#AWP24 Attendee FAQ
- Registration FAQs
- Conference Attendee FAQs
- Events FAQs
- In-Person Events
- Virtual Events
- Bookfair FAQs
- Accessibility FAQs
If your question does not appear in any of our FAQs, please contact us at conference@awpwriter.org.
Registration FAQs
Q: How do I register?
To register for the conference, please visit the 2024 Conference & Bookfair section of the AWP online store after registration opens. Registration rates and dates are available on the 2024 Conference & Bookfair Registration page.
Q: What will an in-person registration include?
An in-person registration to #AWP24 includes admission to all events, readings, panel discussions, meetings, the bookfair, and public receptions over the days of the conference, Thursday, February 8, through Saturday, February 10. All in-person registrations also include access to all virtual conference programming and content. Meals, lodging, and travel are not included.
Q: What will a virtual-only registration include?
A virtual-only registration will include access to all virtual conference content, including prerecorded virtual events and a limited number of events livestreamed from the in-person conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Please note that due to limited staff and resources, not all in-person events can be livestreamed for virtual audiences.
Q: How do I register for more than one person?
Once you’ve selected a category from the conference store page, click the gray “Add Another Attendee” button beneath the first set of registration fields. You may add as many additional registrations as needed. When registering other attendees, please uncheck the box that reads “Please check if you are purchasing this registration for yourself,” otherwise, this registration will be linked to your AWP account and will not be viewable to the attendee.
Q: How do I know I have registered successfully?
You will receive an email confirmation after submitting your online order. You can view your registration details and download a PDF of your receipt from your AWP user account.
Q: How do I make a change to my registration?
Your registration details can be found by logging in to your AWP user account, clicking “My AWP Account” at the top of the page, and then selecting “My Registrations” from the orange sidebar to the left of the page. To make a change, first click the green “Edit” button beneath the registration details to make changes to the information fields. Click “Save” when you are done. Please remember that the name and affiliation will be printed exactly as they appear on this page, including capitalization (or lack thereof).
Q: If I need to cancel my registration, what is the refund policy?
Conference sales are final and nonrefundable. A registration may be transferred to another individual, provided that this individual is not already registered, the registration is used for the same conference, and the individual qualifies for the type of registration being transferred. For example, a student registration can only be transferred to another student. For more information about registration transfers, please contact registration@awpwriter.org.
Q: I’m uncertain about attending the conference in person. What do you advise?
Our best advice is to wait to purchase in-person registration until you are certain of your attendance, as we cannot refund your purchase. Alternately, you could go ahead and purchase a virtual registration now, then upgrade your virtual registration to an in-person registration later. Our early-bird registration rate, which offers the lowest registration rates will end in late November 2023.
Q: Do you have any discounts for low-income attendees or scholarships for #AWP24?
AWP has several opportunities for low-income attendees to attend the conference for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
AWP offers a work-exchange program, which typically provides access for over 300 people to attend the conference free of charge in exchange for a few hours of conference support.
AWP also offers the AWP Conference Community Scholarship, an opportunity aimed to increase access to the conference for those who identify as attendees of color, attendees with disabilities, LGBTQ+ attendees, and attendees who are low-income. The application takes less than ten minutes to complete, and the deadline to apply is November 21.
Q: Where can I find my unique registration code?
To view and manage your conference registration information, visit the 2024 Conference Registration Management page of your AWP user account.
Q: How do I access virtual content?
More information will be made available soon.
Q: Do I have to register for each individual panel or reading that I want to attend?
No. Once you have received your conference registration, you may attend all of the conference events listed in our events schedule and the bookfair.
Conference Attendee FAQs
Q: At what times are conference events scheduled? When can I visit the Bookfair?
Conference events take place in person and virtually Thursday, February 8, to Saturday, February 10 from 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT. Some evening events may also be included on the schedule. Check the conference schedule page for the most up-to-date information.
The Bookfair is open from 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, February 8, Friday, February 9, and Saturday, February 10.
Q: What types of events can I expect to see at the AWP Conference & Bookfair?
Please review the online conference schedule to learn about the types of events we host. Previous conference schedules are available in the Conference Archives and Photo Albums section of our website.
Q: How can I find out the detailed schedule of conference events in advance?
