May 30, 2019
Learning Thursday #13: Packing List for the Traveling Trainer
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May 30, 2019
Learning Thursday #13: Packing List for the Traveling Trainer
Katrina Marie Baker works for Adobe as a Senior Learning Evangelist. Her independently operated consulting firm has advised organizations in aerospace, construction, healthcare, legal, retail, technology, and transportation. Katrina facilitates keynote sessions and master classes for learning professionals. She also maintains YouTube channel Learn Tech Collective. She has authored books LMS Success (2018), The LMS Selection Checklist (2018), and Corporate Training Tips & Tricks (2017). Katrina is a former Director of Technology with the Association for Talent Development. She has worked in people/project management and global training capacities for Fortune 500 retailer Whole Foods Market, and Global 100 law firms Cooley LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP. Previously, Katrina worked in music and video production for clients such as Disney Channel and Adult Swim.
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Learning Thursday is a blog series that features a new L&D article every other week along with discussion points.  Read and then share your own ideas by commenting below!  Check out the last Learning Thursday here.

Are you new to the world of traveling and training?  A significant amount of my career has involved speaking at different locations, either for employers or at conferences.  Here’s a list of items I usually carry when giving presentations.  What do you pack when you’re presenting?  Leave your advice in the comments section.

Equipment for the Presentation

  • My laptop plus a backup laptop
  • My phone (I use it as a timer)
  • Voltage adapter if traveling to other countries
  • USB drive with a backup copy of my presentation (also stored on Google Drive)
  • Two clickers and extra batteries
  • Wireless mouse (can serve as a clicker in a pinch)
  • HDMI to VGA adapter to connect laptop to the projector

The adapter you need will vary by laptop. Also check with the event organizer regarding what equipment they will provide and what you may need in order to be compatible with their setup. Bring adapters even if they say you won’t need them. I’m speaking from experience. 

  • I sometimes carry a projector, lavaliere, and battery pack but most events provide them
  • Hotspot in case the conference has limited wifi
  • A locally stored copy of any videos you intend to show
  • A PowerPoint presentation of technology screenshots

If you are demonstrating technology during your presentation and that technology requires wifi, figure out a way to show the technology even if you aren’t able to access the internet.  I often make a PowerPoint deck of screenshots so I can at least show the technology.

  • If presenting live and virtually at the same time, carry multiple microphones just in case.

I usually have my Blue Yeti Pro, two headsets, and my phone earbuds as a last resort.

  • If you need to also record voiceover for courses while traveling, you may want to carry the equipment discussed in this video:

Supplies for Activities and Room Setup

  • Sticky notes or notebooks
  • Large sticky pages for parking lots and brainstorming
  • Pens or markers
  • Small fabric bag to do drawings or collect business cards
  • All of my handouts are delivered electronically (Google Drive!) so I don’t have to carry extra paper
  • Tape for your posters
  • Plastic displays (the kind that hold brochures or documents upright)

Personal Items

  • Outfit that is appropriate for a lavaliere microphone

You’ll want an outfit that has a place to clip the battery pack.  It’s best to wear a top or jacket that won’t move much so that the microphone stays still.  Consider packing a belt.  With a dress I often hang the battery pack behind my neck since it can’t be hung at the waist level.  If wearing a dress with a zipper in the back, check that there is a hook eye closure at the top of the zipper so that the weight of the battery pack doesn’t open the zipper.

  • Sweater
  • Flats, especially if you’re teaching a full day!
  • Deodorant and hair clip if it’s hot and humid
  • Hairspray
  • Granola bar, the non-crumbly kind
  • Eye drops and lip balm in case the room is dry
  • Water bottle or coffee
  • Antacid tablets
  • Oil control blotting tissues
  • Lozenges (not menthol) or throat spray
  • Handheld clothing steamer (found on Amazon – great for removing wrinkles in fabric and can double as a humidifier)
  • Business cards
  • A watch
  • Fabric tape

If the lavaliere is causing your blouse to gap or sag, you can place a piece of tape under the fabric and anchor it to your skin. Fabric tape is also great if you’re in a humid environment and you need to keep posters from falling off the wall due to dampness.  Used this trick in Hawaii.  Nothing else worked.

  • Tea bags or instant coffee

In case your hotel room doesn’t provide caffeine and you need it while you’re getting ready.  Conferences are often held in Las Vegas and it’s unfortunately one of the places you don’t get a coffee maker in the hotel room.

  • Cashews and gummy bears

I like to have something with protein and something with sugar in case I need to pump up my energy during a break.

What do you pack when you’re presenting?  Leave your advice in the comments section.

Try Adobe’s learning management system, Captivate Prime, for free.  Connect with the author on Twitter or LinkedIn, and follow me on Adobe’s eLearning blog.

10 Comments
2019-06-14 20:00:55
2019-06-14 20:00:55

What a great list!  I need to see an Instagram account dedicated to knolled pics of all traveling trainer equipment immediately!

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2019-06-03 04:52:34
2019-06-03 04:52:34

Good advice about having the media stored locally.  Nothing worse than trying to showcase something and the video won’t play or you have issues with connection speed etc.

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Kevin Dillon
's comment
2019-06-06 21:57:22
2019-06-06 21:57:22
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Kevin Dillon
's comment

Absolutely.  That can be a pain regardless of whether you teach in a classroom or virtually!  Local copies are great peace of mind.

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2019-05-31 11:36:48
2019-05-31 11:36:48

Since I invariably lose or leave some personal possession behind when I travel, I like to look for inexpensive alternatives to these and other items. Your local pharmacy usually has a section for travel versions of all your personal items, but check your “dollar” store for inexpensive personal items and accessories. This not only includes deodorant and toothpaste but electronic accessories like cables and chargers.

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Paul Wilson
's comment
2019-06-06 21:59:42
2019-06-06 21:59:42
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Paul Wilson
's comment

Thanks Paul for this tip.  I left a pair of (thankfully inexpensive) earbuds on my last trip to DC.  White earbuds, white bed cover, you see the problem.

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2019-05-31 08:52:38
2019-05-31 08:52:38

Great article. Speaking from experience, it’s the worse feeling in the world when your presentation wont load or technology goes wrong when presenting at a conference, however amazing when it works without any glitches and don’t need any backup equipment (just great to know its here) 🙂

Just one other thing I normally have in my bag is a stress ball to help remain calm before starting and allows me to focus.

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sam.m
's comment
2019-06-06 22:03:31
2019-06-06 22:03:31
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sam.m
's comment

The stress ball is a great idea!  I used to give those out as prizes during class.  Chip clips, beach balls, and measuring cups were also popular giveaways.

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2019-05-31 08:34:22
2019-05-31 08:34:22

Although I prefer live training, viewing this list I can be happy to give most training using Adobe Connect meeting room.

Lieve

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Lieve Weymeis
's comment
2019-06-06 21:58:06
2019-06-06 21:58:06
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Lieve Weymeis
's comment

You don’t love packing every little item in case something goes wrong, Lieve??  😉

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Katrina Marie Baker
's comment
2019-06-06 22:09:46
2019-06-06 22:09:46
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Katrina Marie Baker
's comment

Sure I did, but have very little opportunity to train live nowadays…

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