Pre-SIGGRAPH Prep & Info!

Pre-SIGGRAPH Prep & Info!

Things to gather before you go • Resumes • Business Cards • Design & Print Yourself • Sites like VistaPrint.com • Reels – DVD • CDs of Images/Leave Behinds (for still image artists) Put your name on EVERYTHING!! • This includes the actual DVD/CD, case, folder, etc. you hand to someone Print copies of schedule, addresses, etc for backup!

Things to gather – SV Work Prep • Water bottle • Refills, drinks are not cheap! • There are water jugs all around the conference for you to refill • SNACKS! • You will forget to eat or sometimes only be able to when things are closed • Notebook & Pen • Lock – locker to store your swag • It is COLD in the convention center, bring layers

Calendar Prep • Google Calendar or any calendar program is very helpful when planning your conference experience • I had a calendar for each of the following: • My SV schedule • Events I wanted to see • Parties/after conference events • That way I could see what interfered with my work schedule so I could swap easily • Utilize the new calendar on the SIGGRAPH site to create a list of things you want to see (“Create My Schedule”)

Things to gather – Travel wise • ATM Card • Cash • Small bills for tipping • Housekeeping - $1 per person per day(Leave EVERY day, housekeeper could change from day to day) • $1 per bag for people handling them (bellhops, shuttles) • 15-20% everywhere else • AAA Card (if you have one, discounts are everywhere) • Smart phones - find handy apps! • Extra empty luggage bag for all your swag/souvenirs • Custom Google Map of your destinations

Google Map Example

Travel - Transportation • Research! • Buses, Subway - http://www.metro.net/ • DASH bus - 25¢ • (just saw an article that the fares are raising to 35¢ Aug 1, note this if you are staying longer)http://www.ladottransit.com/dash/ • Shuttles (airport) • Taxis - http://www.taxifarefinder.com/ (expensive)

Another good resource… • 1-800-GOOG-411 • Free, voice enabled • Can find you all kinds of businesses and services • Handy for if you need information and don’t have access to the Internet

Parties & Gatherings SIGGRAPH Chapters PartyMonday, July 26th from 8:30PM - 2:00AM at Club 740. http://party.siggraph.org/ Houdini Tuesday July 27 COOPER DESIGN SPACE 860 South Los Angeles Street Suite 900 Los Angeles, California 90014 7:30PM - 8:00PM Registration 8:00PM - 9:30PM Presentation 9:30PM - 12:00AM Networking Event and Reception Register here: http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1751&Itemid=226 SIGGRAPH ReceptionWednesday July 288-10pm Westin Bonaventure Ballroom CGTalk Meetup (check CGSociety Message Boards, as of now nothing was finalized) Note not all are open bar! Be careful at night, try to not be alone, LA like any city has its good and bad parts

At the conference • While at SIGGRAPH - CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE EVERY DAY! • I had my schedule change on me twice in one day last year. • In general you will notice the place is full of really nice, smart people that WANT to be at this conference, so don’t be shy. • Don’t skip out on the SV speakers and events • Be prepared for a lot of walking, schmoozing, and no sleep!

Also before you go… • RESEARCH the companies that are there!! • http://www.siggraph.org/s2010/for_attendees/job_fair/directory • http://www.siggraph.org/s2010/for_attendees/exhibition • Write down the company name and what they’ve done so you can comment when you meet someone • For example, “I really liked the work you guys did on _______ .” • Make a cheat sheet if you need to!

Meeting People • Business cards - Don’t be afraid to ask for one! • Write people’s info on the back • How you met them and any other things from your conversation • e.g. SV 2010 - E-Tech (student volunteer 2010, worked E-tech) • When meeting professionals be sure to send a follow up e-mail 3-4 days after the conference • Thank them for speaking with you and be sure to include any of those tidbits you jotted down on the business card (e.g. It was nice speaking to you about ____) • You may think you can remember everyone you meet, but you will be surprised how memory fades after the conference is over.

Job Fair • http://www.siggraph.org/s2010/for_attendees/job_fair/directory • You will most likely be nervous and overwhelmed meeting people from companies that you really admire • It’s best to have a game plan • Have a list of questions in mind to ask various companies, even if it’s just a couple • Jot down different answers so you can keep track of how to tailor your resume or steer your career based on different companies • Each company may have a different answer so it will get confusing

Job Fair continued • If you have the luggage space feel free to bring something nicer to wear. • Avoid soft drinks before you go to the Job Fair • (you don’t want to be belching on a recruiter) • More swag is usually found at the Job Fair than the Exhibition floor • Feel free to ask for feedback from anyone on your work even if you aren’t ready to apply, they are usually happy to help

Portfolio/Reel Reviews • Companies usually don’t have Exhibition AND Job Fair space • Some companies rent out suites rather than Exhibition/Job Fair floor space • DreamWorks has done this in the past and Disney did it last year • Companies sometimes make you sign up for a time slot for a portfolio/demo reel review • Be sure to sign up early • AnimationMentor has a reel review session (Tues July 27 2:30-4pm Room 301 A) • The SV office has them too • Don’t be afraid to bring up the fact that you are an SV when speaking with recruiters, you may get bonus points since it is such a great program

How to handle multiple events at once • Use the Geek Bar!! • There is a screen with a bunch of presentations projected on it, so all you have to do is flick an audio channel to tune into different ones • Great for when there are two events going on at the same time that you want to view. • Miss a talk? • There is SIGGRAPH Encore which is a DVD of presentations from the conference. • http://encore.siggraph.org/ • NOTE: Not all companies allow their presentations to be on this DVD. The bigger companies tend to not allow it, ILM, Disney, DreamWorks, etc.

SWAG! • Some places give out items only at certain times. • Some items in the past have included: • Pixar • Posters • Walking Teapots • Be sure to get in line EARLY for the teapots - the line has been known to wrap around the whole exhibition floor • Google shirts • This year wear a 3DS Max item (shirt, pin, hat) and when you go to the Autodesk booth you can get a 20th Anniversary shirt! • Feel free to ask people at the booth what time they are handing them out so you can be ready • Make friends! They can help you out getting stuff, plus you can most likely trade extras of items you get.

Some things to do in LA • Things you can get to pretty easily on the subway: • Hollywood & Highland (all in the same block): • Kodak Theater • Grauman’s Chinese Theater (handprints) • Jimmy Kimmel Live • El Capitan Theater (owned by Disney) • Disney’s Soda Fountain & Studio Store • Some of the Walk of Fame • Can see the Hollywood sign from the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex • Lucky Strike bowling is around the corner from this area • Universal City • Just cross the street outside the subway station and take a tram up the big hill • City Walk (shops, food, clubs) • Universal Studios • http://www.siggraph.org/s2010/for_attendees/los_angeles

Pre-SIGGRAPH Prep & Info!