What's New for 2022?
COVID-19 and USITT22
We've put in place some COVID-19 policies and procedures to safeguard our attendees. You will be required to read them before you get to the registration page and you will be reminded of them before you pay. It's important that you understand what will be required of you. The City of Baltimore has instituted an indoor mask mandate. As of now, you will need to plan to wear a mask at all Conference & Stage Expo activities that take place inside the Baltimore Convention Center. Our Board of Directors will make final COVID-19 protocols available no later than Jan. 15, 2022. This is a shifting situation, so requirements to attend may shift AFTER you have purchased your registration.
Hands-On
Having developed and implemented a highly successful virtual event in 2021, we wanted to make sure that the 2022 Conference will focus on one of the aspects that USITT does best – and that is not available anywhere else – hands-on learning.
In Baltimore, the emphasis is being placed on learning laboratories, where attendees can experiment, learn, and engage with technology – and each other. Additionally, they can learn safe practices, be introduced to new ideas, and can get a first-hand look at how the industry is returning from the pandemic shutdown. Attendees will be able to engage in applied educational activities across the Institute’s 11 interest-based tracks: Architecture, Costume Design & Technology, Digital Media, Education, Engineering, Lighting Design & Technology, Management, Safety & Health, Scene Design & Technology, Sound Design & Technology, and Technical Production.
Stay tuned. We'll finalize our schedule well before the Conference.
Food
This year, USITT is pleased to offer you a card worth $50 worth of food and beverage purchased inside the Baltimore Convention Center! The card is included in the price of your registration for all persons who register for the entire Conference & Stage Expo prior to February 7, 2022.
Dates and Times
We're starting later in the day on Wednesday this year. Some of our professional development workshops will be offered on Wednesday, and many learning sessions normally scheduled on Wednesday have been spread out over Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Especially for people coming to Baltimore from the West Coast, Wednesday can be a travel day -- or a day to orient yourself to a different time zone while you explore the exciting Inner Harbor area right outside your door!
Check-In
This year, mindful of social distancing, we don't want long lines of people in the lobby, so there is no traditional check-in. If you register before February 1, 2022, you'll receive your name badge and Baltimore Convention Center food card in the mail. Please make sure that your address is correct on your registration! Bring your badge with you to Baltimore and you will check in digitally at your first scheduled session. For those who register after February 1, you'll receive instructions on how to get your badge at the venue.
Digital Badging
For the first time, USITT is using a digital badge built into the Conference App to help us minimize lines. You'll receive more information closer to Conference about downloading the app and building out your schedule. This year, you will need to be pre-registered for sessions in order to be admitted. It's another important piece in our COVID Safety protocol.
No one likes more email! But please make sure that you read all emails coming from USITT about Conference. It's our only way to make certain that we can communicate with everyone attending USITT22. These emails will come from an @usitt.org email address and a @goeshow.com email address. Please add these domains to your "safe" lists.