Key Insights: With preparation, smart networking, and security awareness, you can turn a big tech conference like the London Blockchain Conference into a rewarding and impactful experience.
- Set clear goals: Define 2–3 objectives (e.g., meet experts, explore strategies) to stay focused.
- Plan your agenda: Review sessions, panels, and workshops in advance; leave time for networking.
- Know the venue: Use the event app/map to navigate stages, breakout rooms, and exhibitor areas.
- Book early: Secure travel and accommodation near the venue to avoid stress and inflated costs.
- Pack smart: Essentials include business cards, chargers, tickets, ID, sanitizer, and snacks.
- Network with intent: Prepare an elevator pitch, update LinkedIn/QR codes, and prioritize genuine relationship-building.
- Stay flexible onsite: Balance your agenda with spontaneous opportunities; engage on social channels.
- Follow up after: Connect with new contacts, share takeaways online, and apply insights to your work.
It’s quite normal to feel a mixture of excitement and nerves at the prospect of attending a tech conference for the first time. However, you can ease your nerves and go some way to ensuring the best possible experience through advance planning. Read on to discover how best to prepare for a conference as an attendee.
1. Define Your Goals in Advance
First up, it’s worth thinking about the goals that you’d like to achieve during the conference. In setting two or three clear objectives, you can ensure that you arrive with clear intent.
Like the majority of people who turned up for the 2024 London Blockchain Conference, your main priority might be to learn and stay informed about blockchain. However, you could break this down, with aims such as talking to certain experts and discovering ways of future-proofing your strategy.
2. Map Out Your Agenda
With clear goals in mind, you’ll find it that much easier to plan your time at the conference. The next step will be to take a look at the event schedule, highlighting the talks, panels, and workshops that you can’t afford to miss.
From digital trust to cyber resilience, the key topics are broken down into tracks that you can review before the London Blockchain Conference. You should leave enough time to chat with the exhibitors and expand your network, too.
Browse LBC 2025 tracks and topics.
3. Research the Venue Layout
It’s worth taking a little time to check out the venue layout before you arrive. This might be accessed via the event app, with a map showing the locations of the main stage, breakout rooms, and exhibitors. There’s little reason to worry, with friendly and helpful conference organisers sure to be on hand.
Discover more about the London Blockchain Conference venue.
4. Book Travel and Accommodation Early
You can further ease the pre-event jitters by arranging your travel and accommodation as early as possible. As an international visitor, this may mean booking flights and choosing a hotel within a short walk or taxi ride of the event venue. You should also leave yourself a little extra time so that you can explore and get adjusted to the local area.
Thankfully, there’s an excellent range of quality hotels, with easy transport links to the Evolution London conference centre. Just be sure to make your booking soon – the Blockchain Conference is taking place on the 22nd and 23rd October.
5. Pack Your Conference Essentials
As mentioned, it’s worth writing up a conference preparation checklist, noting down everything that you need to take. This will likely include a set of business cards to exchange with new contacts, plus a notebook (or tablet), and device chargers. If you’re really keen to make a sweeping first impression, you might even be tempted to invest in a new suit or dress.
Your conference pack should also include:
- Printed or digital confirmation and/or tickets
- Wallet, complete with personal ID and money
- Mobile phone and USB drives (for sharing/backing up files)
- Hand sanitiser and deodorant
- Water bottle, lunch and snacks
6. Prepare to Network Effectively
In preparation for networking, you might want to set up QR codes with links to your website and/or LinkedIn profile. Just make sure that everything’s up to date, with a nice professional headshot and details which will hook any new contacts.
Crafting a short “elevator pitch” with a focus on your expert credentials and the conference theme would also be a smart idea. This could make a difference, whether you’re looking for fresh career opportunities or business investment. Remember to approach networking as a relationship-building, rather than a card-swapping exercise.
7. Maximise the Event Experience On-Site
A focused and flexible approach will be best in attending major events such as the London Blockchain Conference. You should keep your agenda in mind while also being prepared to explore exciting opportunities with your fellow attendees.
Think about a few questions that you can ask the exhibitors so that you don’t get flustered. Show your interest by jotting down notes that you can use in a follow-up after the conference. And don’t forget to engage with the event organisers and community through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
8. Plan Your Post-Conference Follow-Up
You’ll probably want to spend some time winding down immediately after the conference, perhaps trying some of the recommended activities near Evolution London. That said, it’s worth reviewing the key conference takeaways while they’re still fresh in your mind.
Go ahead and reach out to your new connections, focusing on your thoughts about the conference and your intention to stay in touch. Share what you’ve learned through your social channels and think about how to apply your newly discovered knowledge.
Get Set for the London Blockchain Conference
By following these tips, you can transform any conference experience from overwhelming to rewarding. That’s absolutely true of the London Blockchain Conference, with opportunities to meet the pioneers, see the tech in action, and connect with people committed to turning innovation into impact.
Register today and prepare for a uniquely valuable tech conference.
