What tools do you need in your belt to conquer G2E later this month? How about comfy shoes, your phone charger, business cards and some Advil.
These were just some tips of the trade offered by Corey Nyman, Director of Operations at the Nyman Group, and Dana Takrudtong, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at GAN, in a G2E preview webinar Wednesday produced jointly by the Innovation Group and the American Gaming Association.
As the 16th iteration of the Global Gaming Expo nears kickoff on September 26th, the webinar – entitled “Conquering G2E 2016” – offered both first-time and veteran attendees practical and actionable advice on time management, networking strategies and other tools for making the most of their G2E experiences.
The session kicked off with a short welcome video from Geoff Freeman, AGA President and CEO, who offered a preview of some of the key themes highlighting this year’s event, such as the November presidential election, the convergence of the commercial and tribal sectors of the gaming industry and the integrated resort experience exhibit on the main floor.
Nyman and Takrudtong, who have attended a total of 12 G2Es between them, then offered their two cents on how to prepare for the event, how to make the most out of interactions at booths and networking events and what to do after the event’s conclusion to cement those newly acquired connections and knowledge.
They stressed that with more than 25,000 expected attendees and four days of nearly nonstop events, dinners, receptions and conversations, navigating the expo is no picnic even for the most seasoned attendee. Proper preparation, therefore, will go a long way toward improving one’s overall experience.
To make the most every minute, they emphasized that both planning and flexibility were key elements, and because G2E is in large part a networking event, understanding how to make the most out of every interaction and conversation will pay long-term dividends.
Takrudtong recommended being assertive, putting oneself out there and utilizing every minute of the event. “Take every minute of the show in by Friday. You don’t know what interesting conversation you’ll have by sticking your head in that extra dinner.”
Even for the introverts and non-party goers in the crowd, she stressed that there is value in the networking experience to be derived simply from showing up, being a professional and focusing conversations on what makes you of interest.
“You don’t have to be an extrovert to get value out of networking,” she explained. “If you’re an expert in chair manufacturing, what are you doing to keep butts in seats longer? What do you know about your field that differentiates you from everybody else in your field and adds value to the conversation?”
Authenticity in the networking process will also go a long way, Takrudtong added, as being genuine, showing one’s face and developing those ever-important face-to-face relationships are essential in a business where there is organic interest in networking as a precursor to closing deals.
“I was overwhelmed in a good way how familial this culture is,” she said. “This is an industry that likes relationships before engaging deeply in business.”
For Nyman, maintaining an appropriate balance of daily game-planning and mid-show flexibility is crucial.
“You start each day with a plan, knowing that the plan will change,” he said. “It’s all about picking and choosing moments,” he continued, stressing the importance of maximizing opportunities to make new connections. “You never know who’s going to be down that hallway or in that next booth.”
Nyman also urged attendees to tie up all of their loose ends at home and the office before the conference begins, as it can be difficult to sneak away from the floor to take a phone call or check emails.
But G2E is also a physically exhausting event because of the enormous amount of standing and walking the event entails. Therefore, making sure one’s body is in tune for the event was also highlighted as another element of conference preparation.
As far as packing goes, attendees should double check that they have comfortable shoes, the right ties, matching socks, phone chargers, blister medication and Advil in their suitcase, as these essentials will save a lot of headaches throughout the week.
In addition to networking on the floor and at cocktail receptions, the presenters also stressed the importance of following up on every contact made to fully maximize one’s visit.
“Pleasantries are great, but make sure you have a good reason to follow up,” Nyman said. “Be positive, remind the person how you met them, and keep following up on those business cards and those connections.”
