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TamTips

Chris H

Magician Among Spirits
Chris H
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
846
Hiya!

Now that people have well and truly started thinking about TAM, I thought it might be cool if some of the TAM veterans posted some tips and advice for the newbies who are thinking about making their first trek to the holy land (ironically, the skeptic holy land is "sin" city!). ;) Things like when to arrive, when to leave, how to get an invite to all the cool parties ( ;) ), would be really helpful in planning our trip. Thanks to everyone, in advance!

Cheers,

Chris
 
It's a long way to go for a long weekend. Arrange to do some other things before TAM. Don't plan on doing much after TAM except sleeping on the plane home.
 
I always arrive on Wed & leave on Mon.

But I'm from the US. Coming all the way from Australia, take some extra time and see some things out west - Zion & Bryce parks, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, etc...
 
The Central Scrutinizer said:
I always arrive on Wed & leave on Mon.

But I'm from the US. Coming all the way from Australia, take some extra time and see some things out west - Zion & Bryce parks, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, etc...
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What he said.

I cannot recommend enough getting with Scott when he asks for volunteers. It's a great way to get involved.

And go do stuff with the rest of the TAMmers. you can't do it all, but you can do a lot.

And don't eat alone. Pick someone you've never met and ask to sit with them. I did that at every meal, and no one refused. Meals are probably the best time to get to know someone else one-on-one.
 
kmortis said:
And don't eat alone. Pick someone you've never met and ask to sit with them. I did that at every meal, and no one refused. Meals are probably the best time to get to know someone else one-on-one.
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A bit of a tip for people in the forums about this... Not everybody is in here and may not understand your forum name..

For example (and I'm using Loon as an example because I remember him doing it correctly last year):

Correct: "Hi I'm Jason, Loon in the forum"

Incorrect: "Hi, I'm Loon"

Incorrect will seem a bit odd. I was in the forums before TAM7 and even I thought it was weird.. My wife who hadn't been in here was a little put off by it and made her feel awkward.

And yes, I realize that you have your name around your neck, but that doesn't matter. :)

Another tip, don't be afraid to go up to anybody and say hi. There's a lot of big names at TAM, but they're there to meet you.

Oh, and avoid Scrut at all costs.
 
A few other tips:

* Learn in advance what meals are provided, and which are not. And, allocate time and funds for the other meals. For example: breakfast is usually provided on mornings, so it makes little sense to buy and eat a breakfast beforehand (unless you really want to).

* If you have never been to Las Vegas before, you might want to stick on an extra day or two, to see the sights of the city. Especially the stuff up and down the Strip. Our hotel, unfortunately, will be a few miles away from the strip, so very few opportunities to visit it, during the conference, will arise.

* If you insist on discussing your own crack-pot ideas about something, try to do it with a more sarcastic demeanor. If you appear to take yourself too seriously, while dispensing your drivel, you will likely suffer the wrath of clearer thinkers.

Sc00ter said:
Oh, and avoid Scrut at all costs.
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And, I second this notion. (Unless you're the type who's lookin' for trouble.)
 
Sc00ter said:
Another tip, don't be afraid to go up to anybody and say hi. There's a lot of big names at TAM, but they're there to meet you.
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Seconded. But remember to use common sense; not that we've ever had a problem.

For cheap, slow tranportation to the Strip, a 24-hour all-access bus pass is $7, IIRC. There's a bus stop at the NE corner of Silverado Ranch Blvd and Las Vegas Blvd South.
 
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1. Be sure to be back in your room and in bed by 9:00pm every night so you will be fresh and well-rested for the start of the next day.

2. Be sure to set your alarm to go off two hours earlier than normal on Sunday so you can get to church and back before the start of the papers presentations.

3. Bring your own licorice. Do not accept licorice from anyone at the conference.

4. Look people in the eye when they are speaking to you nude.

5. Remember, nothing pleases Randi more than when someone comes up from behind, grabs him and tosses him in the air with a hearty "wheeeeeeeeeeee!"

6. Any woman who speaks to you (or even looks in your general direction) wants to make out but is too shy to initiate things. It's up to you.

7. Any man who speaks to you (or even looks in your general direction) wants to make out but is too shy to initiate things. It's up to you.

8. Blackjack dealers have a great sense of humor and really like the grab-a-stack-of-their-chips-and-run-off gag.
 
Desktop Icon, are you serious?

9pm to bed? If one hopes to be fully alert for the morning lectures, that's a bit late.

Beyond that, there are a few things:

Don't even think about touching alcohol. No one else there does, and it's rude to be the only drunk.

Everyone there enjoys it when you kiss them, especially if they don't know you and there's tongue.

Be sure to be early to Shermer's lecture, as it is so riveting seats fill up early.

Stay in your room except for the talks, as there is nothing else to do.

Horse's ass and up the stairs.
 
The two most important things to do at TAM:

1. Drink
2. Make out with rustypouch

Everything else takes care of itself, really.
 
* As others said, remember the free meals. They are included in the registration cost. You paid for them.

* Mingle at meals! You'll never know who you'll meet if you walk up to a table of strangers and ask if you can join them.

* IIRC, the Del Mar Lounge is the hangout after TAM hours.

* There is a bus stop in the hotel parking lot, but you'll spend time going east before looping back to the stop I mentioned above.

* Do not expect to have free time. So many groups do things after TAM each day that you'll find something to do every night.

* Find the Forum table, if people are running it again this year. It's a great way to meet fellow Forumites.

* It's not clear on the floorplan (http://www.southpointcasino.com/pressroom/presskit/floorplan.pdf) but there is a corridor between the corridor with the elevators and the corridor with the escalators (the thin pink rectangle between 21 and 25 on the floorplan).

* As Sc00ter wrote, don't be shy. None of the Big Names have ever bitten a TAM attendee. Most are very friendly.

* Keep watching the Forum for even announcements. Conversely, post your ideas for group events. Do you want to go to the Stratosphere tower some night? Start a thread and you may have a group of friends going with you.

* People will be there before and after TAM. Wander around and look for people wearing TAM t-shirts.
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted so far, particularly Desktop Icon and rustypouch, whose posts made me giggle like a school girl. Much appreciated. I've booked a room at South Point from the Thursday (July 8th) until the Monday (July 12th) - someone please tell me I got those dates right?

Cheers,

Chris
 
just remember, the horses ass.

you'll know it when you see it.

VOLUNTEER! It's the best way to get to meet people. Then you get invited to all the cool stuff. If you don't want to pay for evening shows and such that are extra at TAM there are always other things going along with groups. People go out to dinner, just hang at the bar and talk, share a cab to the strip and just walk and people watch.

I do TAM on a budget.. if you have money to blow then the shows are fantastic! Being that you are coming a long way ask for suggestions for a good show to see. Penn and Teller are good, and you will meet them at TAM. THe great thing is that most of the speakers like to hang around and are very friendly.


The Grand Canyon isn't that far. Well worth the drive or perhaps signing up for a helicopter tour.
 
Chris H said:
Thanks to everyone who has posted so far, particularly Desktop Icon and rustypouch, whose posts made me giggle like a school girl. Much appreciated. I've booked a room at South Point from the Thursday (July 8th) until the Monday (July 12th) - someone please tell me I got those dates right?

Cheers,

Chris
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I hope so, I booked the same dates.
 
Wowbagger said:
It's generally not a good idea to swallow live grenades.
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Or lay on beds of nails ;)

ETA: I also highly recommend connecting with Scott and the volunteers. It's an excellent way to get introduced to a lot of really awesome people.
 
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