The weak economy is having a tremendous impact on the computer animation conference this year. While the exact number of those attending this year’s Siggraph are not available, attendance figures for the 2008 conference were estimated to be around 30,000 people. The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that 10,000 people are attending this years’ conference. Even though these figures are estimates, it just gives you an indication that times are tough.
One person that attended last year’s conference in Los Angeles told me that he noticed less people this year and that the conference was smaller than last. The recession is playing a major factor at this year’s conference.
“Even if you didn’t have a paper, (people came anyway)”, one person told me. Now the only people that attending are those that have publications to present.