General Information | Best Practices for Submitting and Presenting Panels | Past Programs & Future Dates
Convention Registration | Presenting in Las Vegas April 13-16 | Convention App |

QUICK GUIDE – Know Before you go

Q. When and where is #BEAvegas’s Annual Convention? BEA’s 69th Annual Convention Sessions & Exhibition is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall – 3rd Floor in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 13-16, 2024. Click here to access the convention center map 

Q. Do I need to register for the convention? All attendees (this includes speakers, panelists, award winners, paper presenters, etc.) MUST be registered to attend #BEAvegas.  You can PRE-REGISTER until COB Monday, April 8.  Take note that since BEA and NAB have reciprocal registration policies, if you are registered for NAB Show, you do not need to register for BEA’s convention. 

Q. Is there Wifi or internet access at #BEAvegas? Due to increased internet costs at the convention, we do not have exclusive Wifi or internet access.  There is general Wifi in the LVCC, but because of the volume of attendees, it is not reliable.

Q. What type of AV is in the session rooms? ALL session rooms have laptops, screens and AV/sound hook-up.  We work closely with Freeman AV onsite and and their technicians are always around to help.

Q. Where can I find more information regarding a specific panel, paper competition, digital poster session, interest division meeting, or Festival event? Click here to access the convention program. Sessions, panels, competitions, meetings and ceremonies can be searched by title, presenter name, or by BEA interest division.

Q. Where can I pick up my badge onsite? BEA badge pick-up can take place at any of the NAB Show registration sites.  The main  registration is located in the back corner of the LVCC West Hall.  Click here to access the map and see the location in green.

Q. Where can we eat at the LVCC?  There are lots of food options in and around the Las Vegas Convention Center – including a food court on the 1st floor of the West Hall.  Click here for more details. 

Q. What should I wear?  Please, please, please wear comfortable shoes!  Point A and Point B are not as close as they seem.  Comfortable shoes are KEY.

Q. I’m creating a digital poster, what are the guidelines to create one?  Click here to see the guidelines for creating your digital poster: 

General Information

Q. Do I need to register for the convention? All attendees (this includes speakers, panelists, award winners, paper presenters, etc.) MUST be registered to attend #BEAvegas.  Since BEA and NAB have reciprocal registration policies, if you are registered for NAB Show, you do not need to register for BEA’s convention.

Q. What kind of housing options do I have? NAB Housing will assist you with accommodations for the convention.  Housing has secured specially-negotiated hotel rates for our attendees and is ready to assist you with making your reservations.

Q. Can my spouse accompany me at the convention? Yes!  Registered spouses are welcome to all #BEAvegas sessions and other special events.  Spouses cannot be involved in the industry, and must be accompanied by full conference registration and includes the same access.

Q. Where can I find more information regarding a specific panel, paper competition, digital poster session, interest division meeting, or Festival event? Click here to access the convention program. Sessions, panels, competitions, meetings and ceremonies can be searched by title, presenter name, or by BEA interest division.

Q. I have special needs for navigating the convention.  Who can I reach out to for assistance? The deadline for requests should be a minimum of one month prior to the conference to provide enough lead-time for planning of services. The conference can guarantee services only for those registered by the deadline. For late registrants, services may be difficult to obtain on short notice. Please email help@BEAweb.org. 

BEA’s Best Practices for Convention Program Submissions

Diversify your session. Please make every effort possible to provide diverse representation on your panel. Your panel should consist of individuals with diverse lived experiences, expertise, and identities.  BEA seeks to amplify voices all member types on panels to create more enriching conversations and supports the career advancement of underrepresented groups.  Sessions that offer a variety of schools and perspectives provide more value.  Don’t forget to utilize our “Seeking” board on Facebook if you are in need of a panel to join or a panelist to recruit.  You can also reach out to interest division leadership, the convention program chair, BEA Board of Directors or staff for suggestions.

No repeats. If you have a topic or session that lends itself to a multi-year convention appearance, consider changing it up each year.  Introduce new speakers, a different focus, and specify issues unique to the topic in the current year.

Include industry professionals. Getting the input of industry professionals always seems to score points with your audience.  Whether your session is based on theory or creative scholarship, take advantage of BEA’s co-location with the NAB Show and invite industry professionals to have a seat on your panel.  If you need suggestions email interest division leadership, BEA staff of board members for ideas and contacts.

BEA’s Research Submission FAQs

Can I submit my paper to multiple BEA interest divisions?
Submissions can only be submitted to no more than one BEA interest division.

What are the rules for presenting at other conventions?
Submissions must not be currently under review, or have previously been presented at other conventions and conferences.

Can I submit published research?
Your research should not have been published in print or online prior to BEA’s convention.

 

 Convention Registration

Q. When does registration open?  Registration opens in early fall.

Q. What comes with my BEA2024 Registration? Access to all the #BEAvegas 69th Annual Convention Sessions & Exhibition along with other special events. Access to Add-On/Ticketed Items are not included.  Registration also includes sessions included in 2024 NAB Show Conference Pass but does NOT include access to sessions in Post|Production World, P|PW Certification Prep Classes, Field Workshops, or Ticketed Events. NAB meal events such as breakfasts and lunches are not included.  Registration also includes the Career Fair / Graduate School Showcase.

Q. How much does it cost to register for the #BEAvegas Annual Convention?
We have rates for BEA members and non-members.  You can renew (or join) during the convention registration process.  Registration rates will be posted in mid-August.

