Tips for conference rookies

Yesterday I received the following e-mail request:

[C]ould you please post some advice to poli sci students who are going for their first time to the APSA [American Political Science Association] Conference this week?

We aim to please here at DanielDrezner.com, so here are my Top Five Tips to Newcomers on Attending Conferences [Does this apply to non-poli sci conferences?–ed. My hunch is yes, but having never attended other ones, I won’t swear to it]: 5) Lower your expectations. If you’re thinking that most of the papers you will hear presented will be of the same caliber as those you’ve read in class, you’re in for big letdown. Most of the papers presented at a conference of this scale are either works in progress or first-drafts. Most of the people presenting these papers are early in their careers. Some of the papers will be really interesting; most of them won’t. If you attend two panels that contain at least two interesting papers in each panel, you’ve had a good conference. Conferences such as APSA are much more bearable if you a) go with a friend; and b) bring or buy a book for the dull patches. 4) Build your network. You will undoubtedly notice a few people going to all of the same panels as you attend. Strike up a conversation and find out. They’ll probably be working on something similar but not identical to you. 3) Stake out big-name panels early. If you see a panel loaded with prominent scholars, check and see what room it’s in. If it’s a small one, be sure to go early. Savor the fact that you’ll be comfortable for the next 90 minutes while big names will have to crane their neck from the back to see what’s going on. 2) Carefully monitor fluid intake. Conferences are basically a vehicle to assume elevated amounts of coffee, water, and alcohol. Try to consume all three in moderation — you don’t want to be dashing to the bathroom at every break between panels, which is when all the good schmoozing takes place. And the most important piece of advice I can offer: 1) Take your friggin’ name tag off when you leave the hotel. Otherwise you look like such a geek. [Um… what about good papers or panels to attend?–ed. You mean besides my panel, which probably has the most number of bloggers? Jacob Levy has been kind enough to collect some interesting possibilities, although it really depends on your own interests. UPDATE: This post triggered a rash of responsesKieran Healy offers some excellent tips, while Invisible Adjunct and Apartment 11D offer some excellent predictions.