Conferences - a lament from the piggy...er... sound tech who stayed home...

Last week, while most of my theatre friends and colleagues were at USITT, I was at home in tech.

Before I start my lament, let me just say... First and foremost I'm thankful to be working, and more importantly working professionally in my field. I have a great job - what ever the complications and stress that come with the package - they're nothing next to being active in my craft. I'm extremely lucky to be doing, well, what I'm supposed to be... what I trained for and got a degree in.

That said, one of the biggest frustrations I've had since leaving shelter of academia (both as a student and as a staff member) is being the sound tech who stayed home.

At first, I didn't think it was that big a deal. Conferences, when you've done them year after year, do get a little the same. That is, until you don't go.

I never thought I would be sorry to have a schedule that prevents almost any conference attendance. What I've come to realize, is that although I don't think I would ever be a yearly or regular conference goer, not going at all is almost a liability. Conferences are the avenue to get out, to see what others are doing, to see what gear is out there, what new toys there are to work with, and to network. Yes, part of that networking is seeing old friends and getting the party on... but that's a small fraction of the deal. Some of the best information I've gotten, not to mention swag, have been from conferences. I've been able to ask questions, see real world applications, not only see other designs and concepts but talk to the people who created them. At conferences I've taken intensive training workshops that broadened my understanding of my craft. I've met designers I'd not otherwise run across. I've been introduced to products and the people who use, sell, and make them. I've interviewed for companies face to face, and I've interviewed potential applicants - a much more in-depth person to person conversation than what happens over the typical phone interview.

I never added all of those things together until they were no longer a part of my equation.

So - my fellow theatre folk... what's your take on the conference? What's your experience? How do you go or what do you do because you can't? Or does it even matter to you? Weigh in... I'd like to hear what you all think.