I don't pretend to have all of the answers. I don't even pretend to have most of them. But I am happy to pass along a few suggestions that have worked well for me over the years:
- It is too late for the 2008 conference but try to be one of the speakers. It is VERY easy to meet people if you are a speaker because they come up to you before and especially after your presentation to introduce themselves and pick your brain. Give away a lot of nickels in life. They tend to come back as dollars.
- Regardless of whether your regional ACE chapter is organizing the conference, volunteer. I volunteered for about half a day a few years ago in Milwaukee and helped check attendees in as they arrived. Yup, I was one of the folks handing over the bag full of presentation materials, water bottles, and other assorted goodies. I probably helped 200 people check-in that day. That's 200 people with whom I had an opportunity to say hello and open the door to speaking with later in the conference.
- When you have breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc., deliberately sit at tables where you don't know most of the people. It is okay to know one or two but don't just speak with them. Speak with the others at the table. You all have things in common: the conference and even the hotel banquet hall chicken in front of you. Complain about your flight, laugh about the meal, share advice about presentations you attended or plan to attend, whatever. But have fun and enjoy yourself.
- Arrive at sessions at least five minutes early and sit beside people you don't know. Introduce yourself and ask about their work lives first and perhaps their personal lives (married? kids?) later.
- Business cards. You can never bring enough or hand out enough. Never, ever leave home without 'em.
