Advice to graduate students on the fine art of surviving the MLA

Scott has a massive problem (send best wishes and donate money to relief funds) and a minor one.  The minor problem, as it happens, also involves hard-earned cash: namely, that of the lowly graduate student and other jobseekers, most of whom will be attending without funding.  Yes indeed: it's time, once again, to register for the MLA.

• As Jonathan Goodwin and Sean McCann noted in their responses to Scott, it's really not such a great idea to visit the MLA for "experience"--unless it happens to be in your home town.  Plane tickets + hotels + registration + membership + food can easily send a trip into the $900-$1000 range.   (That's presuming you stay out of the book exhibit, of course.)  If you have to choose between paying your rent and going to the MLA, I'd suggest paying rent.
• There are thousands upon thousands of people at the MLA.  This means that the conference is always crowded, anonymous, and alienating.  If your department has a party, go to it; if you have friends, meet up with them; if you know people via blogs, arrange a face-to-face.  Do something to "shrink" the experience, or you'll be unbearably wretched instead of moderately agonized. 
• MLA conference hotels usually cost $115/night and up for a single; I think the cheapest hotel this year is about $99/night.  Unless somebody is paying for your trip, double up.  If you're on the market, stay in one of the principal conference hotels, where the sessions & book exhibit are; you don't want to be suffering from severe stress in an unpleasant room. 
• You know, you don't have to attend sessions that don't interest you.  Go sight-seeing instead.
• Many bookdealers will sell off their remaining stock at massive discounts on the final day of the conference.  (Go early; everyone else will...)
• Bring (or buy) some non-perishable breakfast foods--bagels & peanut butter will work nicely.  (Granola bars or other snacks are also useful.)  Seriously.  If you eat the hotel's breakfasts, you'll pay $40 or so over the course of your stay instead of, oh, $5.  As much as it might break your heart (and/or increase your cholesterol levels), eating at the local fast-food joints will tend to the greater happiness of your wallet. 
• The MLA is not just a haven for literature professors; it's also a haven for bacteria.  Be sure to get your flu shots before you go.
• I admit to being anti-cell phone, despite frequent hints from my parents, but they can come in handy if you're being interviewed and need to call the committee for a room number--yet can't get to one of the courtesy phones.