BETT Essentials

[plexer]

If you obscure/damage the barcode on your badge look out for security if they spot this they will make you go and get it reprinted.

Ben

[nephilim]

In that case, add or thicken a few of the lines with a sharpie ;-)

[K.C.Leblanc]

Don't get your job title put on you pass, put something stupid on there.

I got a lot less junk mail the year I went with a badge saying I was a 'Deputy Evil Genius'.

[enjay]

Will take a few business cards, but generally find exhibitors just want to scan the badges.

Comfy shoes and water are essentials - can't stress those two enough.

Food in the arena is very expensive, but there are all sorts of options nearby, from Tesco and Costa for the cheaper options, through some interesting looking ethnic restaurants (never ventured in to any, though!).

[enjay]

Don't get your job title put on you pass, put something stupid on there.

I got a lot less junk mail the year I went with a badge saying I was a 'Deputy Evil Genius'.

That might affect how seriously they take you too. I went one year with the Mrs, and my badge had something sensible on it and hers said "undisclosed", many exhibitors ignored her, possibly assuming she was a Saturday tag-along; next year we went, hers had job title on it, and exhibitors spent more time talking to both of us.

[vikpaw]

Please dont rely on dumping stuff at the stand, space is extremely limited, it is usually full with throngs of people especially at lunch time, and it's a nightmare trying to keep all the possessions for staff and helpers. Usually we need a coat monitor to pile them up with bags at the beginning and then take down at the end, heaven help anyone that tries to get their coat and go outside in the middle of the day. The stand is just too small for storage.

That's why i suggested a small rucksack, so you can carry your stuff around that way, your arms will be aching lugging the freebie bags around. in fact, it's worth bringing a piece of cloth or sponge to stop getting cuts in your fingers, though if you have that much forethought, just bring a backpack!

[vikpaw]

With regards to covering your badge / changing your job title, having a good job title, will mean you get spoken to more, and also they are more likely to give your freebies, so you have to balance the ease with which you can create an email rule to filter BETT spam with how seriously you want to be taken.

Saying that, i missed a really important BETT email last year as it was from someone whose card i hadn't taken, and it got swept into the, maybe look at later folder.

[nephilim]

I remember once, my badge said

Dr Surname.
IT developer
X school

I ended up with a duffel bag full of freebies

[vikpaw]

You want freebies, put in something like procurement officer, or bursar, director, head etc. you'll get freebies and spam in not quite equal proportion

[sidewinder]

Probably a stupid question - what do people generally wear? Comfy shoes for me is anything but my work shoes, but then I don't really want to wear trainers and shirt/trousers so was just going to go in jeans, thats ok yeah?

Also why am I secretly dreading it? I'm sure it will be a useful day but I'm just imagining a day of talking to annoying salesmen, the sort of thing I usually avoid!

[elsiegee40]

Make sure you're wearing a short sleeved shirt, under your jacket/jumper because it gets so hot.

As for comfy shoes, it depends on what you can survive all day in. You'll be walking most of it... apart from a few minutes sat by a wall, scoffing a sandwich. If you've got a Network Manager's title on your badge, you can get a seat in the NM's lounge! I wear trainers usually. Though last year's snow had me in walking boots!

I was scared stiff the first time I went. I found the whole salesman thing, and the edugeek stand, a bit intimidating. However, subsequent visits have been more relaxed as I've got used to it... and the drones will take no for answer (even impero eventually )

[timzim]

I normally take my iPad on long train journeys but i dont want to be carrying it around all day!

Erm, isn't that the point of an iPad...NOT to be a problem to carry around all day? Or did I miss something...

[Millgate]

It's not a problem, i just hate carrying things when i'm meeting people. Just me being weird!

[IT_Man_Dan]

I'm just planning on wearing casual clothes (jeans, t shirt, hoodie), that's ok right? Also regarding the NM lounge, I take it you can get in with Systems Manager job title too?

[nephilim]

Network manager title pretty much. My old boss was yhroen out for having IT Manager and CoOrdinator on his badge 2 years ago.