It’s (American Association for the Advancement of Science) going on this weekend in San Francisco. I can’t afford to pay for a one day pass ($155), and can’t even begin to fathom paying for a “full” pass ($300). So does anyone have any ideas on how to “bypass” registration? Do they check for student IDs (I’m not a student)? I just want to go to some symposiums, maybe the exhibition.
And I’d like to spend a week at the Waldorf. “I can’t afford to pay… So does anyone have any ideas on how to “bypass” registration?”
Actually it’s next month, my bad. I’m just trying to gain some knowledge from a couple symposiums Yeah, which is alot different than indulging in some r & r at the Waldorf.
Is that right?
In General Questions, we do not “bypass” registrations.
But you’re in luck. According to their site (you did check their site, didn’t you?), the exhibits are free. Also, the career development seminars are $25 for non-members. If you show your stuff up to one of the presenters, perhaps you can earn a guest pass to the presenter’s other symposium.
I’ve attended a few meetings like this and usually the security is just the local people who work at the place of meeting.
Tell any security personnel that question you when you walk in the door that you’re there to meet a friend from out of town at room so-and-so to go for lunch or dinner.
From what I’ve seen, the hotel/convention site security are the equilvalent of movie ushers.
Thanks for the info 647. So manhattan, which forum should I be in to bend the law for the sake of knowledge?
We have a few annual conferences, conventions and expositions that I attend (here and in a few other cities). My experience has been that they always have some, if not quite a few, bona fide cops on hand scoping out the entry badges.
My experience has also been that by day three of a convention there’re a lot of attendees who don’t match up with the badge they’re wearing - (Gee, ol’ Mike Johnson sure looks different in heels; about ten years ago my company had a booth at a convention, on the third day my partner (female) and I traded badges).
I have a different experience than you, beatle.
I’m involved in research that uses animals as models, so there’s always the possibilty that PETA or some such group will try to protest at, or disrupt, annual meetings.
All I can say is that I’ve forgotten my ID badge and BSed my way through the door.
Even with possible PETA-type protests, I guess the organizers at the meetings I’ve attended have declined to pay for cop protection. And this includes the American Assoc. of Animal Sci., something that would raise a red flag with animal rights protesters.
I just can’t remember seeing real cops. Not to say that you haven’t.
I hope I didn’t sound adversarial towards you, beatle (if I did, I apologize), maybe it’s just the meeting places in the cities that I’ve been to.
You might be able to get a free pass by asking whoever is running the AV if you can volunteer your time. I’ve done the AV for a national and regional meeting and I know I could ALWAYS use another pair of hands to run a projector or laptop.