Conference stuff

[moonyprof]

 I had a paper accepted at the Blackfriars conference, and now I have to decide if I'm going to go.  With the furloughs, money is going to be tight this year, and I also have to figure that there may not be any travel funding at all.  Conferences are expensive, but usually I apply for a travel grant and a special Mini-Grant and if I'm lucky, it

Comments

[chibitoaster]

That's really tough. Most of the conventions that I go to (in a professional capacity) don't cost me anything but hotel and food, and are basically run by fans of the comic book industry. Academic conferences are totally different. I only present/go to one a year (other than the harry potter one which I'm DEFINITELY counting as an academic conference *nods*), and it's local.

And it's about pop culture and art, so that's not nearly as expensive as paying for several Shakespearean plays.

I wish there was some pool of grant money out there for people who NEED To go to things like this.

[moonyprof]

I think it's the travel that really does it. Traveling long distances really tacks on the expense. Usually the money I get comes from the school, but . . . . There are funds for graduate students, and they're the ones who truly need it.

$325 is really expensive for a literature conference. The Shakespeare Association conference is only about $100, but it includes a lot less.

I count the Harry Potter conferences as academic conferences. I only go if I'm presenting, and I write it off as a business expense on my taxes.

[chibitoaster]

Yeah, I write them off, too. I don't have an academic institution from which I can request grants, but then again, my expenses are a lot less.

Once you add up the travel and hotel, I'll bet it's quite a chunk of change, isn't it? And yeah, five nights at a hotel? We could barely afford the one in SF, and that was sharing with three other people.

Well, if there's anything up here in Minnesota, you've got a place to stay at least, and there's a lot of stuff to do.

(insert shameless pimp of harry potter halloween party weekend in case you can't make it to the conference)

I know, I'm not being helpful.

[moonyprof]

It sure is expensive. Usually I'm on my own, but since I desperately want to go to Infinitus, I'll probably see if I can find some roommates--that is, if I can get a presentation accepted.

Halloween is my birthday, so have an extra Butterbeer on me. :)

[orikes13]

Are you serious about some dude in a bear suit chasing long talkers off stage? Because that's pretty damn awesome in and of itself.

I'm not one to talk about these things because I keep going to the big gaming conventions even though I shouldn't. But I think going sounds like a good plan. It sounds like something you'll enjoy. :)

[moonyprof]

I'm just going to quote the acceptance letter they sent me:

"In preparing your paper, remember that it is not to exceed 10 minutes in length and that, should it exceed that limit, a bear will appear on stage and take punitive action. Our experience is that the number of words that can fit comfortably into a 10-minute presentation is 850. Beyond that, for safety sake, keep in mind that Stephen Colbert's "Threat Down" always includes *bears*, so we urge you to read your paper aloud with a timer."

I've actually seen them do it. They're polite, so they usually let it go a tiny bit longer than that, but they feel that it sets a good example for everyone else. And no kidding, it does.

[swhedonberry]

I've been wanting to go to see a show at Blackfriars for a long time now. What's kept me, you may be asking? Yep, it's in Staunton. Two hours away and I haven't made the time. Groups of us have planned to make the quest to see a show and it's always been when I couldn't go.

It sounds like a marvelous conference. Getting to see five plays in four days is something I miss from going to festivals in college. If I had the cash, it would be something that I could love to do.

[moonyprof]

GO, woman. Go in February or March, during their "Renaissance Season." That's the one actors really should like, because they do the whole production without directors. They use a lot of other Renaissance techniques, too, but that's the big one.

This year they're doing *The Roman Actor.* I don't think I can manage a trip out to see it, but I really want to. *Three* plays within a play. It's about acting and what it's like to have a tyrant for a patron. GO SEE IT.

[swhedonberry]

I'll bet I could get a few members of the Richmond Shakes staff to plan a trip. It sounds awesome!

[tjs_whatnot]

Sounds like a great event and a good opportunity and I really hope you get to go--especially this year because of #4 on your Pro List. *meep*

And what a weird coincidence...I'd never heard of The American Shakespeare Center and what do you know? It's in VA, which is where I'm moving to! AWESOME!!

[cosmiccoz]

Sounds smashing! I've been listening to the ASC's podcast since it first began, though I wish it wasn't on an introductory level, Dr. Ralph is such an entertaining listen. Wouldn't want to take notes on him though, his lectures go every which way and he forgets to return to the original topic. ; ) I love when he actually starts quoting the text, I still remember with delight when he quoted in southern accent, "was ever woman in this humor woooooooed."

Good chuckle. I've also seen a couple of his writings on teaching Shakespeare in The Quarterly.

Great podcast, I wish there were more on Shakespeare! The RSC's 'cast updates only once a year. Arg!

[moonyprof]

Ralph is the best Cleopatra I've ever heard, seriously. When I went to a production of A & C at the Blackfriars, I went up to him and said "that was fabulous, but there was one thing missing. You weren't Cleopatra." I know that sounds funny, and it would sound even funnier if you met him, but I once heard him talk about the Anthony death scene and he pointed out Cleopatra's self-centeredness.

Anthony: Give me a cup of wine, then let me speak.
Cleo: No, let ME speak.

and then later:

Cleo: Noblest of men, wo'ot die? HAST THOU NO CARE OF ME???

It completely cracked me up. No doubt about it: nobody "gets" Cleopatra better than Ralph.

Plus, he's a real fireball. He's probably best to listen to in more casual situations: nothing's better than Ralph holding forth at a party.