It’s not unusual for conferences to cost an arm and a leg. At €1,000 or more for just the entry, on top of which come travel and accommodation, and I often attend two or three events a year. That’s a pile of money in need of justification spending, and I can only do so if I bring back lots of valuable information. Here’s what I do nowadays—the tools and tricks I worked out for surviving and thriving as a conference attendee.