Please visit our website to view the online conference schedule . The online schedule is the most up-to-date schedule of events. AWP reserves the right to modify the conference schedule, which is published as an indication only.
Q: Is there ever a longer break scheduled between sessions for lunch or socializing?
Attendees are welcome to take breaks as they wish, but to host the maximum number of events possible, programming is scheduled for the duration of the days of the conference.
Q: Do I have to be vaccinated to attend the in-person conference?
AWP will follow all local, state and CDC guidelines for masking/vaccinations while in public spaces. Currently, Kansas City, Missouri and the CDC are not requiring vaccinations or masks in public spaces. However, AWP strongly encourages attendees to protect themselves as they see fit and to respect boundaries set by other attendees.
Q: What do I do if I’ve forgotten my password and can’t view my AWP user account?
You can easily retrieve your password by clicking the “Forgot Password” link in the login box. Enter the email address you used to create your AWP account, and then click “Submit” to have a new password emailed to you. If your email address isn’t accepted, please contact our membership services department at awp@awpwriter.org for further assistance.
Q: How can I obtain a press pass?
Please email all requests for press passes to registration@awpwriter.org before January 17, 2024.
Q: What accessibility accommodations are available for attendees?
AWP is committed to making arrangements that allow all attendees to participate in the conference. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page. Please direct any questions or specific requests to Conference Staff at conference@awpwriter.org.
Events FAQs
Q: What is the format for the 2024 AWP Conference & Bookfair?
Following the 2023 AWP Conference & Bookfair, AWP will once again incorporate a virtual component to #AWP24. In addition to offering our full in-person event schedule in Kansas City, Missouri from February 7–10, 2024, we will livestream a limited number of in-person events and offer a selection of prerecorded virtual events on-demand.
A virtual-only registration will be available for #AWP24 at a reduced registration rate and will include access to the prerecorded virtual events and a limited number of live-streamed events. The in-person registration will include access to all in-person and virtual programming.
Anyone is welcome to propose an in-person or virtual event for #AWP24 from April 26–June 1, 2023. In-person events will last the usual seventy-five minutes, and prerecorded virtual events will last sixty minutes. Please note that due to limited staff and resources, not all in-person events can be livestreamed for virtual audiences.
Q: What does the overall #AWP24 conference events timeline look like?
Event proposals for #AWP24 will be accepted from April 26 to June 1, 2023. The deadline for all proposal participants to link their AWP account and add their short biography to the proposal is June 9, 2023. Accepted events will be announced on the AWP website and via email in August 2023. Once all accepted event organizers have confirmed their event details, the full conference schedule will be announced in late October-early November 2023.
Q: When will the full conference schedule be announced?
The full conference schedule will be announced in late October-early November 2023.
Q: Which #AWP24 events will be livestreamed?
The full list of in-person events that will also be available to watch via livestream will be released when the full conference schedule is announced later this fall. Please note that due to limited staff and resources, not all in-person events can be livestreamed for virtual audiences.
Q: What are AWP’s expectations of presenters?
All presenters should familiarize themselves with the Presenter Guidelines.
Q: What is an event outline?
All events should prepare and upload an event outline for use by attendees of their presentation. More information about event outlines may be found in the Presentations, Handouts & Visual Aids section of the Presenter Guidelines.
Q: Can I change my preference for an in-person or virtual event later in the conference cycle?
Event organizers can no longer change their preference for an in-person or virtual event, even if the event is accepted. As in-person and virtual events require different resources and planning, we will not be able to allow events to change format once events have been evaluated and accepted.
Q: As a presenter, do I need to register?
Yes, all #AWP24 presenters must register to either attend their event in person or to access their event on demand online. We are happy to offer a discounted presenter rate. For more information about registration rates, please visit our Registration Overview page.
If you are a virtual presenter and do not wish to attend the conference in any way except to pre-record your event, registration is not required.
We are also excited to offer a special reduced membership rate of $49 (regularly $75) for accepted #AWP24 conference presenters. When purchasing a presenter registration, select the Presenter Rate + One Year AWP Membership option to redeem. AWP membership is not required to participate on your accepted #AWP24 conference event. For any questions about AWP membership, please reach out to awp@awpwriter.org.
