How To Organize Your Tech For Conventions

Attending conventions is exciting but it can also be overwhelming and a little chaotic if you’re unorganized. The biggest culprit of disorganization seems to be cables, cords, and electronics. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to find your phone charger in a tangled mess.

If you plan on taking various tech devices to your next convention, here are some pro tips to stay organized while making everything accessible throughout your event.

1. Take a couple different bags

If you’re getting a hotel room so you can go to a convention all weekend without having to drive back and forth, take a couple different bags with you so you can carry your tech around more easily. For example, packing your laptop in your suitcase is fine, but that won’t work when you need to bring it with you to the convention or while you explore the area. For that, you’ll want a laptop backpack.

A benefit of having a separate laptop backpack is being able to organize by separating your charger from your headphones; you can even put your phone in a separate pocket. The extra pockets on a laptop backpack come in handy when you’re dressing up for a convention and your outfit doesn’t have pockets.

You also may want to take a reusable tote to easily carry around items you buy while you’re at the convention. If you have a backpack, it might not be big enough to hold bulkier or larger items. You can always pack the extra items in your suitcase later.

2. Label your cables

If you’re taking several tech devices with you, like a phone, laptop, tablet, or gaming console, it will help to label your cables. Sometimes cables can look the same and have similar ports on one end, but not the other. It’s faster to find what you need when everything is labeled. Plus, you can account for everything when you leave so nothing gets left behind.

Regular labels will work, but there are special stickers for labeling cables that are a little more durable than plain paper labels. Just write the name of the device on the end and wrap the sticker part around the cable and you’re good to go.

3. Buy a cable organizer

Once you label your cables, the next step is to put them in a cable organizer. An organizer won’t fit a laptop cable, but it’s perfect for all your smaller cables. They come in a variety of sizes, but are typically zippered with elastic bands inside that hold cables in place.

4. Use bag compartments

If you’re taking more tech than just a laptop or tablet, bag compartments will be helpful. For instance, if you’re bringing photography equipment, like cameras and lighting, compartments will help you pack everything in a way that makes it easily accessible. You don’t need to be a professional photographer to pack an organized bag of equipment. Even if all you bring is a simple  SLR camera and a few lenses, it’s worth organizing.

5. Get a laptop sleeve

Having a bag to carry your laptop around is nice, but there will be times when you’ll need to take it out and use it. That’s where a laptop sleeve will come in handy. A sleeve will provide a thin layer of protection against scratches and minor impacts while it’s in your bag or being carried around.

6. Pack a portable charger

Get a simple, portable power bank that can be used to charge your devices on the fly. There are some high-capacity chargers on the market that will fully charge your cellphone or laptop once before needing a recharge, and that’s probably all you need. Chances are, you’ll have access to power throughout the convention, even if it’s just sporadically. Regardless, portable chargers are a great backup plan for emergencies.

7. Get some smaller pouches

You really can’t have too many pouches when you’re trying to organize all of your tech. Smaller pouches come in handy for storing things like external hard drives, thumb drives, and small portable speakers.

8. Make a list of all your tech

Last, but not least, create a list of all the tech you decide to bring to the convention and cross-reference each item when you pack up to go home. This will ensure you don’t forget anything, and if something is missing, you can search for it.

Stay organized and have fun

Next time you head out to a convention, create a well-organized setup and you won’t need to worry about being distracted by misplaced or tangled gear.