What you Need to Know Before you Go!
Add to your Schedule
There are tour and workshop seats still open! Feel free to add to your conference experience with these exploratory and hands-on opportunities!
Please read the full workshop description, particularly the information regarding what you will need to bring to workshop. Most will provide a great deal of materials needed but will need you to bring tools as noted. We also recommend you wear appropriate “workshop wear” and expect to get messy in the best possible way for many of them! Instructors have been provided your email and will reach out with any updates.
All tours will include a box lunch including beverages. Please wear comfortable shoes and watch the weather forecast in case of rain as there will be outdoor walking on each of the tours.
Onsite Registration
All attendees will need to check-in at SAMA Registration in the Sheffield Room at the Somerset Inn to pick up your attendee packet and sponsor gift bag before attending a workshop, tour, or presentation.
**IMPORTANT! Your attendee packet contains your namebadge holder, a conference program, Restaurant List and Hotel Map – ALL in a canvas gift bag filled with Sponsor donations for you to use throughout the conference.
Registration is the hub of the conference operation and the place to go with questions or special needs. We will also have information on any workshops or tours that are still open for registration and opportunities to volunteer as well as a large Bulletin Board for announcements and attendee communications.
Registration Hours
Thursday, September 19th 7:00am – 6:00pm
Friday, September 20th 7:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday, September 21st 7:00am – 6:00pm
Meet Someone New and Help our Volunteer Team!
Our small and mighty planning team could use your help if you have a spot in your conference schedule to help us with some critical volunteer jobs. If you have an hour or two or are looking to become more involved in the day to day work of SAMA and would like to make a significant contribution of time, WE WOULD LOVE YOUR HELP!
Please complete the form on the website and Raise your Hand to Volunteer!
There is still time and plenty of room to add an entry to the Mosaic Art Salon! If you have already registered for a spot, all artists can now register for a second spot in the Mosaic Art Salon by adding to your registration in Eventbrite.
All Salon Artists need to provide their Label Details via this Form by Monday, September 16th!
Make sure you read all the details for the Mosaic Marathon here and prepare a puzzle piece prior to the conference or make one onsite! We look forward to this fun play on color for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan!
We expect everyone to spend some quality with our Vendors on Friday, September 20th from 9:00am – 9:00pm. If you have a special request or are looking to see or purchase something specific from one of the companies below, let them know you are coming to the conference and look forward to meeting them! They look forward to meeting You!
Transportation
Transportation will be provided to and from the Janice Charach Gallery for those events as well as the tours and the Darcel Deneau Workshop. All coordinated transportation will leave and arrive via the Ballroom Entrance to the Somerset Inn.
Food & Beverage
We have heard from several of our attendees who have dietary concerns. All planned meal or receptions events will have gluten free and vegan or vegetarian options available. For events where attendees’ meals are designated as “On Own”, a listing of restaurants in the vicinity of the Somerset Inn will be provided with your registration materials. The Somerset Inn does not have room service but does allow for GrubHub or other meal delivery services to individuals. The Somerset Inn also has a 3-Meal restaurant that will be available for anyone looking for convenience. We are happy to report that the pricing at the hotel is very reasonable. Our Host team has put together a list of recommendations that will be included with your registration materials.
Networking Breakfasts
(Included with Workshop or Conference Registration: Guest tickets available on Eventbrite for $30)
There will be a modest breakfast buffet served on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Somerset Inn from 7:00am – 8:30am.
Lunches
All on own Thursday and Friday
All Registered Conference Attendees will be served a Buffet lunch from 12:00pm – 1:30pm on Saturday, September 21st. Guest Tickets available for $40.
Dinner
All on own Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There are no planned Dinners for registrants but there will be heavy hors de oeuvres and desserts at the Evening Receptions.
Evening Receptions
(For Registered Workshop or Conference attendees: Guest Tickets available for $50 per event)
There will be a cocktail reception with heavy hors de oeuvres at the following events:
MAI Artists Reception at the Janice Charach Gallery – Thursday, September 19th from 6:30pm – 9:00pm (transportation to and from Somerset Inn included)
Vendor Night at Somerset Inn – Friday, September 20th from 6:30pm – 9:00pm.
