Austin - attending the conference

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  • Austin - attending the conference

    Since the other thread is all about the contest, figured I'd start a new one for people planning to attend -

    - Do we need a rental car? Or is Austin the type of city we can get around in without one?

    - If I stay about a mile away, should be fine right? Any parts of Austin I should watch out for?

    - Aside from the Driskel (sp?) bar, any other spots we have to hit up?

    Thanks!
    www.JustinSloanAuthor.com

    http://www.CreativeWritingCareer.com
    http://www.MilitaryVeteransinCreativeCareers.com

    Twitter: @JustinMSloan

    Want a free book?

  • #2
    Re: Austin - attending the conference

    Originally posted by stainjm View Post
    Since the other thread is all about the contest, figured I'd start a new one for people planning to attend -

    - Do we need a rental car? Or is Austin the type of city we can get around in without one?

    - If I stay about a mile away, should be fine right? Any parts of Austin I should watch out for?

    - Aside from the Driskel (sp?) bar, any other spots we have to hit up?

    Thanks!
    Been 15 years since I went.

    I took a shuttle bus to the hotel I was staying at (not the Driskoll). Did not need a rental car.

    Another writer friend stayed at the same hotel and we tried to walk back together to the hotel after dark, but alone or together, we usually found others from the conference who were also walking back to our hotel.

    We walked around town one night, but didn't go far. We didn't feel threatened or scared.

    Stay alert if you're walking alone, and you should be fine.

    There were some bars with live music near the Driskoll that looking like hip, happenin' places, but I didn't go to any.
    "Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again." -[/SIZE] James R. Cook

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    • #3
      Re: Austin - attending the conference

      Sorr to hear about the ding letters - are you thinking of going this year anyway?
      www.JustinSloanAuthor.com

      http://www.CreativeWritingCareer.com
      http://www.MilitaryVeteransinCreativeCareers.com

      Twitter: @JustinMSloan

      Want a free book?

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Austin - attending the conference

        Originally posted by stainjm View Post
        Sorr to hear about the ding letters - are you thinking of going this year anyway?
        Nope. Just cancelled my hotel reservation.. Craig Mazin and Jeff Lowell will just have to get along without me.. maybe they can tickle each other.
        "Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again." -[/SIZE] James R. Cook

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        • #5
          Re: Austin - attending the conference

          I am attending; I live in Dallas so the expense isn't prohibitive and from everything I've heard, it's a very valuable experience.

          Austin is a fantastic city; honestly, it's the best part of Texas, IMO. I am nagging my daughter to attend UTA so I have an excuse to go down there more often.

          The downtown area is pretty well patrolled by cops on foot or bikes, use the same caution you would in any city. Don't follow skeevy dudes into a dark alley or anything.

          It's a college town, so plenty of bars full of college kids. And dogs. There are so many bars that if you don't like one, you can just stagger on down to the next one.

          I'm not much of a drinker though; my vice is Ken's Doughnuts.

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          • #6
            Re: Austin - attending the conference

            Just got my tickets!

            Anyone else staying at the Motel 6 (I know, ghetto - but only 1 mile away!)

            Would it be lame to see if anyone from here wants to meet up somewhere? At least it would give some of us an 'in' to know each other without walking around by ourselves being awkward.
            www.JustinSloanAuthor.com

            http://www.CreativeWritingCareer.com
            http://www.MilitaryVeteransinCreativeCareers.com

            Twitter: @JustinMSloan

            Want a free book?

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Austin - attending the conference

              Dangit, I wanted to see James Hart but it's already full! MAN.
              www.JustinSloanAuthor.com

              http://www.CreativeWritingCareer.com
              http://www.MilitaryVeteransinCreativeCareers.com

              Twitter: @JustinMSloan

              Want a free book?

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Austin - attending the conference

                stainjm, I'm staying at the Driskill. We should definitely meet up. Let's talk closer to the date.

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                • #9
                  Re: Austin - attending the conference

                  Sounds good! Let's do so.

                  I imagine I will be hanging around the driskoll bar/ that area most of the time.
                  www.JustinSloanAuthor.com

                  http://www.CreativeWritingCareer.com
                  http://www.MilitaryVeteransinCreativeCareers.com

                  Twitter: @JustinMSloan

                  Want a free book?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Austin - attending the conference

                    (JoJo- and others) for what it's worth, I've met a fair amount of people who attend AFF as Nicholl Quarterfinalists or higher-- they go because Nicholl (correct me if I'm wrong) doesn't have venue for networking and AFF does. I realize not everyone can afford it (good GRIEF, have you seen the price of plane tickets lately?) but if you wanted to and didn't because you didn't advance at AFF, I can say I've met a lot of people who go regardless and have a great time. And Nicholl Quarterfinalist always gets "oohs and aaahs."

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                    • #11
                      Re: Austin - attending the conference

                      Originally posted by cvolante View Post
                      (JoJo- and others) for what it's worth, I've met a fair amount of people who attend AFF as Nicholl Quarterfinalists or higher-- they go because Nicholl (correct me if I'm wrong) doesn't have venue for networking and AFF does. I realize not everyone can afford it (good GRIEF, have you seen the price of plane tickets lately?) but if you wanted to and didn't because you didn't advance at AFF, I can say I've met a lot of people who go regardless and have a great time. And Nicholl Quarterfinalist always gets "oohs and aaahs."
                      Good point. But I've already committed to not going too bad cause I bet those Nicholl Semifinalists get even bigger "Oohs and ahs."
                      "Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again." -[/SIZE] James R. Cook

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                      • #12
                        Re: Austin - attending the conference

                        Originally posted by stainjm View Post
                        Just got my tickets!

                        Would it be lame to see if anyone from here wants to meet up somewhere? At least it would give some of us an 'in' to know each other without walking around by ourselves being awkward.

                        Count me in, I'll be there.

                        I have a second rounder. Still waiting on one letter.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Austin - attending the conference

                          Originally posted by mikewrites View Post
                          Count me in, I'll be there.

                          I have a second rounder. Still waiting on one letter.
                          Congratulations, Mike!

                          Let's plan to meet closer to the date.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Austin - attending the conference

                            I really want to go, but fortunately/unfortunately my co-writer and I have a film premiering at Fantastic Fest and are already planning a trip to Austin this month. Not sure I can afford two trips to Austin in two months.

                            For those that have attended, would you say I'd definitely be missing out not going as semi-finalist? I could probably survive on oatmeal for a few months if necessary...

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                            • #15
                              Re: Austin - attending the conference

                              Got no second-rounder love from Austin this year. In the PAGE Semi's right now but nuked here. Inferior version of same script made it last year but I couldn't go to the Conference. Do you guys find that it makes a huge difference if you don't have that little stamp of approval on your badge????

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