What to Pack for a Blogging Conference

In just one week, one of my favorite “blogging” trips is finally happening. It’s been 1.5 years since my favorite blogging conference — the 2:1 Conference, and I am beyond excited to get to the Outer Banks to spend a weekend with some of my best friends in the blogging world, and be make some new ones. 

 

I’ll be spending the next few days getting things ready to go, and as I was jotting down my list of things to bring, I thought I would whip up a blog post in case some of you are wondering what a blogger needs when attending a blog conference. 

 

  

Laptop or iPad — It’s a blogging conference so it makes sense  to take along my laptop . Many of the sessions will center around learning more about blogging, monetization, and social media, and most of the time those session will include some hands-on experience. I can also blog from my iPad because I have the amazing ClamCase Keyboard Case. So one or the other is a necessity in my book. 

 

iPhone (or other smart phone) —  I will be using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share with you what I’m seeing, hearing and learning all weekend! Be sure you’re following me on my social media platforms so you won’t miss anything (the convention hashtag is #2to1conf)! Don’t forget chargers. I bring this portable battery in case there’s not an outlet nearby. It will charge my iPhone and iPad. I also bring this power strip, so I can charge everything easily in the hotel room. 

 

 

Paper and Pens — I’m not usually a big notetake, but one think I learned with my first blogging conference is that I won’t remember everything I think I will.  So I’ll be packing along a legal pad and my favorite pens, too.

 

Business Cards — I have sweet little business cards for my blog to share with folks I meet. Ben and Me  seems pretty easy to remember, but conferences can be so overwhelming, it’s nice to be able to hand someone a card with all of my links right there (blog and social media) as well as my email address. I generally take about the same number as the expected attendance for a smaller conference, and 1/2 that amount for a larger one. 

 

Business Casual Clothes — This particular conference doesn’t have a dress code or any fancy dinner/dance types of things, but there will be brands there for the purpose of networking. So while I won’t be dressed to the nines all the time, I do want to present myself as a professional. This can be as simple as a nice pair of black dress pants and a pretty blouse, or a simple skirt and top with a scarf. Simple accessories go along way. You want to be comfortable, just no yoga pants or jeans. Be sure your shoes are comfortable (and cute!), too. 

  

A Sweater or Jacket — The temperature in the workshop spaces can be unpredictable. Even for conventions in the middle of the hot summer south, I pack a light jacket or sweater to have just in case. Nothing is more miserable than trying to listen to your favorite speaker while freezing.

 

Peppermint and Lavender Essential Oil — It seems I often get hit with a headache when I travel and spend time in large groups of people. I think it’s probably a combination of perfumes and foods I might not usually eat, but whatever it is, having travel sized bottles of peppermint and lavender essential oils in my bag enables me to get quick relief. I even bought on of these lovely diffuser necklaces to take this time. As a bonus, the lavender also helps me sleep in the unfamiliar bed. 

 

Have you attended a blogging conference? Will you be attending one this year? I’d love to hear all about your favorite things to pack along, especially if I’m missing something important!