Putting the cost factor aside, I don't see why not more students appear at the LAC.

I've asked some of my fellow classmates if they want to attend <X> conference, and
usually they reply "Me? What do I know about <X>? People won't want to talk to me",
or "i'm not a pro in that field".

Of course that's not true at all. Absolutely everybody I've approached at LAC's has
responded positively to me saying "I'm a student, trying to learn <x>, do you have any advice?".

I don't think its really possible to be more welcoming, the target audience says:
"musicians, composers, sound artists, software developers, researchers and engineers".
Short of adding beginners & dabblers to that list, I don't know what to do ;)

Perhaps.. but I don't think "geeky" is a showstopper.
 

Do, and hope to see you there! -H