I've been to several conferences from small niche regional conferences to some gigantic international user conferences.
The earlier you plan on attending usually is cheaper than waiting last minute. Early-bird conference rates, better hotel selections(some may be booked),airfare, etc, can save you tons by booking early.
I tend to pack light, I don't have an ultra-portalble, nor do I have an article to write so I'd ditch the LT at the hotel and use the sponsored internet cafe for short communication check-ins. Lugging gear around several city blocks isn't fun, especially if you are staying further out or try to grab lunch off-campus. Having extra batteries for your smartphone is a good idea, I wish I would have had one when I'd mismanage by blackberry battery charge by overusage.
Also, attending any extra-curricular sessions, like specialty lunchtime meetings or after conference activities are often times sponsored. I've "randomly" won a few Microsoft Products, and usually those who attend may get flash key or some other usuable promotional junk just by attending their sponsored-sessions and sometimes they provide food and drinks (open bar)!!! (Make sure to tip the bartender)
At one point in my career I was an outside salesman. Being in sales is more or less like attending a conference each day. There are subtle little things you can do to sell yourself in order to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other people that come in and out of the room.
Speak with confidence. Let them know in an enthusiastic way that what they do is of great interest to you. Let them know you have something of value to offer them in return for their time. And if that all fails, offer them a free beer.
I can't either. Despite the major humidity of New Orleans, I think this is going to be the best SIGGRAPH yet. Excited to meet a lot of twitter friends out there, can't wait to hang out with Bandrik, Cherplunka, and @wahay (best hotel roommates ever). I went to college with Wahay, it'll be great to hang with him for the week.
The more I think about this post, the more I think laptops are completely optional to the traveler. I always bring one because I write notes, make posts, and copy data at the end of the day. At a casual conference I can see the lack of a need for laptops, but to me it's mostly always business. Plus the memory card in my almost 7 year old camera isn't very large, so I need to keep copying data, or else I'd be full on the first day.
Yeah, for a lot of things I think laptops are optional, I didn't have one first year and last year I used my phone for most of the things I would have wanted my laptop for. I'd love a netbook for a conference though, seems like the perfect compromise.
This is great! I'm going to PAX in September and it'll be my first conference. This was a triumph.
That's the reason I wanted to make this article. I find myself telling so many different people the tricks I've learned the hard way before they go to a con. As Bandrik can attest, we've had some annoying stumbles in our quest to conquer SIGGRAPH (I spent close to $100 for the week on taxi's in San Diego '07).
Seriously, these are the most effective ways to go about a conference, don't take anything for granted.
And have fun with it! Pax is going to rock, it's one I've wanted to go to for awhile.
UPSLynx
:KAPPA:Redwood City, CA Icrontian
Comments
The earlier you plan on attending usually is cheaper than waiting last minute. Early-bird conference rates, better hotel selections(some may be booked),airfare, etc, can save you tons by booking early.
I tend to pack light, I don't have an ultra-portalble, nor do I have an article to write so I'd ditch the LT at the hotel and use the sponsored internet cafe for short communication check-ins. Lugging gear around several city blocks isn't fun, especially if you are staying further out or try to grab lunch off-campus. Having extra batteries for your smartphone is a good idea, I wish I would have had one when I'd mismanage by blackberry battery charge by overusage.
Also, attending any extra-curricular sessions, like specialty lunchtime meetings or after conference activities are often times sponsored. I've "randomly" won a few Microsoft Products, and usually those who attend may get flash key or some other usuable promotional junk just by attending their sponsored-sessions and sometimes they provide food and drinks (open bar)!!! (Make sure to tip the bartender)
Speak with confidence. Let them know in an enthusiastic way that what they do is of great interest to you. Let them know you have something of value to offer them in return for their time. And if that all fails, offer them a free beer.
The more I think about this post, the more I think laptops are completely optional to the traveler. I always bring one because I write notes, make posts, and copy data at the end of the day. At a casual conference I can see the lack of a need for laptops, but to me it's mostly always business. Plus the memory card in my almost 7 year old camera isn't very large, so I need to keep copying data, or else I'd be full on the first day.
At E3 I had my netbook.
I will take computer > not computer ANY day. It was a major boon having it along.
That said, having a big, hot, heavy laptop probably isn't ideal. A netbook, however, is.
That's the reason I wanted to make this article. I find myself telling so many different people the tricks I've learned the hard way before they go to a con. As Bandrik can attest, we've had some annoying stumbles in our quest to conquer SIGGRAPH (I spent close to $100 for the week on taxi's in San Diego '07).
Seriously, these are the most effective ways to go about a conference, don't take anything for granted.
And have fun with it! Pax is going to rock, it's one I've wanted to go to for awhile.