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How to Bring SIGGRAPH 2003 Home
Audience: Conference Attendee (all registrations)
Background
People who attend this conference know they have attended "BIGgraph" by
the end of the week. They are mentally and physically exhausted. With a
little preplanning, you can have a great conference experience and bring
something useful back home after it is all over. The secret is data
management: having a plan to seek out, capture, and store what you want
so that you can use it later.
Essentials
Take notes.
Carry a small pad and a pen to record ideas you see and hear. Make it
something you can carry in your pocket, purse, or waist-pack.
Prioritize.
Identify your priorities and how you want to manage your time. If you know
these in advance, you can remain flexible enough to make instant trade-offs
as new opportunities arise and compete for your attention.
Make contacts.
Ask people you meet for business cards or write down their contact
information on your pad. Invariably, you will want to continue your
discussions after the conference and you shouldn't leave it to them to
contact you. They're likely to forget. (Don't forget to bring your own business
cards, too, in case you are asked!)
Know your publications.
Think about which conference publications will be important to you after
SIGGRAPH 2003. If they do not come with your registration category, buy
them in the merchandise store when you have a spare moment. Don't wait
until the end of the week. You'll run out of time, and you could be
disappointed.
Seize opportunities.
Moments are fleeting at the SIGGRAPH conference. Seize them when you
can, because you will most likely not see them again.
Divide and conquer.
If you are going with another person or group, make a plan to split up some
of the conference so that you can get maximum coverage for the things that
are important to you. Also, let the other people know what is important to
you, so they can capture it for you.
Debrief.
Make it a habit to sort out your thoughts, your notes, your business cards,
etc., at some time each day, such as before you go to bed. It can take only
a few minutes, and your data will make much more sense when you get
home.
Exit plan.
You will collect lots of information and stuff at SIGGRAPH 2003. Many of the
brochures and publications will be heavy. Bring an extra suitcase that you
can check, or use the conference shipping desk to send your treasures
home. Don't wait until the last day to use the shipping desk. Everyone else
does this!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get conference materials after the conference?
A: Many conference materials like printed and digital proceedings can be
purchased after the conference, but they are not all available later. Printed
course notes, for example, can only be purchased at the conference. Also,
signature items like shirts, bags, mugs, etc., that bear the conference year's
logo can only be bought on a first-come, first-served basis at the conference,
so plan ahead.
Q: What planning resources are available to me?
A: Before the conference, you can review the SIGGRAPH 2003 Advance
Program and the web site, and talk with colleagues who have previously attended. At
the conference, you can use the Program & Buyer's Guide, the
Conference Locator (abbreviated reference), and Pathfinders.
Q: How do I find topics or products of interest to me?
A: The conference web site and Program & Buyer's Guide have sections
that you can search by certain topics and keywords. There are also informal,
focused group gatherings called Birds of a Feather that meet
throughout the week.
Q: How do I find people with similar experiences or interests?
A: Don't be afraid to talk to people you meet in lines, at exhibits, during
receptions, etc. Some of the best contacts are made by pure coincidence.
Check out any conference materials you might have in advance for ideas.
Checklist
Small pad of paper and pen or pencil
Briefcase, backpack, or other convenient bag to carry things
Preprinted business cards
Identify items of interest for colleagues back home
Pocket calendar or handheld computer for appointment keeping
Feedback
This information was brought to you by SIGGRAPH Pathfinders, a volunteer group
dedicated to mentoring of first-time conference visitors.
Please take a moment to help us help you. Share with us how this information improved
(or could have improved) your conference experience. You can find us at SIGGRAPH
2003 at the Pathfinder booth in main registration or via email.
Thank you.
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