I’m an occupational therapist going to a national conference (in the US) out of state next week. I’ve been to several conferences already, so I know all the typical things folks would recommend, like snacks, a sweater, etc. I’m looking for your uncommon, niche, favorite, or just fun things to pack for conferences in any field!
For example, I always bring a lacrosse ball or tennis when I go to conferences so I can roll my feet when I’m back at the hotel. It’s the only thing that saves my feet from a long day of walking. I also bring a small business card holder with a clip pin and pin next to my poster while I’m presenting. It saves me from having to rummage around for my card if someone asks, and gives folks the chance to grab one if I’m busy talking.
Thank you!
Edit: Thank you for all of the fanatic ideas! I love how many of them are about caring for yourself or connecting with/helping others at the conference.
Comments
Handbag sized Powerbank for phone. It’s handy if out of your room for a long day and saves bringing a plug and looking for a place to charge the battery.
Big reusable cup to have tea in the hotel room. Hotel cups can be tiny and I need a big mug of tea to function in the morning.
Big scarf to wrap around shoulders or use as a blanket in room when reading. I hate hot rooms during the night but like to feel cosy in the evening.
Small Blue tooth speaker. I have 60,000 songs on my iphone, ready for any occasion.
I will be stealing the clipped business cards idea! Thanks for the share!
Anti chaffing balm (or extra stick deoderant to use as an anti chaffer) is also a must. If you’re the type to bring a small notebook for your pockets, I’d pick up some with detachable pages just in case someone needs to borrow some paper. It can be a nice way to meet random people around you!
Liquid IV. It always helps me hydrate more, especially being off my normal routine, not eating enough, and not sleeping enough.
I’m in environmental science and it isn’t uncommon for there to be an opportunity for a field excursion surrounding a conference, and it could be impromptu. So attendees might make sure they have outdoor boots and field clothes handy just in case
The goal to eat a salad every day. Gotta cancel out the evenings and stay regular.
I pack stuff for giving myself a facial and manicure in my hotel room. I like having something to look forward to after a long day of conferencing.
Hawaii shirt 👕
I’ve had bad luck with hotel irons staining my nice clothes, so I started packing a travel steamer to get out wrinkles.
A little cross stitch kit. I like to have a little card or similar to work on in the evenings and on the plane rides.
Also random and depends on the location, but I have a little pair of birding binoculars I’ll take with me if it’s an area with some exotic birds I’ve not seen before
chocolate covered coffee beans to keep me alert without having to go to the bathroom between every paper
A corkscrew. My fields include viticulture, which lends itself to enology, so it’s not unlikely that a tasting might happen at any point.
I tend to try to bring smaller printouts of my presentation material. It is easy to pull out if you want to discuss it with someone on the fly.
I always bring a really good book and some comforting snacks so I can take 1 hour of "unstructured introvert time" to go back to my room, decompress, read and snack. It helps tremendously with the information overload and constant socialization/networking
If you have a poster handouts for your poster with a qr code of the paper
You said uncommon, so instead of the usual business cards, pen, etc.: a small splash bottle of 4711 cologne, to refresh myself throughout the day. Bonus: smelling it like a junkie relaxes me.
A USB-C to HDMI/USB adapter, because I like to be the hero who saves the day.
I like to take a steam eyemask. After I turn in for the evening and climb in bed, I pop one of those bad boys on while I listen to a podcast or something. The ones I have now have some sort of aromatherapy element to it, do they’re lavender scented. I pack one for each night I’ll be in the hotel.
Eta: these are the ones I use…to give you a general idea.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B093SX4V4R/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1KP500MSRQT26&psc=1
A clothespin to close the hotel room curtains