Let me know!
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