CHICAGO — Being onsite for long stretches of time can be daunting — and it can be uncomfortable if you don’t feel like you packed the right items for the trip.
From aching feet to scrambling for a stapler to feeling like you aren’t getting enough rest, traveling and being on your feet for days at a time calls for ample preparation to avoid burnout.
That’s why Trade Show Executive made a call to its LinkedIn network to find out what the seasoned pros are double-checking their suitcases for before they leave for an event.
Your Feet Will Thank You
It’s one of the most common complaints from anyone who’s on the job and on their feet all day for many days in a row: “My feet hurt.”
But, they don’t have to. Here’s some must-haves event pros shared with us that will have your feet thanking you later.
- Comfortable shoes: Ditch the heels and pack comfortable, supportive shoes built for walking thousands of steps a day.
- Pro-Tip: Having more than one pair helps with staying comfortable too.
- Compression socks
- Moleskin padding
- Epsom salt (because you deserve a nice soak after the day’s done)
Feeling Good
Besides keeping your feet in good shape, our community had some other suggestions to help you feel your best every early morning and late night of your event.
- Protein-packed snacks
- Candy (because balance is important)
- Nasal spray
- Essential oil rollers
- Electrolyte packets
- Bug spray (depending on location)
- Benadryl cream
- Advil or another ibuprofen
- Eye drops
- Fork and spoon set (for when delivered meals don’t come with cutlery)
- Reusable water bottle
Looking Good
Now that you know what you need to help you feel fueled and fresh, others had some ideas on the items needed to keep you looking as good as you feel while onsite.
- Steamer or wrinkle-release spray
- Mini sewing kit and safety pins
- Lint roller
- Sunglasses
- Sweater or jacket
- Mini hairbrush or comb
- Eye masks
- Mario Badescu facial spray
Keep Your (Fanny)Pack Stacked
Aside from the essentials that you keep in your room, there’s some items that event pros suggest you keep on you at all times, whether in a fanny pack or another cross-body bag.
- ChapStick
- Gum/mints
- Notebook
- Business cards or content capture system
- Stain remover
- Hand sanitizer
- Hand lotion
- Cash (for tipping)
- Lozenges
- Multi-tool or an Allen wrench
- Box cutters
- Portable charger or a battery pack
- Earbuds
- Office essentials: rubber bands, mini stapler, Scotch tape, pens, pencils, Sharpies, post-it notes and zip ties or another type of twine
- QR code to download the mobile app (for when attendees need some additional direction)
The Mental Essentials
While the physical essentials are sure to keep you hydrated, comfortable and prepared while you’re onsite, Warwick Davies, Founder of The Annabelle Project, highlighted the mentality required to keep energy high for days on end.
“The best event professionals also prepare for judgement, pressure and unpredictability,” Davies said. “But the real survival kit is operations.”
Davies suggested the following for onsite workers:
- Know who the customer is
- Know how the event makes money
- Know who makes decisions onsite
- Stay useful under pressure; solve problems without creating new ones
- Be early and respond quickly
- Don’t disappear when things get difficult
To find the full list of essentials, which continues to grow, check out the original LinkedIn post here.
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