Q: Why do I need to register as a presenter?
AWP strives to provide the opportunity to present on a panel or reading to the greatest number of people in our proposal selection process. At previous in-person conferences, this would be around 500 events per year, and for the upcoming 2024 Conference & Bookfair, this includes hundreds of both in-person and virtual events, representing thousands of individual presenters. For each conference, we wish we had the resources to offer waived registrations to all accepted presenters. Because presenters make up such a large portion of our total attendees, not requiring presenters to purchase a registration would mean drastically increasing registration costs for all other types of attendees, including exhibitors, students, and seniors.
All presenters have the opportunity to purchase a registration at the reduced in person or virtual presenter rates, or if applicable, an even lower student rate. Presenter registration provides presenters with a platform to share their work with AWP’s large audience. In-person presenter registrations include access to the full conference, including in-person events, exhibitors, and socializing opportunities. All presenter registrations, both in-person and virtual-only, include access to all virtual conference content, including prerecorded conference events and a select number of livestreams from the in-person conference.
Q: What if I only want to participate in my event and then not attend the conference? Will I still need to register?
All presenters participating in their event in-person are required to purchase in-person registrations, even if they are only planning on participating in their event. In-person registrations help AWP cover the costs associated with holding the conference and in-person events, including convention center rental fees, audiovisual equipment in session rooms, labor of setting and striking equipment, security, EMTs, accessibility services including ASL and captioning services, and much more. We encourage all in-person presenters to take advantage of their full registration and check out the hundreds of other in-person and virtual events, the in-person bookfair, and all other opportunities to connect with fellow attendees
Presenters on virtual events should purchase a virtual presenter registration if they would like to access their event on demand online, participate in the event chat, and access all other virtual conference content. Virtual registrations help AWP cover the costs of the virtual elements of the conference, including video streaming and captioning services for all virtual events, and adequate staff to manage all virtual content. If you are a virtual presenter and do not wish to attend the conference in any way except to pre-record your event, registration is not required.
Q: Who selects the AWP Conference & Bookfair events from the proposals?
The conference subcommittee, composed of the committee chairs from the AWP board of directors as well as professionals from AWP’s membership, is responsible for accepting or rejecting proposals. Each subcommittee member spends approximately four weeks reading, reviewing, and ranking between 250 and 1,000 proposals. Each proposal is reviewed by at least four subcommittee members. All events are grouped, reviewed, and ranked alongside proposals of the same event type. Incomplete proposals are removed from consideration. For more information about the selection and scoring process, please see our event proposal guidelines. You may also view a list of the 2024 subcommittee members.
Q: If I have a question about my event proposal, whom should I contact?
If you have a question about any part of your event proposal, please reach out to the conference events manager at events@awpwriter.org.
In-Person Events
Q: I would prefer to hold my event in person in Kansas City, but one of my presenters is not planning on attending in person. Can I still include that presenter on an in-person event proposal?
Yes! If you are planning on proposing an in-person event but would like to include a virtual presenter, you can request audiovisual equipment so that the presenter can Zoom in and participate with the on-site presenters during the event in February. Please note that all AV requests must be made during the proposal submission process.
Q: Can I still request a projector and screen for my presentation?
Panel organizers must request a projector and screen for their event at the time the proposal is submitted. AWP can accept late requests up to September 15. Unfortunately, we cannot add additional audiovisual equipment after that date. If you would like to make an audiovisual request, please email events@awpwriter.org.
Q: Can I request a specific date or time for my event to be scheduled?
Scheduling requests for in-person events will be accepted until September 15. Scheduling requests must be accompanied by a work, family, health, or religious reason that explains the difficulty of participation during a particular day and time. Once the full schedule is released, the assignment of time and space for events is final. If you would like to make a scheduling request, please email events@awpwriter.org.
Virtual Events
Q: Why would I choose to hold my event virtually?
If you’re not planning on traveling to Kansas City, Missouri, for the in-person conference or if you know you will be busy in February 2024, virtual events are an excellent way to participate in the conference from wherever you are. All virtual events will be prerecorded in the fall of 2023 and do not require presenters to be present on-site at any point during the conference in February.
Q: How do I schedule my recording session?
