After going to the International Bead Expo which was my first, large jewelry event away from home, I feel better prepared for the next one. If you ever get a chance to go to the expo, Tuscon, Embellishments, or the Bead & Button show, these tips may help you prepare for a great experience:

1. Pack as lightly as possible. You may have to carry your luggage further than you think.

2. Prepare for additional expenses such as parking your car ($18 a day at the Miami Hyatt!), taxis if you don't have a car and want to leave the hotel, and tips for hotel staff.


3. If possible, pack some healthy snacks such as bagels, trail mix, or cheese sticks. Not only could the hotel food be expensive, you may be too busy to eat three "sit down" meals a day.

4. If you are taking classes, bring your own tools, but do not bring a lot of jewelry supplies because you probably will not have time to do much jewelry making outside of class.

5. Bring a fanny pack and/or backpack style purse so your hands are free for shopping and carrying your bags.

6. Consider how you will transport your purchases back home before you leave the show. An extra empty tote bag might come in handy.

7. If you have a tax ID number, bring a copy of your tax certificate to show vendors.

8. You will want to dress comfortably but not look too sloppy since you will want to wear your best jewelry. Light cottons and knits pack well and look nice. Also, bring a good pair of walking shoes.

9. If you have business cards, make sure you put them in a pocket of your fanny pack for networking opportunities.

10. Once at the show, try to look over all the booths before buying right away. Often different vendors will sell the same items at different prices.