USITT 2022:First Conference in Two Years!
Way back in the before times in March 2020, the USITT conference in Houston was the first of my events that was canceled due to COVID (I still have the plane ticket credited in my Southwest account). So last week’s USITT conference in Baltimore was special in many ways, being my first in-person conference in two years, after way too many virtual events, and being back in my home state of Maryland. It felt so great to be back, and seeing old and new friends in person just makes it obvious why these kinds of things are so important; running across people unexpectedly is also just something that doesn’t happen online. And even though I’ve continued to chase tornadoes during COVID, hanging out in a crowded bar for two nights in a row maskless (first time in two years going that) is probably the riskiest thing I have done in a couple years. But it was worth the risk.
I really enjoyed doing my session on networking, and it was well attended; my thanks to the USITT Engineering Commission for hosting me. And there’s no question to me that this kind of information is needed: I asked the 50 or so attendees, about 2/3 of which had identified as students or faculty, how many of them had networking in their college curriculum. Two hands went up. This should no longer surprise me, since this kind of thing has been going on for years, but it’s still unfortunate that this topic is not taught in more colleges. Networking is one of my “big three” core technologies for entertainment, and several other sessions I attended mentioned how important it is. Of course at City Tech we have a full semester required networking course and many other ways for students to learn it (such as the Gravesend Inn). All I can say is “Come on people!” (and, of course, as things reopen I will be available again for workshops, and of course I have a book).
It was very gratifying to have several people come up to me who had a class or workshop with me years ago, and hearing from so many that they found my books and other work useful was very meaningful and inspiring. And I have to say that this oft-ridiculed generation coming up just seems to be exceptionally kind to and accommodating of each other (something I also see amongst my own students at CityTech). I find that inspiring as well, and gives me great hope for the future of our industry.
USITT is a small show and mostly attended by educators and students, so doesn’t have the commercial frenzy of something like Infocomm. And that allows it for me to be a show much more about ideas and people and exchanging ideas with people, and that is something that has been so lacking during the lockdown times. And even though I was gimping around in a boot and with a cane, it was energizing to be at the show. My school is following NYC mandates and lifting the mask requirement on Monday; let’s hope that things continue in that trajectory and I hope to be back at USITT next year in St. Louis.
