I have to confess, as a recent addition to the Vevox team, the 2017 show will be my first but I’m keen to make the most of it. Event Tech Live is (currently) only a 1-day event, and having been to numerous industry shows I know that these events can be an assault on the senses and the soles of your feet, unless you have a plan of attack.

With 5 stages hosting panel discussions and seminars, including the Brand & Buzz Stage where you can try out Vevox, a networking lounge and over 100+ exhibitors to see, I’m not going to be able to do it all. I recently caught up with Adam Parry, the creator and organiser of Event Tech Live for his advice on getting the most out of a visit to Event Tech Live. Here’s my top 4 tips:

Get involved on social media!

Before the event opens its doors, you can catch a sneak peek from exhibitors and announcements from Adam and the Event Tech Live team, all of which will give you a taste of what is in store on the day. Make sure you follow @eventtechlive on Twitter and during the event use the handle or the event specific #ETL17 to share your own experience. You can also find Event Tech Live on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Use the Event Tech Live site to plan your day 

With educational sessions taking place across 5 stages and covering all event verticals, it’s impossible to pack everything in. Helpfully each speaker session or panel discussion is tagged on the Event Tech Live website with relevant categories, so read up about the sessions in advance and pick 2/3 key slots to plan the rest of your day around. Don’t forget to factor in a couple of coffee stops! With 2 halls crammed with event tech suppliers, spend some time beforehand looking at the exhibitors list and make a note of the exhibitors that you want to visit.

Helpfully the guys and girls at Event Tech Live have enabled visitors to create their own unique timetable via the website by hitting the ‘+ My Schedule’ button – just sign in through the website to create your account to use this handy feature. Event Tech Live has been carefully designed to cover all event verticals from festivals to finance, so there is more than enough content for everyone. As we speak, the people behind the scenes at Event Tech Live are also putting finishing touches on what I’m calling the ‘matchmaker’ tool. This helps visitors browsing the website to sort through the hundreds of exhibitors and only see what is relevant to them, perfect for when you know what you’re looking for and are short on time.

Through the site you can connect with people you’d like to talk to and even book appointments, meaning you can hit the ground running when you arrive. If you’ve visited the Event Tech Live website you might have also noticed the ‘Who else is registered’ widget – great for seeing who else in your industry is attending so you can network before you even arrive.

Download the free Vevox App

Ok, so a shameless plug BUT we’re the event tech partner for the Brand & Buzz Stage, sponsored by Attendify. All sessions held on this stage will be interactive, meaning you can vote on audience polls and take part in the Q&A’s by using the Vevox app. Download the free app from your app store OR type vevox.app into your mobile browser and enter the 9-digit ID that the presenter will display at the start and during the session. A great opportunity to try out a live polling and audience engagement tool.

Do your homework

Although a day out of the office can be fun, days like Event Tech Live are packed full of opportunity and you need to take full advantage. If you don’t end up feeling totally mind boggled by the end then you didn’t speak to enough people! Do your research, plan who you want to speak to and ask questions, lots of questions. We’re all busy so take advantage of being able to get all the experts in one place. Take a notebook, snag a freebie from an exhibitor (sorry, we're giving out fidget spinners) or record voice notes on your phone but just make sure you get the answers you need to take back to your desk.

From my chat with Adam I got a sense that I am in for a pretty hectic day but I’m going in prepared. I asked Adam what he was most looking forward to and he answered, ‘From an event that was born out of the Event Technology Awards, to what is now an industry pinnacle, I’m looking forward to taking a step back and seeing visitors getting excited about the technology available to them and making connections. This year sees a first for Event Tech Live with a US exhibitor showcasing the latest in facial recognition technology - it’s definitely one not to be missed’.

To find out more about Vevox visit www.vevox.com or follow us @VevoxApp.