Advice for First-time Conference Attendees
By Kelly Kirk and Sara Godin, NEMPN Committee Members
Attending your first conference can be an exciting milestone in your professional journey. It can be a chance to connect with peers who share your passion for whichever sector of the museum field you are engaged with. It also can help introduce you to new ideas that can spark change within your career, projects you are working on, or even your own institution. Between the name badges, vendor halls, and back-to-back sessions, it can feel unsure to know what to expect! However, with a little preparation, you can turn those few days into a valuable experience. Here are some practical tips into making your first conference a success:
Person presenting at a conference
Before going, look to see if the conference host offers free or discounted registration for volunteering. This can be anything from checking people on the first day of the conference or helping run the projectors/technology during a talk. Some conferences even offer travel stipends!
Read the program/schedule ahead of time and make a priority list for what talks you want to go to. This can help plan out breaks, when to network, time in the exhibit/vendor hall, meals, etc.
Don’t be afraid to skip a talk to talk to others in the hallways!
Don’t forget to bring a notepad and pen for quick notes (or possibly grab one as swag from a vendor!)
Off-site tours, meals, happy hours, and socials are great times to talk to people informally. Some conferences even offer specific spaces for first time attendees or those new to the field.
Sit next to new faces in different sessions. If time allows (and you are feeling brave) introduce yourself and be curious about others’ work or experiences.
Bring business cards or learn how to share your LinkedIn via a QR code to help connect with people after the conference.
Wear comfortable shoes! The conference might require a lot of walking around or you may not have time to change between a talk and a social event in the evening.
Likewise, dress in layers. It is not uncommon for temperatures in conference rooms to fluctuate, and this ensures comfort throughout the day.
If you attend a talk and you found it helpful, find them after the talk and tell them that!
Post on the NEMPN Discord irl-meetup channel to see if anyone else is attending!
Pack snacks/water, especially if the conference doesn’t include a lunch meal! Lines around the conference at restaurants might be long.
Most importantly, make sure to enjoy yourself and have fun as you soak in the conference experience!