Moderate success.
Both Lisa and I struggled with getting out of bed and out of the room today, so we had a bit of late start. We ran into our LD prof right inside the door which was a plus, but I did not have time to buy a delectable lightly toasted asiago bagel with butter. A not-as-good way to start your day. But we were awake and on time, so it was no rush for Lisa and I to go to our sessions -- separate from each other for the first time.
Session One: Are Students Prepared? I wanted to go to this one because I wanted to know if I had been taught everything I needed to know. And if not, what are the gaps in my education that I need to find a way to fill in? I was expecting there to be a significant number of educators and virtually no students, but the room seemed to be about a 50/50 mix. Also, the discussions were surprisingly more tailored toward the student than the educator which was nice for me. The information was rather straightforward, but as with everything else it was good to hear again and see what emerged as the most important thing to each of the presenters. The over arching theme was simply have the right attitude and find that delicate balance between confidence and humility. Basic principles, but tough stuff and a very fascinating session.
Stage Expo: By this point it became apparent that I was more than just tired, but that I was feeling sickly (still am feeling sickly). I ran into Lisa and we sat for a while exchanging notes on our individual sessions. I think it was a time when it was beneficial for us to be at separate events. I felt a little better after talking to her, but I knew my body was fighting hard against me and I probably had a very narrow window of clarity. I found the NETworks booth (major touring company) and managed to ask intelligent questions and get good information from the people there. I tried talking to some other booths, but I was feeling worse and worse so I found Lisa and took her over the Shakespeare New Jersey booth to introduce her to the people I worked with last summer. She filled out an application and had a very unannounced interview (seemed to go well, especially considering it was so unexpected), then we went to lunch.
Session Two: Management Commission. This is not a learning session, but a what-do-you-want-to-learn-next-year session. They read through a list of proposed topics, got feedback on each of them, and asked for other ideas. Listening to the topics that were brought, it looks like a very good line-up, although I did wonder if there will be enough time for all the awesome ideas that are out there. At any rate, it seems very much like next year will be a good year. Next year, USITT is in Long Beach (oh, just 20 miles from my workplace), so maybe staying put for another year isn't a bad plan... But why, oh why couldn't it have been in Long Beach this year?
Session Two and a Half: Young Technicians Forum. This was a come and go, theatre style science fair of designs and technical displays. But a friend who graduated two years ahead of us had a table, so we dropped by to see his work and congratulate him. Seriously, Carl Booker is a phenomenal costume technician and deserves all the recognition. We even learned about some skills we didn't know he had, like silk painting. Very impressive.
Session Three: Gee, I Wish I Hadn't Done That. Old pros telling the rookies what mistakes to avoid. Alas, I did not attend this session. I had been hoping the jarring stomach pain with every step would decrease throughout the day and that if I just pushed through I would feel better. Instead, I felt worse and worse. After stopping by Carl's table, there was about an hour before the next session and I didn't feel well enough to wander the expo or wait around for it, so I went back to the hotel to rest up. I figured I could count on Lisa to take good notes and share them with me. Still, the title alone certainly caught my interest.
Back at the hotel, I made myself immobile, bumming around on the computer, then flipping through channels. What should I find on the television? Doctor Who, of course! And that was the turning point in my day.
The rest at the hotel did me a world of good, so I went back to the conference center to meet up with my people. A I'll-go-out-for-a-little-while meal and hang out suddenly became 11:45 pm. Well. The good news is, my sickliness was steadily decreasing throughout this time, so I was able to enjoy my last night with my Baylor crowd and every minute we have together is so precious these days.
Tomorrow, I fly back to Cali and arrive super late, so I cannot guarantee the timeliness of the last day post. But my overall impression of this year's conference is that it was a very valuable experience and I am so grateful for the time I spent here.
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