Q. Do I have to be a BEA member to attend the convention? No, you do not have to become a member of BEA to attend the convention however we hope you decide that a BEA individual membership is valuable to you.  BEA is the professional association for professors, industry professionals and students who are interested in teaching and research related to electronic media and multimedia enterprises and members of BEA pay considerably less to attend the convention than non-members.  You can renew/join BEA individual membership and register for the annual convention all at once.  Please visit the BEA Membership webpage for detailed information.

Q. My school/college/institution has a department membership.  Do I qualify to register for the convention at the discounted member rate? No, the rates for the convention are based on individual membership ONLY.  As per BEA Board policy, only current BEA individual members receive the discounted member rate, not faculty of a BEA institutional member.  Institutional department membership is not related to individuals or individual membership.  Please visit the BEA Membership for more information.

Q. I am a Student Member.  Do I still have to register for the convention? Yes, BEA’s annual convention continues to provide the most valuable exchange of research, networking, and technology around.  Student members must register themselves for the convention by registering online.

Q: How do I get my credentials?
Credentials will not be mailed and MUST be picked up at on-site Registration.  Please be sure to bring a copy of your registration confirmation with a valid photo ID.   You can pick up your badge, program and other materials onsite at the BEA registration area located in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall Click here to access the convention center map 

Q. How do I register for the convention if my university/company pays by check?  Fill out the online registration form and select pay by check. Once your payment has been received by BEA your registration will be activated.

Q. What if my university/company needs a completed W-9 Form? Contact BEA directly at 202-602-0586 or Help@BEAweb.org in order to receive a completed W-9 form.

Q. What is your refund policy? To receive a refund, cancellation must be received in writing to Help@BEAweb.org before the beginning of the convention.  If the in-person convention is canceled due to health concerns, all registrations will be converted to virtual registrations unless a refund is requested.

Presenting/Participating

In-Person Presentation

Q. I am presenting a paper and/or participating in a panel at the convention, do I still have to register to attend the convention? Yes, all designated presenters, panelist, chairs and respondents must register for the BEA convention.  For multiple-authored papers, a minimum of one author, must register or the paper may be removed.

Q. Can I present virtually at #BEAvegas? No, all presentations must be presented in person at event to be listed in the program.

Q.  I am presenting my first paper.  Do you have any advice? The BEA leadership and home office have placed increasing importance on strengthening the quality of conference presentations and enhancing participant engagement.  Prepare a presentation that follows all of the rules of good speech making.  Be sure you have planned on an introduction and conclusion.  Organize the body of your talk and provide internal organizing mechanisms so people can easily follow along.  Do not speak beyond the allotted time and do not read your paper or outline – speak extemporaneously.  Summarize your study or report, but do so briefly.  In this instance, less is clearly more!

Q: Should I bring multiple copies of my paper? Feel free to upload your paper to the online program.  Email help@BEAweb.org of you have trouble.

Q.  How can I best secure copies of others’ paper? If you are attending a panel and would like a copy of a paper, ask the presenter directly.

Q. I am doing a Scholar to Scholar presentation.  How can I make my presentation most effective?
Scholar to Scholar presentations create a unique opportunity for questions and exchanges not available in more formal sessions.  Presenters should take advantage of the opportunity to have an exchange with those who choose to come to the session.  All of our poster are presented in digital format on monitors located around the exhibit hall. Poster presenters should bring presentations on flash drives that can be plugged into large monitors (they can be static or in PowerPoint form).

Q. I am a panel or paper presentation moderator.  What are some best practices in moderating the session?
Panels are one hour in length so time management is key.
– If your panelists have presentations, try to collect them all in advance and use one computer.
– Use the 15 minutes in between sessions to get organized.
-The moderator should keep introductions brief.  Speaker bios should all be in the panelists profile on the app, so don’t waste too much time introducing each speaker.  Introduce everyone at once.
– Each speaker should have 10-12 minutes and that should leave 10 minutes at the end for Q&A.

Q. I am presenting a Digital Poster, are their specific guidelines?

At the Convention

Q. What Should I wear? In addition to your professional materials, you might want to know that the dress at the convention is business casual for presenters.  If you are not presenting, you can be more casual. The most important thing…..wear comfortable shoes!   Also, be sure to check the weather forecast in Las Vegas online before you leave.

Q. How should I organize my time at the convention?

• • With over 225 scheduled sessions and meetings (and that’s just for #BEAvegas), you have many choices.  Your first priority is to know when you are scheduled to present.  The schedule will be posted by late January.
  • Review all the events of the convention.  These are spotlighted or convention-wide programs that will appeal to a large cross-section of convention attendees.  These are great networking and educational opportunities.
  • Choose the presentations you would like to attend.  These choices can be based on topic of interest to you, friends or faculty who are presenting, or even presenters you would like to meet (a presentation provides a great opportunity to begin a conversation with them.  Many presenters will also have papers you might like to receive.
  •  Choose the division meetings you would like to attend. Meetings are all held virtually and are open for any BEA member to attend.  If you are interested in these meetings, you can become an active participant in these meetings, which is the perfect way to experience BEA membership, as well as a valuable opportunity to meet people and create professional relationships.
  • Remember the Career Fair / Graduate School Showcase events and sessions, plan accordingly if you would like to attend.
  • Don’t forget to save some time for fun!  BEA offers several social events as part of the overall convention experience. On each night we hold a reception of some type. Over 250 people typically attend the receptions, making it a good place to meet with friends and make new ones. Check the schedule for times and dates.
  • Have fun outside the convention as well!  Set aside some time to explore the conference location.  Many attractions, regional cuisine (you might want to schedule some time to eat), historical tours, shopping, and other events.

Convention App