The annual pilgrimage to the south of France to soak up the cream of the global ad crop at the Cannes Lions International Ad Fest is hampered this year by unaccustomed budgetary belt-tightening.

But fewer parties, fewer party-goers and less competition for poolside tables also mean more opportunity to peruse the top marketing efforts from around the world, and to participate in the conference stream, for which organizers have pulled out the stops this year bringing in the likes of Spike Lee, Roger Daltrey, Kofi Annan, Google's Eric Schmidt and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft. And some ad peeps too, no doubt.

To make sure you don't miss out, strategy asked Toronto-based Black to share some tips for doing Cannes on the cheap.

For all those whose Cannes experience typically includes the Carlton and the Moulin de Mougins, read on...

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