Best COnference/Festival

[Stinger]

Forr all of you who've been around. Given that I only have the time and money to go to one event this year, if that, what is the best one to hit? Santa Fe, Austin, Expo, etc. I'm leaning toward Austin, but since it's not in LA and neither am I, I'm wondering if I'd be better off at an LA event?

[Stinger]

bump

[T Ziegler]

I'll offer my opinion that the Expo is a darn good deal, if you do decide to come to LA. Sure, there are plenty of people there who are primarily selling their software, consulting, whatever, but there are also some genuinely terrific speakers, and a LOT of writers all in one place. I went last year (2nd one), and was impressed at how well it was run. (I gather the 1st year was a bit rougher.)

Anyway, especially for the price, I think it's a terrific conference.

(Note: Slightly less so for TV writers, of which I am one. I gave them feedback that they could really stand to improve that aspect. There was one very good TV panel, but several of the TV seminars were taught by one woman who was, IMHO, subpar. That was disappointing.)

Cheers,

TZ

[NikeeGoddess]

althou i haven't attended the others i must say, the Expo is a whole lotta bang for your buck. the money you save for the cost of the Expo will outweight the expense to travel to L.A.

[suzbays]

I've been to Austin six years in a row. It's as much about seeing my friends (who also tend to return annually) as it is about learning and/or networking.

I've also attended a few events in LA like Words Into Pictures 2002 and a Sherwood Oaks thing. The problem with LA functions--and I'm getting ready to move to LA--is that the panelists can go home after their panels. They don't usually hang around. Whereas in Austin, they're stuck there for three or four days in the same hotels as the rest of us. Actually, most of them seem to enjoy the interaction with *us*. They hang in the Driskill Bar a lot, some of them share meals with us, listen to people in the lobbies, etc. They don't generally take scripts from people, nor do I think they like being hit up to read stuff, but they're usually polite about saying no.

The best recommendation I can give Austin, besides the fact that you'll get to hear some of the best working writers in the business, is that you'll have the chance to meet people who could become good writer friends.

Susan