Event organizers for virtual events will be emailed a link to the #AWP24 Recording Schedule, which they can use to select a date and time for their event’s recording session with an AWP staff member. When the recording session is scheduled, all presenters will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the virtual recording session at the scheduled time.
Q: How should I prepare for my virtual event recording?
All virtual presenters should familiarize themselves with the Virtual Conference Events page and the Virtual Presentation Guide. A plain-text version of the Virtual Presentation Guide is also available.
Q: Are any accessibility accommodations available for event recordings?
If you need any accessibility accommodations in order to participate in your virtual event recording, please send any requests or questions to Conference Staff at conference@awpwriter.org prior to your scheduled recording session. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page.
Q: When can attendees watch my virtual event?
All virtual conference events will be made available to watch on-demand online from February 7–10, 2024, and will continue to be available on-demand for one month after #AWP24.
Q: Why can’t my virtual event take place live?
While we wish we could allow virtual events to be presented live, we unfortunately do not have the staff and resources to provide the higher level of production these types of events require. All virtual conference events will be prerecorded to allow time for AWP staff to complete the post recording process, which includes adding title slides, making any necessary edits, adding captions, and preparing the video file to be posted.
Bookfair FAQs
Q: Where can I find the latest information about the Bookfair?
Please visit the Bookfair Overview page for the most up to date information. If you have any questions, please contact bookfairservices@awpwriter.org.
Q: Where is the bookfair located?
The Kansas City Convention Center is located at 301 West 13th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105. Visit the Kansas City Convention Center website for additional information.
Q: What are the exhibitor move-in and move-out hours?
Move-in is from 12:00 noon–7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 and from 8:00–9:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024 through Saturday, February 10, 2024. Move-out is from 5:00–6:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
Q: What exhibit packages are available?
Booth Package
Early-bird $975 (Until November 20, 2023) / $1,100 (beginning November 21, 2023) Each 10’ x 10’ space (100 sq. ft. with an 8’ high back drape) includes:
- Two 6’ x 2’.5 draped tables with two chairs
- One wastebasket and one ID sign
- A listing in the conference program
- An expanded listing with a logo and a 250-character description on AWP’s website
- Two bookfair setup access (BSA) registrations that include full conference access
Table Package
Early-bird $675 (Until November 20, 2023) / $800 (beginning November 21, 2023) Each 4’ x 7’ space (28 sq. ft. with a 3’ high back drape) includes:
- One 6’ x 2.5’ draped table with two chairs
- One wastebasket and one ID sign
- A listing in the conference program
- A listing on AWP’s website
- Two bookfair setup access (BSA) registrations that include full conference access
Q: What are the bookfair operating hours?
The bookfair is open to registered conference attendees from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. from Thursday, February 8, 2024 through Saturday, February 10, 2024.
Q: When must I leave the bookfair exhibit hall?
All attendees and exhibitors must leave the bookfair exhibit halls by 5:00 p.m. each day. Reentry after that time is prohibited.
Q: Does everyone need to be registered to attend the bookfair?
Yes, everyone attending the bookfair, including the exhibit staff, must be registered for the conference and bookfair. The registration options may be viewed on the registration overview page.
Q: Are children allowed to attend the bookfair?
Yes, children are allowed in the bookfair during show hours. They are not permitted in the bookfair during move-in and move-out hours for safety reasons. Please note that children under the age of sixteen years old must be attended by a parent or guardian at all times.
Q: How many complimentary registrations are included with the purchase of my exhibit space?
Each exhibit space comes with two (2) complimentary conference registrations. These are referred to as bookfair setup access registrations (BSAs). The BSA functions as a regular conference registration in addition to granting the holder access to the exhibit hall during move-in and move-out hours. To ensure the safety and security of all exhibitors, additional BSAs are not available for purchase. BSAs must be assigned to be used.
Q: Who should be assigned the BSAs for my exhibit space?
BSAs should be assigned to the individuals responsible for setting up your exhibit space. Exhibit purchasers are responsible for identifying and maintaining contact information for BSA holders on the Exhibit Space Management page of their AWP user account. BSAs must be assigned to exhibit staff by January 24, 2024, or they will be forfeited. Only individuals with BSAs, and registered conference attendees escorted by a BSA holder, are permitted to enter the bookfair exhibit halls during move-in and move-out hours.
