Kat Collins GDC Week

Post date: Mar 17, 2017 7:17:2 AM

I decided to go for the whole week with the expo pass like I did last year. This year though, I stayed at my friend's apartment in San Rafael, about a 30-50 min lyft drive from the center. It did help me save money, and I got to hang with my old roommates and alumni.

SUNDAY: I flew in, and was supposed to go to a couple starter events that night but was too exhausted after a long day of flying, and decided to catch up with old friends. I used the night to apply to multiple jobs and made that a goal for every night until I was too busy. 

MONDAY: I had lunch with my friend's co-workers, Telltale employees, and we talked about my application, Ringling, and shenanigans. During the night, I went to the pocketgamer party and started networking. I was a bit rusty but did my usual strategy of trying to find ways to sit down next to people or hover around hang out spots where I could make eye contact with somebody and start a conversation. I met a few other artist students from the Orlando area, as well as some programmers. Although I did hand out a lot of cards, I didn't really find people I was hoping to find though. Applied to more jobs.

TUESDAY: It was pretty cold for the clothes that I brought, so friends and I went to the mall nearby and had lunch, bought a jacket, and went to the Moscone center to pick up our badges before heading out for the night. We went to the Polycount party, and we pretty much stayed there the whole night because we were meeting a lot of people. I got to meet my mentor, Ignacio, and he saw me showing my thesis to someone else and approached by saying "Hey! I mentored this thing!". I got to meet the art director of Paladins, and I also applied to Hi-Rez so I talked to him about my application and the new project. After staying at the party for a while, I know we went to other parties I just don't remember which ones. It was a full night of networking and card exchanges. 

WEDNESDAY: Got up early and go the Moscone center around opening. Stopped at the ringling booth and explored the floor a bit before heading to get portfolio reviews from various studios. Went to the Crystal Dynamics event and got to eat yummy food, get free stuff and talked to 2 of the artists, both who gave positive feedback. I'm following up with one of them. This was a huge party night. I went to the Ringling party and I spent a lot of time at the Epic Party where I met a lot of cool peeps and passed out cards like crazy. Also went to the Riot mixer, Vungle, and ended with That Party, which is always weird but I thought I'd give it a second shot. 

THURSDAY: I explored the center a lot, had some more portfolio reviews and explored the perkier stuff a bit. Got some cool free swag and shirts. After a full day at the expo I again, went to a bunch of parties to network, hung out with fellow ringling peeps at a bar and walked the scarier streets of San Francisco till we found our way home to our hotels after a very late night. Didn't get back to the apt. until 4:00am. Still had to get up at 8.

FRIDAY: I had to get up early for a scheduled portfolio review, and then after doing some fun activities on the floor since I was pretty wiped from networking at this point, I took the day to relax, hang out with alumni, shop at the giant F21, and visit Japan Town with my friends and buy cute treats and plushies. :) Met up with friends back at the apt for a homemade dinner, and then relaxed with their adorable corgi puppy. Had an early flight the next morning so I had to pack allllllll my new goodies into a very packed bag.

Overall, I had a lot more reviews this time and more promising potential for a job from the networking. I was much more exhausted than the last two years, annnnnnnd got the GDC plague right when I got home....for the entire spring break.