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I have been to a few conferences this year and looking back I am seriously surprised how many of these events I have been too over the past 4 years cumulatively. For my there are two distinct groups of people that fill these shows that I am familiar with. One is of course the online gaming world. Secondly is the retail side (as I call it) that features an ever changing crew of publishers, ad networks and people looking to make a quick buck selling eBooks, mailing lists and other outdated crap. I have learned that unless Yahoo! Is sponsoring the parties at these events they are not worth going to whereas at gaming shows usually all the parties are good. (FYI)

Back in the day I wrote an article on what to expect and how to prepare for an online gaming show when headed to CAP Spring Break 2007. In that article I encouraged affiliates to pre-schedule meetings with their Affiliate Managers. Also I stated the benefits of having requests ready to present when speaking with the programs you are currently working with regarding commission, CPA raises, etc. These are still good rules of thumb to remember. I wanted to list a few more practical ones for those of you looking to head out to either Macau or London (CAP Euro) soon.

Stay at the Conference Hotel if affordable.

I have learned this one the hard way too many times not to share it. Recently this October I went to Barcelona, Spain for our show and booked too late. How this happens is still beyond me but none the less it did. Staying where the show is will help you in more ways than one. Cabs are expensive and an often a pain to get when you really need them. I am notorious for running late to meetings and being able to run downstairs is a major benefit for those who drink too much the night before. Also, most people attending the show will be staying there as well so meetings and meals together are much easier to coordinate into your schedule.

Be realistic on how many people you can meet with.

This is more for affiliate managers and programs looking to make sure their ROI is in check. Honestly, if your main metric is jamming as many people into you Outlook before leaving then you need to re-evaluate the system. Meeting with the ‘right people’ is important and cutting yourself short is never good. I have left a good meeting before to end up looking off into space wondering why I left to meet with a worthless lead. Allow an hour, at least for you meetings and use the free time to socialize in the lobby.

Don’t try and carry a ton of things around the show.

Seriously, are you going to bring your laptop to the show with you? I can’t tell you how many times people have broke out a PC on me over drinks and showed me their great new websites. Do yourself and your party a favor and just make a nice, paper based layout of the site with screenshots and the benefits. I don’t want you to get upset at the show so I’ll tell you now; “no one cares what your new site design looks like and they certainly don’t want to see it on your laptop in the hotel lobby.”

Stick with the same drink each day – but change it up.

Most important one here – don’t mix drinks when you are lacking sleep and water. I can’t back this one medically but I feel a lot better when I switch what I am drinking from night to night but never during the same night. I always go with a rum and coke on night one because I know my limits and how quick I can exceed them. Don’t go out there and kill it the first night of the show. I know that free drinks is a novelty but there will be more the next night.

Shoemoney Tip: Basically what I do in the morning, this is my little recipe ritual. I’ll take two Aleve, two Tylenol and a Gatorade if I have it. Dillsmack recommends Pedialite.

Make the most of your face-time: CAPEuro 2008

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