I've always come home with left over CDs. I've tried to get in the mass crush of folks shoving CDs at panelists but I always feel a bit cheap and needy afterwards.
So I don't bring many CDs at all anymore. I bring a ton of business cards and extra money to buy drinks for folks. I have my iPhone and an adapter for multiple headphones if the occasion arises to play something for someone on the spot. It hasn't arisen yet, except for the official mentor session. Bring a CD for that for sure.
Here's a couple of suggestions:
Bring some blank CDs, pre-printed labels and your laptop. If you run out of CDs, burn them on demand or go up to the room to replenish. This way, you only burn what you think you need that day and you don't waste a bunch of CDs that you'll never end up giving out except to your colleagues. (I like you man, but I'm not going to take your CD. I come with a carry on only and won't be taking any back with me. Give me a card with your website address.)
I had preprinted blank CDs and nicely designed digipacks made up a couple of years ago with DiscMakers. I would decide on a playlist ahead of time, print it out on blank clear mailing labels (which are cheap). I would bring 10 or 15 blank CDs and the corresponding number of labels. I would burn one or two CDs in my room, affix the label and put them in my pocket or bag. If I happened to hand them out, I'd take a break at some point and burn one or two more up in the room. The CDs cost me 3 bucks apiece but they look great and I'm careful who I hand them out to. They will last me several years, particularly in this day and age when fewer and fewer folks are taking CDs, they prefer to go to a website and listen and/or download to their ipod.
For sure research the listening panels ahead of time when the information is posted (probably in the next couple of weeks). Decide which panels you are going to pitch to, and burn a CD with only that piece on it (test it to make sure it plays!). Write all your info on the CD and tape a business card to a flat jewel case or paper sleeve. They will also give you a label to put on the CD that will denote which panel you are submitting for. Don't forget to put your member number on the CD! This way you have targeted CDs for each panel and if you lose track of the CD, who cares, they're so cheap these days.
Did I say test and make sure your CDs play? At the ASCAP Expo this year, I paid for a mentor session and showed up and my CD wouldn't play in the player they provided for the mentor. Fortunately I was carrying my iPad and whipped it out and was able to play some stuff for the mentor. It pays to have a backup play in that situation since you only get 10 or 15 minutes. It goes by quick, believe me.
Moral: In my experience, you won't need as many CDs as you think you will. Bring business cards, an open mind, a smile, a willingness to listen and money to buy drinks. IMO that will get you quite a ways down the road. If they do request a CD, you can hand them one or just get their info and send it to them a week or two later with a reminder of who you are. You will stand out more than you would if your CD was one of literally hundreds they will have to have Taxi ship to their office for them.
Just my 4c
Mazz
PS: If you're printing up business cards, you might consider putting one of those cool multilayered UPC codes on the back. You can put your website address or your SoundCloud page address on there and when they shoot it with their smartphone camera (with the correct app), they will automatically be taken to the website (SoundCloud gets extra points in my book because it's iOS friendly, i.e., no flash like Reverbnation). Those codes can be generated with free software on your computer.
