We're now three months away from The Amaz!ng Meeting 8, 2010. I can tell you that things are abuzz at the JREF as we finalize plans, make arrangements, and put the finishing touches on what promises to be the biggest and most exciting TAM ever. Really. And though we say that every year, we've been right!

For those of you coming to TAM and for those of you considering it, I've put together a list of five things that you may not have thought you'd need. TAM can be a bit hard to explain, and this list might help some of you get a better grasp of what you're in for.

So, here goes:

1) A Deck of Cards

No, you won't be bored enough to want to play solitaire, but you will be amazed at the numbers of amateur and professional magicians at the gathering. At my first TAM, I sat in amazement one lunch as a flaming wallet appeared from a man's pocket (Aye Jay), a fork bent before my eyes (Jonny Zavant), and a chosen card rose by mysterious powers from a normal Bicycle deck (Larry Thornton). This was just lunch. I also found out my table guests included the legendary Jay Marshall and one of Oppenheimer's assistants on the Manhattan Project. This was the moment I realized TAM was something special.

Another reason to bring cards is that they make a great way to collect signatures. Most of the speakers are available for autographs throughout the conference, and it's becoming a tradition to have them sign playing cards. You'll have to decide who the King of Hearts and Ace of Spades are.

2) An iPhone

It's becoming rather comical how many of us in the skeptical community have iPhones, and this year, we're going to take advantage of that. We're currently working on several iPhone apps, and one of them will be TAM-related. It's early yet and and we may not be able to pull it off in time, but your iPhone is still a valuable implement at TAM. Last year, the hotel's WiFi network did work in the conference center, so if you paid for WiFi in your room, you could use it during TAM (This is subject to change, YMMV). And for those of you who haven't joined the iCult yet, don't despair—there will be plenty of people there trying to show you how their phone can remotely start their car or bake a turkey. (Yes, I made those up. I hope.)

3) Business Cards Too!

TAM has become THE place for making contacts in the skeptical community. Many of the names you see now as leaders in the movement got their start by meeting people at TAM. Bring cards, even personal ones you've printed yourself, and hand them around. Lifelong friends, business partners, and life partners have been made during breaks at TAM. Last year's surprise wedding at TAM happened because I introduced a couple of folks at TAM 4. :)

4) Permission to Take Risks

I tend to be "slow to warm," as they say down south; I'm not the type to go up to a group of strangers and join them for lunch. However, that's EXACTLY what you should do at TAM. These are YOUR people. They are friendly, and they want to get to know you. Many of them are just as curious as you are, so take a risk and take a chair. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what results.

5) An Open Mind

TAM is many things wonderful things—welcoming, inviting, exciting, refreshing—but it can also be challenging. This is not a place where we get together just to agree on things, though that certainly happens. As skeptics, we expect to encounter new evidence and alter our conclusion, and TAM is an excellent place for that. You'll see presentations that you agree with 100% and others that you think are way off the mark. Which is more valuable? That's hard to say, actually, because chances are that you'll learn more from the one you don't agree with. Be prepared for that. Be prepared for others to ask you for evidence for you beliefs, and be prepared to ask others why they believe what they do. It's part of the experience, and is to be celebrated.

There's less than two weeks left to take advantage of the early-registration discount for TAM. If you've come to previous TAMs, you can expect more of the same. And I mean A LOT more. If you've never been before, this is your year. It's an opportunity not to be missed.