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Those of us who work in event production are also road warriors. Travel is very much part of the job. It\u2019s not always glamorous, especially with early mornings, late nights, unpredictable weather that impacts travel plans\u2026the list goes on and on!+<\/p>\n
But the good news is there are ways to stay comfortable, prepared and sane while traveling for events. We asked our team to share their go-to tips and must-have items.<\/p>\n
Come Prepared for Anything<\/strong> For Aaron, that means his backpack is always stocked: a 25\u2019 tape measure, a compact umbrella (\u201cnothing quite says \u2018I\u2019ve got you covered\u2019 during a downpour like pulling out a secret umbrella on event for a client\u201d), Advil, a high-capacity power bank with a retractable USB-C charger, and \u2014 non-negotiable \u2014 sunglasses.<\/p>\n SVP of Accounts Patrick Riley\u2019s essentials include: an Anker MagGo Power Bank<\/a>, a retractable Sharpie, Purell singles, ibuprofen, and Imodium. And cola gummy worms and peanut butter crackers for snacks. Patrick\u2019s been doing this for a long time, so we\u2019re going to trust him on this one!<\/p>\n Account Manager, Erin Piafsky, said \u201cI keep a completely separate set of travel toiletries \u2014 hairbrush and elastics\/clips, toothbrush and toothpaste, face lotions and cleansers, make-up, deodorant. I didn\u2019t always do this, and I would inevitably get to wherever I was going and discover that I had forgotten to throw something into my bag before I left home that morning. Same goes for all the necessary charging implements I will need \u2014 my travel backpack has charger cords for my computer, phone, watch, etc. that never leave the backpack except when I need them out on the road.<\/p>\n Travel Shortcuts<\/strong> Want one less thing to think about during travel days? Consider wearing the same outfit every time you fly out to an event! It\u2019s a small ritual that Erin recommends. Travel days usually start at an ungodly hour and having a personal travel uniform means you know which clothes to grab without having to think about it.<\/p>\n Take Care of Your Body<\/strong> Don\u2019t skip all your workouts. Yes, you\u2019ll be getting your steps in and likely hauling enough event equipment to skip leg day, but building time in your schedule for meditation, yoga, or a quick run on the treadmill may be just what your brain needs to decompress.<\/p>\n A few things that help our teammates:<\/p>\n And our President Tim Brockman \u2014 who spends more time on the road than anyone else in the company \u2014 swears by bringing slippers. He says they\u2019re essential for that 4am lobby coffee run, and a much better alternative to hotel carpets, which (in his words) \u201care nasty.\u201d<\/p>\n Protect Your Sleep!<\/strong> Sleep can be especially challenging when you\u2019re changing time zones. Speaking from experience, that west coast to east coast haul is rough when you don\u2019t have time to adjust. But it\u2019s important to get into bed early, turn off devices (we know not everyone working an event has the luxury of staying in DND mode all night), shut your eyes and hope sleep comes quickly.<\/p>\n Stay Organized<\/strong> The Little Luxuries<\/strong> The bottom line is that event travel isn\u2019t always for the faint of heart! What our team knows, from traveling to thousands of events over several decades, is that the right preparation and creature comforts can make a big difference when you are on the road.<\/p>\n
As Event Production Manager Aaron Gingras puts it, \u201cComfort means reducing those \u2018what-ifs\u2019 \u2014 which can often mean bringing that extra something juuust in case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anyone who flies more than once or twice a year should have TSA Pre-Check. It can be a game-changer for getting through airport security faster and easier. If you use air travel 5+ times a year, I also recommend springing for CLEAR. While it\u2019s more expensive than TSA Pre-Check, it\u2019s been seriously helpful for our teammates when approaching a monstrous security line that loops back and forth like it\u2019s the opening day of a new attraction at Disneyland. The stress avoided and peace of mind gained makes the cost easier to justify.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t skip breakfast \u2014 or any meal. You need the fuel for your long days on your feet and exposed to whatever Mother Nature throws your way.<\/p>\n\n
We all know how hard it can be to fall asleep or stay asleep when you \u00a0know you have an alarm going off at an ungodly hour. Quality rest on the road is hard-earned. Earplugs were a common recommendation from our teammates and here are two you may want to consider:<\/p>\n
Whether you choose to unpack your suitcase or not is a matter of personal preference, but if you do, here are two products that may help you:<\/p>\n
Apart from Tim\u2019s recommendation of bringing slippers, there are other small things our team recommended that can distract you from the fact you\u2019re in a hotel room:<\/p>\n\n