Every year, I walk the halls at InfoComm and see the same thing happen over and over again: Some people leave the show with stronger relationships, new business opportunities, future career paths and expanded visibility in the industry. Others leave with a bag full of swag and sore feet.
As a recruiter who specializes in the AV industry, InfoComm is one of the most important weeks of the year for me. I spend the week meeting with clients, hiring managers and candidates across every corner of the industry. And after years of attending the show, one thing is very clear:
The people who approach InfoComm strategically get exponentially more value out of it.
Tips, Techniques & Mistakes to Avoid at InfoComm 2026
Whether you are actively looking for a new role, quietly exploring the market, hiring talent or simply trying to build your network, here are some important dos, don’ts and best practices for maximizing your time at InfoComm 2026.
DO: Treat InfoComm Like a Massive Networking Opportunity
InfoComm is obviously about technology, but in my opinion, it’s even more about relationships.
This industry is still heavily relationship-driven. A tremendous amount of hiring, partnerships, referrals and opportunities happen because people know, trust and remember each other.
If you’re attending the show, don’t just wander booth to booth collecting t-shirts and free snacks. Go in with a plan.
Before the show:
- Update your LinkedIn profile.
- Clean up your resume.
- Identify companies and people you want to meet.
- Schedule meetings ahead of time.
- Research exhibitors and leadership teams.
- Think about how you introduce yourself professionally.
You do not need to walk into conversations asking for a job. But you should absolutely be positioning yourself for future opportunities.
DON’T: Spend the Entire Week With Your Existing Coworkers
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see every year. People travel with their teams and then spend the entire show attached at the hip to the same coworkers they already talk to every day.
Branch out. Sit with different people at lunch. Attend networking events. Introduce yourself after educational sessions. Walk booths outside your normal category. Go to the manufacturer parties and industry events.
Some of the most valuable conversations happen completely by accident.
The AV industry is a lot bigger than most people think. There are constantly new people, companies, technologies, and opportunities emerging, which is exactly why you should keep expanding your network. Your next opportunity could come from a casual 15-minute conversation in a hallway, Uber line or hotel lobby.
DO: Network Before You Need Something
The best networkers in our industry are not the people constantly asking for favors or jobs. They are the people consistently building relationships over time.
One of the biggest mistakes professionals make is only networking when they are unhappy or unemployed. By then, it’s reactive.
InfoComm is the perfect place to build relationships before you actually need them. Even if you love your current role:
- Stay visible.
- Connect with hiring managers.
- Expand your relationships with competitors.
- Learn who is growing.
- Learn who is struggling.
- Meet recruiters. (Shameless plug)
Markets change quickly. Acquisitions happen. Leadership changes happen. Entire divisions get reorganized overnight. Strong networks create long-term career stability.
DON’T: Lead Every Conversation With “I’m Looking for a Job”
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with exploring opportunities. In fact, many people attending InfoComm are doing exactly that.
But there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach it.
The wrong way:
- Aggressively handing out resumes.
- Immediately asking about openings.
- Treating every conversation transactionally.
The right way:
- Build genuine relationships first.
- Ask thoughtful questions.
- Talk about the industry.
- Discuss projects, growth, trends, and challenges.
- Let the conversation evolve naturally.
The reality is, many hiring managers and executives are evaluating people at the show even when it doesn’t feel like a formal interview. How you communicate matters.
DO: Be Ready for an Interview at Any Time
I cannot tell you how many informal booth conversations have turned into serious hiring discussions.
At InfoComm, things move fast. A quick conversation can easily become:
- A scheduled breakfast meeting.
- A late-night dinner with leadership.
- An interview at the hotel lobby the next morning.
- A follow-up call the week after the show.
Be prepared. You should be able to clearly articulate:
- What you do.
- What markets you specialize in.
- Key accomplishments.
- What separates you from others in the industry.
- Where you want to grow.
And please, keep it concise. Nobody wants a 20-minute life story while standing in a crowded booth.
DON’T: Badmouth Your Employer or Competitors
This should go without saying, but it still happens constantly.
Even if you’re frustrated with your company, leadership team, compensation, territory or market position, InfoComm is not the place to vent publicly.
People talk. The AV industry is extremely interconnected. Reputations travel fast. Strong leaders look for professionalism, emotional intelligence and maturity. If someone spends 15 minutes trashing their current employer, most people immediately wonder: “What are they going to say about us someday?”
Stay positive. Stay professional.
DO: Use LinkedIn During the Show
One of the easiest ways to expand your visibility during InfoComm is simply being active on LinkedIn. Post photos. Share insights. Talk about trends you’re seeing. Highlight cool technology. Tag people and companies you meet.
And most importantly, connect with people immediately after meeting them.
A quick message like: “Great meeting you at InfoComm today. Enjoyed the conversation around AI and collaboration technology,” goes a long way. Most people never follow up properly. Doing something simple consistently already separates you from the majority of attendees.
DON’T: Ignore the Social Events
Some of the best networking at InfoComm happens after the show floor closes.
Dinners, happy hours, concerts and manufacturer events are where relationships really get built. Go to them. That being said, keep the following in mind:
- Be approachable.
- Stay professional.
- Pace yourself.
- Focus on conversations, not just collecting business cards.
People remember how you make them feel. They also remember how you behave.
Final Thoughts
InfoComm is one of the few times each year where the entire AV industry comes together in one place.
If you approach it intentionally, it can create tremendous long-term value for your career and network.
As a recruiter, I can tell you firsthand, many of the strongest relationships, best hires, and biggest career moves I’ve seen in this industry started with simple conversations at trade shows like this.
The people who get the most out of InfoComm are not always the loudest people in the room. They’re usually the people who:
- Show genuine curiosity.
- Build authentic relationships.
- Stay visible.
- Follow up.
- And consistently invest in their network long before they need something from it.
I’ll see you at InfoComm 2026.
Leo Golubitsky is the founder and head hunter at Birddog Talent, a recruiting firm that specializes in the AV integration Industry.
