The annual SIGGRAPH conference is attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals each year, many of whom return year after year. On the other end of the spectrum, some of us are experiencing the overwhelming multitude of people, workshops, exhibits, emerging technologies (and parties) for the very first time. It would be easy to get lost in the chaos, but seasoned veterans of the conference Mike Bailey and Andrew Glassner provided insightful tips for newbies at their “Introduction to SIGGRAPH and Computer Graphics” course on Sunday morning. The talk was more than a summary of the week’s events, as it offered insightful guidance on how to get the most out of the conference. Through an enthusiastic and entertaining presentation, the audience was introduced to basic terms and concepts relating to computer graphics and was given a background on papers, panels, and other courses. The Program and Buyer's Guide, or "The Bible for the Week" as Bailey described it, would serve as an invaluable reference, but only once the information contained within it was clearly understood. A few insider tips from these two professionals surely set newcomers in the right direction so as to not miss any of the week’s highlights.

The most important way to ensure a productive and enjoyable time at SIGGRAPH is to create a schedule for the week. Decide what events cannot be missed and write them down. It may also be beneficial to have a few backup plans in case a course is full or an event does not turn out to be quite what you expected. There are multiple things going on simultaneously from morning until night, making it difficult to remember everything you had hoped to do. A schedule for the week will eliminate the disappointment of getting home after the conference and realizing you completely forgot to attend something you had wanted to go to.

Courses…papers…panels…sketches…What are all these and why should you attend? Bailey and Glassner shed light on these and other events at the conference:

Courses give “instruction, insight, and inspiration” on a variety of computer graphics topics. They range from introductory ideas for the beginner to lessons in cutting edge technology. Many of the advanced courses are heavy on the math and technical side, but the visual presentations are often stunning and worth attending.

Papers are fairly technical and include the work of the some of the most brilliant minds in the industry. These are often accompanied by live demos and can be enjoyed by everyone even if the content is of the paper is a bit too advanced. For a fast and fun preview of the paper session, visit Fast-Forward Papers Preview at the beginning of the week for mini-advertisements by the authors.

Sketches are like mini papers. They are shorter, less formal, and in some cases, still works in progress. Topics include interactive techniques in art, cinema, advertising, design, science, and engineering.

Panels cover similarly intriguing topics, but exist without writing the paper. These events involve general discussion and debate over controversial and intellectual issues. Panels are not usually archived, so attending them at the conference is a must.

There are also many ongoing events that are worth attending. The Electronic Theater and Computer Animation Festival show some of the best work from the past year. Visit the Electronic Theater on opening night for a wildly entertaining pre-show. Emerging Technologies exhibits some of the newest innovations in the arts and sciences. The Exhibition room is filled with hundreds of companies displaying their newest products and services. Stop by and watch the creators of the software, that you use daily, demo tools and techniques you never knew existed. Check out the Art Gallery for a display of installations, high art, scientific art, conceptual art, folk art and any other kind of art you can imagine. Once you are sufficiently inspired, visit the Guerilla Studio where you can make your own art. It is filled with hardware and software, tutorials and 3D printers all at your disposal. It would be easy to spend all day at some of these places, so be sure to bring your schedule with you.

No matter what you pencil in for the week, remember a point Glassner stressed in his talk, “It’s a really good week to go in way over your head,” and not very hard to do so. SIGGRAPH features the newest ideas and technologies and attracts the brightest scholars and workers in computer graphics. Get out there and meet people, learn from them, and come back to see them all again next year.