Whether you’re a seasoned convention veteran or a first timer, these industry events can sometimes be a bit intense. It takes hours to travel to the destination country, then you’re rushing around to find hotels and taxis – with your suitcases refusing to cooperate along the way, no doubt. You think it’ll be fine once you get to the venue, only to find yourself swept off your feet with a schedule more jam-packed than the crowds at the free iPhone giveaway on the final day of the event.

However, there is no need for fear, as Global Gaming Insider is here – to provide top tips to make these events a little more manageable, so you can focus on all the good stuff! 

Stay hydrated  

This is a big one. It is very easy to run off the free coffees, fizzy drinks and beers at these events. They’re readily available and promise to give you a pick-me-up, whether you’re off to a meeting or going back to man your stand. However, these won’t benefit you in the long run.

It sounds like obvious, basic advice, but it’s easily forgotten once you’re on the convention floor. You need to drink plenty of water (even if it means more trips to the convention hall bathrooms) and you need to remember to eat! Some stalls give out free food, so make sure to identify them early, but even a chocolate bar here and there can be enough to keep you going until the end of the day. 

Meet up with friendly faces  

Industry events are all about networking, but keeping up the professional yet friendly smile can quickly drain you. There are people everywhere and it can feel like a lot of pressure to be the ‘perfect’ business person at all times.

Grabbing a few quiet minutes with an industry friend at some point of the day can make a lot of difference in alleviating this pressure. If it proves impossible to line up schedules with your industry friends, then meeting them afterwards for a debrief is a great excuse to try one of the local restaurants. Alternatively, try to ring somebody back home on your lunch break. It will make a world of difference. 

Set yourself a goal that is not work-related 

This might seem counterintuitive, but giving yourself a secondary task can keep you sane in these events. Trying to find the coolest freebie, getting your steps in, trying a new cuisine each day, sourcing the best coffee or even finding the smoothest pen – all of these things can help ground you as you power through each day.

This can also tie in nicely with the previous point. Getting colleagues and associates in on these goals can lighten the load for everyone and create light-hearted, silly memories to look back on.  

Make a plan and stick to it 

You can plan your schedule ahead of time and feel confident with it, but as soon as you step into the expo arena and have dozens of people trying to approach you and set up new meetings, it can be easy to let things slip.

Making a list of times, locations, names and purposes will keep you on track and focused, allowing you to continue working through each day. Also, ticking these off as you go will help you feel a sense of achievement and mentally alleviate any feelings of being overwhelmed or swamped with meetings. 

Spend your breaks well  

Unless you have overbooked your schedule, you should have a few moments of downtime here and there. It can be easy to spend these precious minutes doomscrolling on your phone, but there are certain things you can do that will make your next engagement a little smoother. 

This time could be spent doing anything from this ICE burnout list, such as grabbing a drink and making sure you find something to eat, or even making notes that will help break down your next task. 

Do not hesitate to delegate 

Your colleagues and coworkers are part of your team for a reason. They are not just people you share an office with, or people who work on the same products as you, but part of your circle that you can rely on in industry events such as these. 

If you are rushing between meetings, do not be afraid to message one of your team and ask them to grab you a drink, snack or even attend an industry talk and take notes in your absence. In the same way, do not leave your team stranded if they reach out asking for help!