Q: Why is access to the exhibit hall during move-in and move-out hours restricted to BSA holders and those they escort?
Access is restricted for the safety and security of our exhibitors and their merchandise and to ensure that exhibitors can quickly and safely set up their exhibit spaces.
Q: Does the BSA holder need to be present at the exhibit space during bookfair operating hours?
The BSA holder needs only to be present during move-in and move-out hours or to escort registered staff during move-in or move-out hours.Q: Are BSAs transferrable?
BSAs are only assigned to a specific individual by the exhibit space manager; however, the exhibit space manager can change the BSA assignments until January 24, 2024. All BSA changes are made on the Exhibit Space Management page of the exhibit manager’s AWP user account.
Q: May more than one person use an BSA or bookfair staff registration?
Registration sharing is not allowed. All conference attendees, including exhibitors, must be registered. As noted above, BSAs can only be transferred by the exhibit manager on the Exhibit Space Management page of their AWP user account. If you have questions about your registration status, please check your AWP user account or contact us at registration@awpwriter.org.
Q: May I share my exhibit space with another vendor?
Yes. Two separate organizations may share a table or a booth. Instructions for adding an organization to your purchased space are on the Exhibit Space Management page of the exhibit manager’s AWP user account. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at bookfairservices@awpwriter.org.
Q: How do I pick up my conference registration?
All preregistered exhibitors must bring their individual registration code (sent by email) to print their BSA, bookfair staff registration, or bookfair student registration at the kiosks on-site. Please see the registration page of our website for check-in hours. No one is allowed to enter the exhibit hall without a registration.
Q: May I request to be placed next to another exhibitor?
Because the online system allows you to select your own exhibit space, you will need to coordinate in advance with the other exhibitors you wish to be near. AWP cannot coordinate placement for you due to the self-select feature. Any changes to your placement after the time of purchase are subject to availability.
Q: Do I have to pay taxes on items I sell?
All exhibitors are required to abide by applicable state and federal laws governing sales tax. Please visit the tax information page in the bookfair section of the AWP website for more information. Submission of sales tax information is the responsibility of the exhibitor.
Q: Where do I ship my exhibit materials?
Shipping instructions will be provided in the exhibitor services kit, which will be emailed to registered exhibitors in the coming months. Items shipped to the hotel or to AWP will be refused.
Q: May I display posters in my exhibit space?
Yes, as long as they do not interfere with another exhibitor or encroach on aisles or public space. Exhibitors may not erect any decorations or use adhesive materials, including tape, on any walls, ceilings, floors, and facilities in the convention center, including in restrooms, hallways, and meeting rooms. Please do not affix posters or other materials to any of the walls, doors, and other surfaces in the convention center. Violation of the Kansas City Convention Center rules covering exhibition space may result in removal from the exhibit hall.
Q: Where can I unload my items?
The Kansas City Convention Center has loading docks available to personally owned vehicles for loading and unloading hand-carry items into the exhibit hall. Specific information will be provided closer to the conference dates.
Q: How does my organization become a Sponsor?
Please visit the Sponsorship page for more information. You can also reach out to sponsorship@awpwriter.org.
Q: I have a question that is not covered in these FAQs. Who can I contact for assistance?
Please consult our other conference FAQs (above), the conference overview page, the bookfair overview page, and the exhibitor services kit (link coming soon). If these materials do not address your question, please send an email to bookfairservices@awpwriter.org.
Accessibility FAQs
Q: What accessibility accommodations are available for attendees?
AWP is committed to making arrangements that allow all attendees to participate in the conference. For a complete list of all the accommodations available to attendees, please see our Accessibility Services page. Please direct any questions or specific requests to conference@awpwriter.org .
Q: What is the deadline to request accessibility services for #AWP24?
Many accessibility services require advanced planning and reservations for a conference as large as AWP’s. To help us better prepare, all requests for accessibility services, equipment, or accommodations should be submitted in advance. AWP can best meet accessibility needs when requests are sent to conference@awpwriter.org by Wednesday, January 24, 2024. AWP will make every effort to accommodate requests that arrive after January 24.
