TEN Tips for Conference Attendees (And P.S. A WINNER!)

The doors open on Springmingle'19 this Friday, March 15th! And it's a whirlwind of activities and sessions and speakers and friends and fun, so you'll want to be ready. Thanks to our Southern Breeze Co-Regional Advisor, Claudia Pearson, you can be! Take a look at these ten tips she's collected, good for any SCBWI conference you might attend:

1. Volunteer! It's the best way to get to know new people!

2. Comment on the Southern Breeze conference Facebook, Twitter and blog posts. People will remember your name.

3. Attend the conference with your critique group or writing buddies if you can. If you each attend different sessions, you can share notes after the conference.

4. Get organized: Prepare a clear view binder prior to attending. Keep the conference schedule in the front cover and a checklist of items to bring in the back. Use clear sleeves inside the binder for "homework," handouts, writing samples, business cards, etc, for easy access.

5. Keep it compact. Big bags can be barriers and small (no larger than 14") illustration portfolios are better suited than large ones for presentation space and critiques.

6. Write out "must know" questions handy for the breakout session speakers or the Roundtable discussions. Refrain from questions that can be easily "Googled," (i.e. what is point of view, what's a dummy?) and instead address specific craft/marketing issues that maximize the speakers' expertise.

7. If you plan to take notes on a laptop, insure laptop battery is fully charged. Plugs near work space may be scarce.

8. Don't "buttonhole" faculty, and don't offer them your manuscript at the conference (you will have a chance to submit after the conference), but have your 30 second pitch ready just in case they ask what you are working on.

9. Get together with your Local Liaison and members from your area. They can be great friends and resources after the conference. (Membership Coordinator Paula Puckett will be at SM'19 with a display of members and LLs. Look for her near the registration table to find more info!)

10. Prepare to be engaged, challenged and inspired! Drinking water from a fire hose is not so easy, so get some rest, arrive early, and be ready to learn and share. Everyone has something valuable to offer.
 
There you have it, Breezers, ten terrific tips! And as promised, here's our winner of the Spread the Word Contest: Meredith York! Congrats, Meredith, and thanks for helping us spread the word about Springmingle'19! Meredith will win a $50 discount on her registration, just for spreading the word on social media. So maybe we should add another tip for next year: Participate in Southern Breeze contests and win BIG!