Friday, November 9, 2012

Five More Tips to Enhance Your AAR/SBL Experience - Le Donne

See my first five tips here.

6) The book reviews are where the action be. These have the best give-and-take, the most humor (if nerd-jokes can be considered humor), and often have the most interesting content. There are several reasons for this: First, books that end up with panel reviews tend to be by established scholars who have come up with provocative theses (however, I am proof that this is not always true). Second, the planners for these sessions hand pick the respondents from the best and the brightest given the topic; i.e. there is no “open call” for reviewers. Third, you never get the sense that these presentations are “trial runs” for possible publications. Fourth, and most importantly, a thesis that has already been published must be defended… thus the rejoinder by the author is stronger than you might get from other sessions. I, of course, have a vested interested in this, but I promise that it will not disappoint: see here.

7) Food is worth thinking about ahead of time. Chicago has some of the best food on the planet. There are several options by the Millennium Park area, only about a mile from the convention center. But Chicago has a veritable smorgasbord of options on the cheaper side (think Templeton from Charlotte’s Web). Just put “cheap dinner North side" into yelp....[addition: see Andy Rowell's helpful list below!] You’ll spend the same amount of money on taxi+cheap food as you will on the expensive eateries near the convention center. So if you don’t care about have the “cultural experience” of Chicago, just pay the extra money and stay close (reservations are not a bad idea). Also, there is less of a chance of being gunned down. I used to just bring granola bars and bananas to eat until dinner. But this was before I realized my next point…

8) The chief virtue of AAR/SBL is networking. I’m not talking about introducing yourself to your favorite author after s/he presents. Nor am I talking about bumping into an old colleague in the book room. The best networking is intentional. If you don’t have an appointment or two planned before the meeting, you’re missing the most valuable element of the conference. It can be helpful to set up an appointment with an established scholar in your field (you normally need to email the person months in advance to make this happen - offer to pay), but it is just as important to meet and establish contacts with “younger” peers (offer to pay). Often, these are the folks with the most original ideas and are most likely to remember you when they are sitting on hiring committees, steering committees, editorial boards etc.

9) Further to number eight: Be content not to become best friends with N.T. Wright. Yes, you’ll see him and a few of your other favorite rockstars. He doesn’t want to shake your hand. He doesn’t want your affirmations. He doesn’t want a lock of your hair wrapped in a love poem (I’m looking at you Mark Almlie). This goes for almost every scholar who has ever published with HarperOne. You’ll respect yourself more in the morning if you don’t attempt to introduce yourself. On the other hand, most of us non-HarperOne mortals like connecting names to faces; John Byron likes to hug complete strangers… just walk right up and hug him. You won’t regret it!

10) If you cannot make a session, most presenters don’t mind being asked for a draft by email. Of course, you should promise not to distribute this draft and you should be open to the possibility that the “draft” is little more than an outline. In this case, you might be turned down. But if the presenter is willing, this can be an extremely helpful addition to a dissertation—you’re demonstrating that you’re up on the absolute latest work being done in the field. I know that John Byron loves to receive emails from complete strangers! Be sure to sign off with an OXOXOXO XXX!

6 comments:

  1. Hmm… I think I am sensing some deliberately misleading advice here. A bit like "Don’t forget to go to the Reading Room at the British Museum and try the famous echo!"

    If only I could work out which it is?!

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  2. I don't know if you want to go to the "North Side" unless you are really wanting to see Chicago (i.e., travel in taxis a lot). This is already going to be the worst traveling SBL/AAR ever with shuttle rides or CTA (public transit buses and trains) because the hotels are so far from McCormick Place. (McCormick Place is where Obama's victory party was the other night). McCormick Place is located on the "Near South Side" side or "South Loop." Here is the Urban Spoon: http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/2/47940/Chicago/South-Loop-restaurants
    and Yelp:
    http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=chicago%2C+IL&ns=1&ls=a2f5eeee08cf97b2#cflt=restaurants&find_loc=Near+Southside,+Chicago,+IL

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  3. Ok. Here are my restaurant picks nearest McCormick Place

    7 South Coast 92% $$$ South Loop - Japanese, Sushi 1700 S Michigan Ave 17 min. walk


    10 Opart Thai House 92% $ South Loop - Thai 1906 S State St 16 min. walk


    20 Harold's Chicken Shack #62... 89% $ South Loop - American, Fast Food, Seafood 636 S Wabash Ave 11 min. walk


    24 La Cantina Grill 79% $ South Loop - Mexican, Pub Food, Tex-Mex 1911 S Michigan Ave 13 min. walk


    28 Triad Sushi Lounge 82% $$ South Loop - Asian, Japanese, Sushi 1933 S Indiana Ave 11 min. walk


    29 Kroll's South Loop 82% $ South Loop - American, Burgers, Fast Food 1736 S Michigan Ave 16 min. walk


    30 Cafe Bionda 82% $$$ South Loop - Italian, Pub Food 1924 S State St 16 min. walk


    37 Cafe Society 83% $ South Loop - American, International, Vegetarian1801 S Indiana Ave 14 min. walk


    43 Reggies $$ South Loop - American, Burgers, Pub Food 2109 south state st 14 min. walk


    45 The Burger Point $$ South Loop - American, Burgers, Organic1900 South State Street 16 min. walk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andy!

      Would have thought that a skinny guy would have so much useful knowledge?

      -anthony

      Delete
  4. Wish I had thought to look for stuff like this before the night before the conference! Great tips, though. I'll be sure to seek John Byron out...everyone needs a good hug.

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