Mosaic Art Salon Auction and Reception – Saturday, September 21, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
THERE WILL BE NO RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY EVENING!
Sunday Brunch at Janice Charach Gallery – RSVP REQUESTED.
(For Registered Workshop or Conference attendees: Guest Tickets available for $40)
We are planning a relaxing closing gathering at Janice Charach Gallery among the art of MAI 2024 and the 100 Moments Project: Season V on Sunday, September 22nd, from 8:30am – 11:30am. There will be motor coaches looping between the gallery and hotel so you can come for the entire time or for a quick bite before heading to the Airport or getting on the road. We know many of you have early flights on Sunday and may not join us so to help us plan transportation and food, please RSVP to Brunch in the Gallery Here by Friday, September 13th .
Additional Tips for First Time SAMA Conference Attendees
PREPARATION & PACKING
We will be adding more detail to the conference schedule and will send another reminder before you get on the road or in the air. Read all info on the website and our announcements to have a good understanding of the event. There’s a lot going on! – and you won’t want to miss out on anything. This year we have a shorter event planned than we have produced in previous years but there is still a great deal packed into 3 days and we will keep you updated as best we can if there are any changes. Always watch your email!
- Leave space in your suitcase or bring an extra checked bag for items for the Vendor Marketplace.
- Wear comfortable shoes and plan for layers; average Detroit Area temps are expected in the High 70’s and low 80’s with chance of rain on Sunday Morning.
- Casual clothes are fine for all events, but you may want to bring dressier items for the evening receptions.
- Make a folder on your phone of photos of your work to share with other mosaic artists – we’d all like to see what you have been up to!
- Bring a small notebook dedicated to the SAMA conference to create your own schedule timeline, to take notes in workshops & presentations, and for the vendor show, it’s also handy for quick sketches.
- If you have business cards bring at least 50-100. You don’t want to run out while making contacts!
UPON ARRIVAL
After you check-in to your hotel room, make sure you take some time to explore the hotel and go down to the main floor where the Somerset Inn Bar & Grill is to find other attendees, settling in for the weekend!
SUGGESTIONS
- Try to partake in as many activities, presentations, etc. as you can –this opportunity to be immersed in an environment full of other passionate mosaics artists occurs only once a year! You are going to see over 200 mosaic art works over the course of 3 days!
- Having said that… take time to rest each day. A too-packed schedule may leave you snoozing during presentations, so take a relaxing coffee break or catch a catnap, as needed.
- Check the message board at Registration to find out about interesting activities and local attractions. Be assured that there are many other first-timers who would enjoy partnering up for an activity.
- Be sure to attend the Vendor Marketplace on Friday to check out the great selection of materials and tools — there are beautiful tesserae to see and usually some good bargains. Be sure to examine the contents of your Gift Bag, there may be vendor coupons inside! (plus, once you’ve used your new materials back home consider entering your work in next year’s juried art show or Mosaic Art Salon.)
- If you find you have free time, check the message board or social media posts for last minute workshop/tour openings.
NETWORKING
- Be sure to put your “First Timer” ID tag on your name badge. Other First Time Attendees and Solo attendees will feel more welcome striking up a conversation. Many ‘oldtimers’ like to make a special effort to get to know our New Members.
- Also, look for nametag ribbons identifying Board Members & Volunteers if you have questions.
- Try having breakfast with new people each day! Feel free to sit down at a table, introduce yourself, and ask about/share what kind of mosaics they/you do – you’ll be surprised how easy it will be!
- Help remember people’s details/specialties by writing notes on their business cards. Over the years you’ll get to know them personally, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by 100+ new friends your first time!
- SAMA members are tremendously generous in sharing technical info and how-to tips: take advantage of opportunities to speak to/learn from exhibiting MAI artists: ‘Tell me more about how you did it?’
EXPECTATIONS
PREPARE to learn, be inspired, and have the most fun you’ve had in a long time!
SAVOR every moment because it will be over before you know it!
RESPOND to our online post-conference survey – we need your answers, questions, and vital feedback to continue making the SAMA conferences the very best that they can be!