For example, take a fun book or craft project to work on in the evenings if there are no sessions or evening activities. If you need to stay connected with your workplace take a laptop computer with Internet cord. This can decrease your concern about trying to get to a phone to call in. Take plenty of business cards to give to persons you meet. Business cards also enable you to get a response to a question from a speaker.
Business cards are great for networking.
If you are job-hunting, conferences are excellent places to look for a job. Bringing your resume can come in handy if you find a recruiter with a job you are interested in. Another handy item to pack is a small flashlight or book light. This will be useful in sessions where you want to take notes and the lights are turned down. It is often useful to take one or two cloth tote bags with you as you visit exhibits.