SNAG Conference Tips for Students
Here are some helpful tips for students and first-timers who
are attending the SNAG Philadelphia conference.
Things to do before the conference:
Register early
- Save money.
- Reserve a room at the conference hotel—it’s worth the time you’ll save traveling back and forth to somewhere else.
- Room sharing is a great way to meet new people!
Prepare your promotional materials, for example
- Business cards
- Postcards with images and contact information
- Small, easy-to-view portfolio of images of your work
- Slideshow of images on your video iPod
- An up-to-date website
Research the presenters
- The more you know about the topic, the more interesting and useful the presentation will be for you.
Think about your “mission”
- Are you looking for potential graduate programs?
- Possible galleries to carry your work?
- Meet others interested in similar type of metalsmithing (wearables, vessels, digital fabrication, etc.)
Practice your “elevator pitch”
- Be able to explain what you do in 30 seconds or less. When you meet new people, you will be able to succinctly describe your work and interests with enough time to ask them questions too.
Review the list of registered conference attendees
- Any familiar names?
- Anyone you would like to find and talk to?
Volunteer to help
- A great way to meet people and help SNAG at the same time.
Pack appropriately
- If you make wearables, be sure to bring some.
- Bring a camera—you’ll regret it if you don’t.
- Have at least one special outfit for the final night dance party.
While at the
conference:
- Arrive early and find out where everything is, including dining possibilities near the conference. Knowing this will save time during the conference and you might even be able to help some other people out with directions.
- If you make wearables, definitely wear them! It's a great conversation starter.
- If you don’t make wearables, wear the work of your friends or others.
- Don’t be shy.
- A major goal should be to meet more people in the field, so just go up and introduce yourself.
- Having a “mission” can be a good basis for conversations. For example, “Nice to meet you. I’m interested in graduate programs in metalsmithing. Do you know someone I should talk to?” Chance are they probably do.
- Take notes (no one can possibly remember everything!...). As you start meeting people and collecting business cards, make notes so that you can remember what you discussed when you follow up with them. Take notes during presentations (so you can do further research or refer back to them in the years to come).
- Don’t miss the Vendor Room. It's a wonderful opportunity to experience tools, books, and materials in person.
- Socialize responsibly. It’s very easy to get caught up in the exciting social atmosphere but don’t let late night activities keep you from enjoying the next morning’s events.
After the
conference:
- Organize. Go through all the materials you collected and sort it all out.
- Follow-up. Email the people you met.
- If you told someone you would do something (send them an image, website address, etc.), do it! The downfall of good networking is the lack of follow-through.
- Share your experiences with others.
- Complete the survey that SNAG emails you. Positive or negative, let SNAG know so it will be better for everyone in the future.
- Reserve the dates for next year’s conference on your calendar and start planning for it.
- Recruit others to go with you next year (the more, the merrier)! Make it a goal to bring a fellow metalsmith.
