Conference Preparation Checklist

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About this template

If you attend Conferences, do you always feel overwhelmed or that you are missing something. Here is a template to help organize and plan your experience.

Work type: Other

Location: United States

Client industry: Generic

Version: 1 (Latest)

This template includes

  • 18 tasks
Packing for the Conference
Professional Essentials
Admin
Business cards
Branded materials (brochures, swag, firm one-pager)
Laptop/tablet & charger
Portable charger/power bank
Notepad or digital note-taking device
Pens/highlighters
Copies of your session materials or presentation (USB and cloud backup)
Technology & Accessories
Admin
Phone charger + cable
Headphones/earbuds
Wi-Fi hotspot or backup internet (optional)
HDMI/USB-C adapters for presentations
Extension cord or power strip
Attire
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Business casual or conference-specific attire
Comfortable shoes (you’ll be on your feet!)
Layered options (conference rooms = unpredictable temps)
Evening wear for mixers or dinners
Rain jacket or umbrella (check weather)
Health & Personal Care
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Refillable water bottle
Snacks (protein bars, trail mix)
Medications, vitamins, and prescriptions
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes
Travel-sized toiletries
Breath mints or gum
Planning for the Conference (Before You Go)
Professional Preparation
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Register and download the event app
Review the session schedule and select your must-attends
Plan your speaking schedule if you're presenting
Schedule meetings or coffee chats with other attendees
Review vendor and exhibitor list—highlight booths to visit (Try and avoid Shiny Object Syndrome, and focus on "what problem am I trying to solve with adding a new vendor?")
Follow the conference hashtags and social media groups
Firm Representation
Admin
Update your LinkedIn profile (Website, other social media channels)
Set your email auto-responder
Notify your team of your availability (Remind your team you are AT the conference to be present and learn, maybe schedule a 30 minute "Catch-up" per day with a primary team member/manager).
Create a note system for capturing follow-ups and leads
Logistics
Admin
Book travel (flights/train) and confirm itinerary
Confirm hotel reservations and check-in times
Check local transportation options or parking availability
Set a conference budget (meals, rideshare, etc.)
Planning During the Conference
Daily Strategy
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Review your daily agenda every morning
Prioritize sessions by relevance and value
Take structured notes (tag sessions for follow-up)
Post and engage on social media (#hashtags, insights) - This is huge for you and for the conference. It lets your team, your clients, and the conference know what you are doing/learning.
Networking
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Introduce yourself to new peers at each session
Join group lunches or roundtable discussions
Visit exhibitor booths you flagged
Capture contact info & jot down follow-up notes
Firm Development
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Look for tools, partners, or methods to bring back
Ask vendors about accounting firm-specific use cases
Attend leadership or workflow-focused breakout sessions
Personal Care at the Conference
Daily Wellness
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Start the day with a short walk/stretch/meditation
Stay hydrated—refill your bottle throughout the day
Build in breaks to decompress and reset
Eat nourishing meals (don’t skip meals or rely on cookies)
Manage caffeine intake (watch for crashes)
Mental Clarity
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Journal or voice note 1 takeaway per day
Give yourself space to recharge (hotel room breaks are okay)
Don’t overschedule—leave margin for spontaneity
Sleep & Recovery
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Aim for 7+ hours of sleep each night
Wind down with a book, calming music, or app
Avoid checking work emails late at night (unless urgent)
Post-Conference Action Items
Organize & Reflect
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Review and organize your session notes
Summarize key takeaways and action points
Share insights with your team (consider a debrief meeting or email)
Reflect on what worked well and what to improve for next time
Follow-up on Connections
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Send LinkedIn connection requests with personal notes
Email new contacts to thank them and explore next steps
Add leads to your Financial Cents for follow-up
Follow up with vendors or service providers you’re interested in
Implement What You Learned
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Identify 2–3 ideas to test or integrate into your firm
Schedule time for deeper dives into tools or processes
Assign next steps or implementation tasks to team members
Reach out to presenters or peers for clarification or collaboration
Content & Marketing
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Post a final social media recap or reflection
Consider writing a blog or internal article summarizing your experience
Add valuable materials to your resource library or playbooks
Personal Debrief
Conference Attendee/Speaker
Re-set your calendar and priorities post-travel
Catch up on rest if needed—conferences are energizing and exhausting
Note your top three wins or connections
Journal what inspired you or shifted your mindset

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