If you’re new to freelancecampTO this year, you might be wondering what you 
should bring to make the most of your day. While the list is totally up to you, these are the basics that we recommend:
Business cards
Be sure to bring a stack of business cards so that those you meet can get in touch with you after the event and you can keep them in your network. How many is hard to say. Will you really get to meet 100people? 200people? more? You decide how many to bring, but more if far better than not enough.
It’s not all about you, though. If you’re truly interested in what others do and how you can help them, you’ll be collecting a number of business cards too, so be sure to have somewhere you can put their cards.
A sample of your work
This could be a physical item (a small portfolio or a product sample) or a bookmark on your laptop or tablet so that you can show others what you do. We don’t recommend bringing samples to give away, though. Not only will that be a burden to carry around, but if someone wants a sample then it’s a great reason to ask for their business card and have something to send them as a follow up.
Something to take notes
A laptop, notepad, tablet, smartphone, etc is handy to have since it is a day of learning and you’ll probably want to write some things down. Be sure to charge it up the night before! You are responsible for your own items, so keep an eye on your things.
Charger cables
It’s a long day and you might run out of juice for your phone, laptop, or tablet, so be sure to pack your charger cables. You might also want to consider attaching a label to your charger so that you know for sure which one is yours if you happen to plug in to the same outlet with the same charger as someone else.
A pen or two
At the very least you might want to write notes on business cards that you collect throughout the day so that you know what you can follow up on, but you might find other opportunities where you need a pen. Pack two in case something happens to your first one.
A water bottle
Stay hydrated! You’ll feel more alert if you stay hydrated throughout the day.
Please note: there are some rooms that will be clearly marked as no food or drinks allowed, and that includes water. Please adhere these signs and keep your water bottles shut tight and in your bag while in those rooms.
A light sweater
Just in case you find a room a bit too cool, it’s better to be prepared so that you can focus rather than be distracted by the temperature. And hey, it’s the end of Mar so the weather could be anything, really.
Glasses
If you wear glasses only occasionally, it’s best to bring them along because you just don’t know where you’ll end up sitting in any given session. (Although another tip is to ensure you arrive early at a session you really want to attend so that you can choose the best seat for your needs)
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Do any seasoned freelancecampers have anything to add? Post a comment with additional information.
