Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 01-23-2008 06:06 PM               

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I'm curious: has anyone ever been able to see/hear an astronaut at one of the corporate conferences or symposiums without paying the hundreds of dollars to register for the whole event? How? I would think that attendees would have to display badges at something that costs so much money to put together, which would hinder a drop-in.

There is an appearance like this at a corporate event every couple of months in the DC area, so if anyone has any strategy that works I'd love to hear it.

Steve

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-23-2008 06:45 PM               

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I have been to a few of these events, sometimes paying the single-day registration fee (especially if the subject of the conference interests me) but more often by contacting the organizers in advance and asking for permission to attend that one session.

In at least one case when I wasn't able to elicit a response from the organizers, I contacted the astronaut in advance and asked how and when we might meet.

I do not suggest just 'dropping in', namely for the reasons already mentioned: these conferences cost money to organize and it's not fair to the hosts or paying attendees. (And the idea of hanging out in the lobby in the hopes of crossing paths with the astronaut is too stalker-like for my comfort [or the comfort of others].)

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 01-24-2008 10:08 PM               

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I, too, have gotten in without paying a few times, but only because I was legitimate media (e.g., no asking for autographs then, sending them a copy of the article afterward.) In at least one instance, I had a NASA rep present when I did the interview....

Nowadays it's more hard to define what and who the media are, with blogs and the like, but I don't suggest making up a news-sounding name, or trying to fake it. They just may well ask you for references, including copies of blog posts, and those who are legitimate media frown upon such antics and talk amongst themselves.