Is anyone planning on going to the SCBWI winter conference in NYC?

[Fey Realme]

Hey yall, i was planning on going to the in person conference in nyc jan 31-feb 2, but i just looked into it now that registration is open and it is so expensive! Early bird price with a membership is $599 plus $100 for portfolio showcase, and then you have to pay for a room too…….. and the discounted early bird price is $215/night…..! Has anyone ever gone to this conference? Do you have any cost saving ideas? I imagine sharing a room goes a long way, but i don't know anyone else who is going lol

So if your going, and you want to share a room or whatever.

[Reb Erlik]

@Fey-Realme Maybe try posting in Canada West Illustrators on Facebook. We were discussing the conference in our zoom meeting yesterday. https://m.facebook.com/groups/scbwi.canwest.illustrators/

[Mandy Forte]

I have been thinking about it too, but it is just too expensive for me as well as a timing issue. But I suggest keeping an eye on the local chapters. I was able to go to one of the smaller conferences in North Carolina and it was great to be around other creatives and spend some time focusing and learning in person.

[ChloeGreenbergArt]

@Fey-Realme I've considered applying for grants to be able to afford to go to the winter conference, but I can't find any that I qualify for :// I would have to save up for an entire year to feel financially comfortable enough to go.

I know SCBWI has scholarships, grants, and contests for free entry to the conference, but they're pretty competitive. Definitely worth trying though.

[Mimi Simon]

I really want to go and would share a room but I want to see how much money I make by the end of the year before deciding if I can afford it. The early bird rate ends in January so I'll definitely make a decision before then.

[Zachary Schrage]

I'm tryna go to it for a portfolio drop off. But I live on long island so I'm just a train ride away from it.

[StudioHannah]

I’d be up for splitting a room then if you wanna, uh, wait for a thousand days or so I need a few years to build up the funds AND the courage to feel like I belong there!

[ArtistErin]

@Fey-Realme I saw this and thought OMG I would love to go. I feel I'm not truly embracing managing justifying the cost! Though I would jump at the chance if the opportunity presents itself. Such a dream... that and Bologna! I hope you get to find someone to go with!

[ArtistErin]

@Mimi-Simon This is a good way to keep the doors open! How cool it would be to go. I would also want to add a couple days over at Milkwood in addition to the conference. That would be a dream trip for sure.

[Mimi Simon]

@ArtistErin what is Milkwood?

[ArtistErin]

@Mimi-Simon I just stumbled upon it! It's Sophie Blackall's artist retreat she created with her husband, they have this lovely property in the Catskills mountains in New York State. They offer residencies, workshops, and opportunities for learning and developing your work. They took this old milkbarn and refurbished it... they can take groups of 10 at a time, or single, I think double occupancies also. Check it out! www.milkwoodfarm.org

[jenirose92]

I'm in the NYC area and never heard of this event Great to know! I do a lot of cute illustrations and sell at events but tend to cater towards anime crowd, specifically fans of chibis. I do cute and colorful. But would love to attend