What's it like to be a guest at a medical conference?

June 4, 2018 9:15 AM

My boyfriend has invited me to come to a medical conference in San Francisco this September. What's the experience like for plus ones? There's a dinner one night that mentions guests, but no other information on the conference site unless you're logged in. I'm perfectly happy to do my own thing all day (and most nights if necessary) but don't really know what to expect ... other than I'd better upgrade my wardrobe I guess. Me = cishet female. Thanks!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet to Human Relations (13 answers total)

When my husband accompanied me, he usually brings work to do, as I’m occupied for most of the day. I would assume that you'll have plenty of time to explore during the day. We usually have time together in the evenings, but will occasionally have dinner events where spouses and partners are welcome.
posted by honeybee413 at 9:34 AM on June 4, 2018

If it’s a big conference at e.g. the Moscone center, you may well not be allowed in without a badge and paid registration. But also it’s pretty easy to sneak in and check out the vendor exhibits etc., maybe get some swag. Just dress like everyone else, act like you belong (and perhaps wear a lanyard around your neck)

Smaller venues may be less likely to care about unregistered guests, but if they do care, it will be harder to sneak in.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:43 AM on June 4, 2018

My mom (and I when I was younger) have gone to many academic conferences with my dad (which tend to be less formal than non-academic) and it's basically do your own thing during the day during the conference. Go sight-see, meet up with local friends, etc... Unless guests are specifically noted as being welcome at a conference event, you won't be going.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:47 AM on June 4, 2018

Herr Vortex and I have been plus+ones at each others industry conferences. For one of us, its work during the day, and for the other it's a solo vacation. I'm not sure what the expectations are for dinners and "optional" evening activities at your medical conference, but we usually duck out of all that and enjoy a bit of the city on our own in the evenings.
posted by Elly Vortex at 10:32 AM on June 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

If you're willing to share which conference it is, you may get more tailored advice.

In general, unregistered guests aren't allowed on the floor or at talks for the smaller meetings. For larger meetings you're usually at least able to walk the floor, check out vendor booths, look at poster presentations, and even attend a talk or two if you're interested.

Whenever my boyfriend has come with me to a scientific conference. he's hung out for a bit with me and then taken off to do some exploring/ napping in the hotel room until I'm done. I usually duck out during lunch or a bit earlier than the normal proceedings end so we can go out in the evenings.

Also, if it's a large conference, you might be okay in casual (not jeans or anything revealing) clothing. Your boyfriend might be wearing a suit, but you certainly don't have to!
posted by Everydayville at 10:37 AM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have been to a conference with my hub. basically during the day he went off to the conf and I did my own thing. there was no option for me to enter the conference or attend anything, nor did I want to. in the evenings my hub was free and we'd hang out. also there was a dinner I think? that I did attend.
posted by supermedusa at 11:28 AM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

What Everydayville said, and it's the same if you go out to dinner. Just some nice pants or a simple skirt and a top that's not a t-shirt... or really, you can wear a t-shirt if it's new-looking. You'll need a sweater or jacket because even when San Francisco days are warm, the evenings will be in the 50s. Wear shoes, not sneakers. Even if the men are in suits, it won't matter.
posted by wryly at 11:32 AM on June 4, 2018

I have attended an academic medical conference as a plus one. I went to a few presentations- ones where the subject matter had some interest or where my friend thought a presenter would be particularly dynamic (he was). I am very interested in medicine despite having a completely non medical career; I really enjoyed myself. I dressed appropriately (business casual) and just wandered around; nobody challenged me.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:17 PM on June 4, 2018

Some conferences (e.g. RSNA in Chicago) have spouse/partner passes available, which is likely of interest if you're interested in what's happening at the conference (or in exploring parts of the conference that overlap, e.g. the machine learning work at RSNA for me). SF conferences, even medical ones, seem to be fairly casual if you're not a presenter (but might be worth checking with someone who's gone before, you never know with specific events), and the dinner is probably dependent on venue. People are not kidding about SF being chilly, having a light cardigan on-hand is pretty much always a solid plan.

Otherwise, SF is a fun city to explore during the day! Aside from the usual museums/exhibitions/tourist attractions/etc, one of my favorite weekday activities is exploring the Privately Owned Public Open Spaces, many of which are only open during business hours (the best of these are the 1 Kearny St space, the Westfield Sky Terrace, and the 343 Sansome St roof garden).
posted by j.edwards at 12:21 PM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I've never actually accompanied my partner to the conference part of her conferences, despite having worked in her field in the past. I just go do my own thing during the day, especially when my own thing = things I know my partner probably doesn't care that much about (maritime museums! Marvel movie matinees!) Then we meet up in the evenings and either have a nice dinner together, or go out with her colleagues. I bring dressier clothes for the colleague dinners because I don't like being the only person in jeans in a group of people in business clothes. Sometimes we split the difference and do happy hour with the colleagues and then find something for just the two of us to do together afterward.
posted by coppermoss at 1:44 PM on June 4, 2018

I tag along with my S.O. on her annual trip to the Big Conference for her profession, since it's in a different city each time and I get to explore. But I do totally crash the conference once or twice during the trip, usually to get into the poster session hall and study those. If you dress sharp, have some sort of badge thing on your belt, carry some paper, and generally walk with purpose, people don't hassle you. Although that could be my white male privilege speaking.
posted by intermod at 3:38 PM on June 4, 2018

If your boyfriend is in a medical specialty with a large industry presence (e.g. pharmaceuticals, medical devices), it’s important to know that you will be welcome at industry sponsored dinners but you will have to pay for your own meal and drinks. The rules get a little looser at cocktails after and open bar events.
posted by Corpus Callosum at 4:32 PM on June 4, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks! I'll just prepare for some possible evening socializing and start planning my days!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:05 PM on June 5, 2018