So you will be a H.S. Junior next year?
Most of these conventions really focus on college students and older for the simple fact that travel is a lot harder when you are younger. Plus a lot of
LDI is about trying to sell $50,000 light boards and video walls worth half a million... you really don't have the budget to be a customer at your age.
LDI is a lot of fun to dream and drool about the gear and you would definitely learn. But the classes aren't really designed for someone your age. Vegas at 16 for
LDI is a never ending question of where you are allowed to stand, walk, and eat.
USITT, even though it is in Texas is the show designed for your needs. There are high schools that do convention trips to
USITT (it's not that different than taking the actors to Broadway) and there are also plenty of people who travel with a parent. I saw several parent/student groups at
USITT this year. Besides, endless class sessions on amazing topics at
USITT, the Expo where you get to see all the cool toys, there are lots of university representatives there. So it's an especially good thing for a Junior trying to decide what university to attend. If I were you that would make that a big part of my sales
pitch to my Mom.