» Education & Training


or load them onto an iPad or laptop to take with you to the event. Some, but not all, conferences also allow you to print handouts on site.


Using technology as part of your conference experience There might be a smart phone app


available for the event, which can help you keep track of what’s happening - and where - at the conference. Check the conference marketing and regis- tration material for info on a poten- tial app. If you use Twitter and Facebook, look for the hashtag associated with


during the conference when you post relevant content to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. When it’s time for a session, arrive


early so you can choose the best lo- cation when you’re inside the session room. You will be able to see and hear presenters much better in expansive ballrooms if you can find a place close to the stage.


During a workshop Don’t think that attending a move-


ment workshop means you’re there for a high-intensity, non-stop workout, or that you have to teach the presenter’s workout exactly as he or she intro- duced it. Take note of your favourite moves and get them down on paper as soon as possible. In addition to


During a workshop: Take note of your favourite moves and get them down on paper as soon as possible.


the conference and start using it be- fore you leave home to share your ex- citement with others. Check out the hashtag stream to learn about confer- ence specials and connect with pre- senters, other attendees and fitness brands. Hashtags begin with the # symbol; for example, canfitpro is us- ing #CFPTwenty for its conference and tradeshow being held in Toronto this August and to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary.


AT THE EVENT Keep using the conference hashtag


24 Fitness Business Canada July/August 2013


reading the present- er’s handout (if you printed it up or have it on screen), write down exercises and choreography in your own words. Draw stick figures if you have to. While taking photos or video would be eas- ier, it’s not always permitted in session rooms. Check the conference “rules” about whether it's OK to capture pho- tos and video from your phone inside session rooms. A lot


of conferences don’t allow you to pho- tograph or film presenters in action.


Between sessions Some delegates use their phones


between sessions to videotape their friends doing the choreography or ex- ercises they just learned. You can also use your phone’s audio recorder, post- session, to reiterate important points from workshops and lectures in your own words. Take plenty of breaks between ses-


sions and change out of your sweaty workout gear as soon as possible. Use downtime to refuel with a healthy


Amanda Vogel, M.A. human kinetics, is a can- fitpro-certified Fitness Instructor Specialist and writer in Vancouver B.C. In addition to being a Facebook and Twitter consultant for BOSU® and other fitness brands, Amanda owns Active Voice, a writing, editing and consulting service for the fitness industry. She presents at major fitness conferences, including can- fitpro Toronto, IDEA World, Athletic Business Conference and ACSM Health & Fitness Summit. Amanda’s articles have appeared in Best Health, Oxygen and IDEA Fitness Journal. You can reach her at www.ActiveVoice.ca or @ AmandaVogel on Twitter.


lunch or a walk outside. In a large- scale convention, it’s not unusual to spend most of the day indoors with- out natural light. Fresh air and natu- ral light will help keep you energized, so, if possible, take an outdoor route to get from one session location to the next. When shopping in the trade show,


go with a game plan. Do a few laps of the entire area, then return to the booths that interest you the most. Browse between workshops, but to avoid long lineups at the cash regis- ters, consider making purchases dur- ing a session block.


AFTER THE EVENT The best way to retain new infor-


mation from a convention is to use it. Review your notes and phone footage as soon as you return home. Tell other fitness professionals what


you learned and/or prepare mini- workshops for the staff at your facility. Write an article for your club newslet- ter or your blog about some of the con- vention’s hottest topics. Even if you don’t teach all the


new choreography and exercises you learned right away, practice them at home while the movements are still fresh in your mind.


For Future Conventions One of the best ways to stay fo-


cused at a convention and ensure your enjoyment at future ones is to talk, Facebook and tweet with other attend- ees. Find out what sessions they liked best and which presenters are their favourites. It’s never too early to start planning for next year’s event! FBC


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