Singe Singe says: How to be successful at a conference!

Hi there.
Singe Singe here.
As you probably know,
Kathy Ellen and I were at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency’s Big Sur conference this weekend.

Since Kathy Ellen is too tired,
I’ve been asked to fill in and tell you how we had such a great time.

Luckily I have photographic proof behind most of my tips:

1. Be prepared.
Bring all the things you’re supposed to bring, and read up on the people who are going to be there!

(not pictured: hanging out at Fed Ex,
staring at bios of the faculty,
trying to pick out my clothes… I ended up just going with no belt…au natural monkey!)

2. Take advantage of cocktail hour to schmooze, network, and drink cocktails.

3. Make sure you take down info of the people you talk to.

(Not pictured: A note on Kathy Ellen’s cell phone,
with email addresses and fun info about the people she met,
and various times that  I met with people!)

4. Eat early and often.
You don’t want to be without nourishment while your brain is working overtime!
This can mean snacks:
Or more substantial meals, like BREAKFAST!

5. Spend time in and out of your comfort zone!
You go to these things to learn and to meet new people,
and sometimes that means you have to get out of your comfort zone.
But sometimes your comfort zone
is the place where
you get the best work done!
So what’s a monkey to do?

Spend some time in your natural habitat when you need to work or get inspiration:
If you feel like you just can’t get out there and socialize,
(never a problem for me!)
but if it is for you, just start with the safe people,
the people who are like you and have the same interests.
Keep doing that and slowly branching out and soon you’ll be hanging out with all sorts of awesome people!
6. Take care of yourself!
Drink plenty of water to offset those cocktails!
And get plenty of sleep!
7.  Don’t forget a good book!
And it helps if the good book is by someone who is there so you can meet the author too!
In this case, the awesome SHANNON MESSENGER!

8. Don’t forget thank you notes!

(Not pictured: Linocut thank you notes Kathy Ellen handed out to everyone…I supervised!)

9. Practice your game faces with a friend.
10. Have fun!

(Not pictured: A video of me going down in the glass elevator…I felt like Charlie!
Dancing and singing in the hallway to One Direction (I’m a pop lovin Monkey!)
and doing capoeira in the hotel lobby!)

There you have it.
Did I miss anything?
What do you do to get ready for conferences?

Kathy Ellen promised a “serious” review of the conference coming soon,
but soon may be relative.
She’s going to bed at 9 p.m. every night.
That’s usually a sign of overtired!

Until next time,
The one, the only, the Singe Singe.