- Shop around for hotels. We're all familiar with airfare comparison websites, but remember that many of them offer hotel deals as well: you don't have to stay at the conference hotel, and often there are adequate rooms elsewhere within walking distance of the main event. If you're feeling adventurous, and willing to (probably) stay farther from the conference, websites like couchsurfing.com list friendly people willing to let you stay in their living rooms for free, but make sure it's a place that will allow you to get some rest and relaxation between conference events/days.
- Find a roommate, or two. If no one you know is attending, often the organization sponsoring the conference will have an email list you can use for this.
- Wear what makes you comfortable and confident. Unless you're interviewing for jobs at the same time, there's usually plenty of fashion leeway. No one will notice if you wear the same suit or shoes two days in a row. If buying a couple of accessories makes you feel psyched to present, do so by all means, but no need to go on an all-out professional-wear spree.
- Take care of business before you leave. It can be frustrating and expensive to wait in line at a hotel printer or copier to print out materials you need for your presentation. If time and space allow (how metaphysical!), bring hard copies, as well as backup electronic copies, of everything with you.
- Pack the important stuff in carry-on. If your luggage is delayed, you'll be scrounging for emergency clothes, toiletries, etc., so take at least one conference-suitable outfit, plus all necessaries, in a carry-on.
- Work the open receptions and lunches, but...
- Set yourself a drink maximum. Often, conference events have a paid bar; and it's a lot of fun to find yourself a cohort and go out after the official day is done. In both cases, though, drinks can add up. Nurse those babies like there's no tomorrow. This also helps to avoid the situation where you realize the next morning you've just spread the rumor that a prominent member of your department is deeply attracted to fish.
- Any more? Weigh in in comments!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Saving money at conferences
We get widely variable levels of funding to attend conferences. While conference attendance is necessary for things called "professional growth" and "bulking up your CV," it's often a financial hit. I thought this would be a good place to share tips for economizing w/r/t conferences -- I'll start us off with a few.
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4 comments:
If you can, go with a lab mate. This allows you to use two people's conference funding.
Once on site, it up a grocery store for breakfast type items so you are not constantly running out for the first meal of the day.
I know that this can go without saying, but be on the lookout for early registration fee discounts. I've saved as much as 33% on my conferences.
Be aware that there is MUCH much less funding for attending conferences as a faculty member. And the fees for attendence increase (double or triple). This seems like a fair tradeoff because you are making more money. But it can be a shock the system the first year or two.
Conference attendence may become more important to you because, unlike as a student, you won't have many peers who share your interests in your dept - you were hired to fill a need, which means they didn't have someone already doing what you do in most cases. Conferences are a way to catch up and share intellectually and also a way to maintain or develop informal mentoring relationships with others, so attending even when just starting out is worth the money and good to plan and save for, even as you pay down the debt accumulated in grad school.
You can negotiate conference funding as part of a job package (I prefered to negotiate a higher salary since that stays with me and conference funding as a perk can get cut over the years). You also can ask your dept. chair one off for help.
Sharing rooms can also help you make connections and build your network. I once shared a room with a labmate and someone she knew but I didn't. I'm sure that that person will continue to be a professional friend/contact.
If you are traveling solo (or even if you aren't), don't forget about hostels. They charge by the bed rather than the room and are in more places than you would guess (even in the US). In my experience, they are generally clean and well maintained and have kitchen facilities running the gamut from a fridge, a microwave, and a toaster to a fully outfitted kitchen. Many will serve breakfast as well. Essentially all of them have access to the internet either for free or for a small charge (and often a computer for guest use as well). If you are still wary, keep in mind that chances are you will not be the only conference attendee there.
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