1. Plan ahead!

These kind of events are like a big pile of sand on the palm of your hand. It can be very frustrating trying to get a grip on it if you haven't made a solid plan. Think ahead that what are your goals and how to execute them. Book meetings in advance, select the keynotes you want to listen and check out the seemingly endless list of side-events.

2. Arrive early!

Doesn't matter if the conference is in your hometown or on the other side of the world. Bring your focus to the event early. If you have to travel to the event I suggest to arrive at least one day earlier in order to avoid catching the early morning train and compromising rest. These events are something that you have waited for some time so make sure you bring your A-game!

Also if the event is in another country getting to the premises couple of days earlier won't do any harm, because then you have proper time to set up your headquarters and get to know the assumably unknown city bit better.

When attending Web Summit in Lisbon we arrived couple of days early to check out the city

3. Do something fun with your team!

These kind of events in an excellent getaway for the team to have fun as well. Especially if you are in a different city or nation it is highly suggested to do some team building and break the routines of normal office life. Whether it is a classic team dinner, skydiving or paintball do something! Shared experiences bring people closer to each other!

4. Remember to rest!

Whilst having fun it is also super important to stay well rested. Events that last for various numbers of days can really wear you out. It can be tempting at times to stroll through the endless swamps of side events until the very early morning, but remember the goals that you have. Never compromise a good night of sleep just to have couple of more hours of fun and to get side tracked about the actual stuff going on around you.

5. Do actual networking!

People in these events are super willing to meet up new people so don't be afraid to chat with a stranger at a falafel stand. Besides chatting randomly to people think about what you can do for other people and not what they can do for you. Be helpful and try to find win-win situations. When you find a common ground with someone, always remember to get back to the conversations after the conference. Networking isn't just about handing out business cards, but to actually doing awesome things together!

Take the challenge and test these small hacks to improve your Slush experience. See you there!

Anssi Ketopaikka
Business Developer and Chief Cheerleader at Saavu
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