The Growing Pain of an Existing Conference in a New Region

YT Lee Nanyang Technological University Conference Chair, SIGGRAPH Asia 2008 Contents

• Background • The Ground Swell • The Ground Work • Getting Off the Ground • On the Ground • Retreading the Ground Background

• The Climate of CG and Animation • ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH • SIGGRAPH the Conference • The State of Play in Asia The Climate of

• Computer Graphics - The art and science of creating and manipulating pictures on the computer • A booming technology since the 70’s • Used in every discipline we know – art, design, engineering, medicine, education, movies, games … • The technology • developing constantly and rapidly • taught in colleges and universities • There are users, there are developers • There’s art, there’s science • Many professionals, students and enthusiasts across the world. • “What used to be a very closed society of experts is opening up.” • “Computer Graphics Industry Grows to $63 Billion in 2010”. CG Software Market Value

Billion USD

2009 2010 2013 Vector Graphics 0.20 0.20 0.23 Imaging 0.96 0.96 1.06 Visualisation 3.00 3.12 3.30 Digital Video 1.59 1.50 2.37 3D Animation 0.22 0.24 0.33 2D Animation 0.03 0.03 0.03 CAD/CAM 5.10 5.30 6.27 The reach of computer graphics is universal. Almost. ACM & ACM SIGGRAPH

• ACM – Association for Computing Machinery • ACM SIGGRAPH – ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics • The World’s largest professional computer graphics society SIGGRAPH The Conference

• Held Annually in a US city since 1971 • Average attendance: over 20,000. • Contents – Technical papers – Courses – Animation festival – Digital art gallery – Emerging technology showcase – Educators’ forum – Guerilla studio – Trade Exhibition SIGGRAPH The Conference

• The world’s most admired conference in CG • Many groundbreaking technologies in CG are first reported at SIGGRAPH • Many professional companies send their team of technical people to attend Courtesy of Lightwork Design Courtesy of Lightwork Design

The Ground Swell

• Expectation in Asia • Work in Asia • Movements in Asia • The Meeting of Minds Asia Expects

• Lots of enthusiastic supporters and attendees, from all over the world • Contributions to SIGGRAPH from Asia have been increasing, but attendance has not • Many from Asia cannot attend, due to cost and visa constraints • But there are many schools, professionals, enthusiasts, amateurs, etc. and all want to be part of the action Work in Asia

• Many CG related company • Many CG & animation schools • A few CG related events, all small • Disparate CG organisatons trying to promote the technology • Some government efforts – China, Singapore, Thailand Movements in Asia

• CG events in different countries – China Joy – Pacific Graphics • CG Societies – ACM SIGGRAPH Chapters across Asia – Local societies • CG Schools – Famous schools from abroad setting up in Asia • CG Courses – Famous studio artists invited to give courses across Asia • CG Websites – CG Tantra – CGSociety The Meeting of Minds

• Leading Asian researchers & industry people met ACM SIGGRAPH executives in Boston during SIGGRAPH 2006. • Both sides were thinking the same thing – expansion in Asia. • Ground breaking meeting in Kuala Lumpur in December 2006 The Ground Work

• Lots of questions – Who, what, where, when, how? – Ownership? Cost sharing? Profit sharing? – Suitable? Viable? Sustainable? Who? What? Where? When? How?

• Who – initially driven by ACM SIGGRAPH but Asian volunteers must lead in the long run. • What – follow the successful formula of SIGGRAPH. • Where – study the countries and cities, ask for bids. • When – the sooner the better, but at a time away from competing events. • How – have a volunteer organising committee supported by professional contractors. Market Study

• Look at CG development • Look at the CG market • Look at CG institutions • Look at CG output • Look at CG businesses and revenues • Engage professional help Support

• Survey local chapters • Get local chapters to canvass their governments and companies • Bidders must show evidence of local support Understanding each other

• ACM SIGGRAPH and the local organisers must see eye to eye • ACM Executive Committee visited the bidding cities and met local officials • They also surveyed the infra structure and facilities Financial projections

• Study costs and revenues • Make conservative projections • Be prepared to invest in the initial two years to build up the event Getting It Off the Ground

• Forming the Team • Knowing your people • Knowing your supporters • Making connections • Getting in the professionals Forming the Team

• The name of SIGGRAPH helps a lot • Still, rely on contacts, locally and internationally to find the best program chairs • The team met as much as time and cost permit • Every program chair is given a budget and a freehand to run their own program Making connections

• Again through connections, pull strings • Chains of connections • Give talks, attend events, travel • Sew seeds, give incentives Getting in the professionals

• The most important decision – the right professional team – People who understand the convention business – People who can navigate the local bureaucracy – People who can help pull the strings – People who can take over your burden – People who understand your business – People who will do it for a reasonable fee On The Ground

• The Place • Outreach • Contents • Contributors and Participants • Volunteers and professionals • The surprises – Managing the team - individuals – The cost of stuff • The event The Place

• Which Convention Centre? – Availability – Cost – Facilities – Location Outreach

• Publicity • Website • Barter trade • Visits Contents

• Quality, quality, quality. • How to ensure quality? • What contents? • Reviewers and juries. • Publications. • Support for contributors. Contributors and Participants

• They make the conference. • Contributor benefits. • Exhibition companies. • Wooing of delegates – need their money. Professionals and Volunteers

• Professionals – people paid to do the job. • Volunteers – people working for free, out of passion, foolhardiness? • Decisions in SIGGRAPH are made by volunteers and executed by professionals. • Volunteers decide what goes into the conference. • Professionals make sure they get there. The Surprises

• People – There are those who surprise you with their brilliance and willingness to do anything – There are those who surprise you with their lack of sense or drive or responsibility – There are those who are in there for themselves • Events – There are always things that pop up when you least expect it – Minimise these, unless they are pleasant surprises • The cost of everything • Always plan ahead The Event

• Everything turned out well on the day • One bad thing – queue at the registration counter too long, and delegates got agitated • Content delivery was good • Delegates generally satisfied • Exhibitors satisfied too Retreading the Ground

• The best part of it all • The worst part of it all • Lessons • The future The best part of it all

• Many attendees, still not enough though • Many bright-eyed students hungry for all that were to come • Got to know many people • Learned a lot about the convention business The worst part of it all

• Very very busy – day job became part time job and volunteer service became full time job • Had unpleasant decisions to make Lessons

• Need a much tighter budget, and control it a lot better. • Eliminate waste, cut cost. • Much better publicity. • Better pricing on delegate fees, to encourage bigger participation. • Learn to predict the onslaught of a global economic crisis! The future

• More and better SIGGRAPH Asia Thank you!