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SIGGRAPH 2002 On A Budget
Background
The SIGGRAPH conference experience is rich, but it doesn't
need to be expensive, too. There are some basic expenses
you cannot avoid, but you'll find a few hints here to
minimize you costs.
The best secret for conserving your resources is planning
early. A little work ahead of time can make a valuable
difference later.
Essentials
Registration
Choose the registration category that will meet your
needs at the conference, then try a few of these options
to reduce your costs:
- Register early. Registering before the early-cutoff
date can save serious dollars. Don't wait until the
last day to get the discount. Many do and risk the possibility
of not getting it.
- Become a SIGGRAPH member. SIGGRAPH members enjoy discounted
rates for registration. You will need to register for
membership before you register for the conference. The
savings alone can pay for the cost of all the conference
documentation you receive with registration rather then
buying them individually.
- Full Conference registration. This category gives
you access to all programs and events during the entire
week plus loads of great conference documentation. It
is a bargain at any rate.
- Exhibitor guest. Exhibitors are allowed a small quantity
of guest passes to the SIGGRAPH 2002 Exhibition. You
may wish to contact an exhibitor to locate one of these
limited-access registrations if the Exhibition is your
main focus.
- Transportation. There are numerous cost savers here.
Book early. Super-saver fares usually go first, often
by late April. Booking a month ahead of time can often
get you the lowest fares.
- Saturday night stayover. Arriving on a Saturday can
add considerable savings to your ticket, sometimes more
than the cost of a hotel room for the extra night.
- Neighbor cities. If you book late, you might want
to look into flying into neighboring airports (Austin
or Houston) and using local transportation to reduce
costs.
- Shuttles. Plan on using a shuttle service to your
hotel unless you are traveling with others and can share
a cab.
- Housing. Early booking will help to guarantee lodgings
that fit your price constraints. SIGGRAPH conference
hotel reservations begin in early March, so there is
no excuse for not reserving the room you want. Also,
if you plan on sharing a room with another attendee,
you can designate that person if you make your reservations
at the same time.
Eating smart at SIGGRAPH 2002
You need to keep up your strength, so don't skimp here.
Smart attendees plan ahead. If you like to snack, plan
on bringing snacks with you for your use during the week.
If you need to eat during the day, you will be faced with
trading off convenience for economy. Convention center
prices cater to convenience. Eating elsewhere can save
you some money, but the time spent may not be worth it.
You may wish to research local restaurants before you
arrive to find sources of economical food near the convention
center. (A little time spent searching the Web can achieve
this quickly.)
Budget
Don't forget to budget some money for one-of-a-kind items
that you can get only at the conference. Things such as
t-shirts and other novelty items are only available on
a first-come, first-served basis. Buy them early so you
won't miss out on the chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I find others to share a room with at the
SIGGRAPH conference?
A: Although there is no official service to do
this, you are free to designate a hotel roommate at the
time you make your hotel reservation (provided you both
reserve at the same time).
Q: Are there any special travel discounts for SIGGRAPH
conference attendees?
A: Attendees can sometimes take advantage of special
airfares and car rental rates when booking with the official
SIGGRAPH travel agent. Inquire about these options when
you make your travel reservations.
Checklist
- Register early for travel, housing, and the conference.
- Request available travel discounts.
- Research local restaurants before you get to the conference.
Feedback
This information was brought to you by SIGGRAPH 2002 Pathfinders,
a volunteer group dedicated to mentoring first-time conference
visitors. Please take a moment to help us help you. Let
us know how this information improved (or could have improved)
your conference experience. You can find us at SIGGRAPH
2002 at the Pathfinder booth in the main lobby or via
email: pathfinders@siggraph.org.
Thank you.
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