Resources – Checklist for Conference Presenters
Introduction to the Topic
Going to a conference is an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to get feedback on their research from an audience of experts and novices, alike. In addition to using this feedback to revise and expand your work, consider conferences as important venues to market yourself as a future colleague, collaborator, and/or employee. Therefore, in addition to preparing the best paper/presentation possible, consider how else you might prepare yourself to perform to the best of your ability and make the most of your conference trip. The following checklist is a great place to start.
Checklists for All Phases of Conference Attendance
Before the Conference
___ Acquire business cards from your department/program
___ Read fellow panelists abstracts/papers if they are available online
___ Be in touch with respondent/discussant about any changes you make to your paper
___ Look over the conference program and consider inviting other presenters to your talk
___ Create a dedicated reading copy of your paper if you will read it
___ Make your slide show well in advance of your trip
___ Practice your presentation! (With an audience, if possible)
___ Be sure to time your practice sessions and cut accordingly
___ Make at least one of your practice sessions a “dress rehearsal”
Traveling to the Conference
___ Never pack any essentials in your checked bags
At the Conference
___ Advertise your talk by attending others’ and telling them about yours
___ Consider using social media to promote your presentation
___ Check out the room you will be presenting in as soon as possible
___ Plan to arrive to your presentation at least 20 minutes early
___ Have back-ups of any technology (including the paper itself)
___ Bring a bottle of water with you in case there isn’t any in the room
After the Conference
___ Follow up with others you’ve met using social media and/or email
___ Consider posting your paper to a personal website
___ Update your CV to reflect your conference attendance
Developed by Elizabeth Lenaghan for the workshop Developing and Delivering Conference Papers, Panels, & Presentations.
