TechEd and so on...

[DieScum]

Does anyone here go to industry conferences such as TechEd? Anyone got any tips for getting in on the cheap?

[NickFitz]

I attend conferences such as @media, d.construct and, when I can afford it, others relating to my primary field of endeavour.

As far as I know the best way to get in for nowt is to be one of the speakers. I really should get around to that some time

As for getting in on the cheap: no idea. I like the fact that I've paid for myself though. One often sits next to permies who spend all their time scribbling notes, because they've got to submit a report to their boss justifying the expense of sending them there.

I sit back, relax, and enjoy, secure in the knowledge that if the whole thing turns out to be of no value it doesn't matter, because these things are my equivalent of sitting on the beach somewhere in the Med

I usually greatly enjoy the presentations, but catching up with my fellow conference junkies (many of whom are usually also presenting) during the breaks/pre-party/mid-party/after-party is the best bit in many ways

Oh, and to avoid the supplementary question I can feel hovering in the air: yes, I have got gigs as a result of conversations in the pub at the end of the day. Two of the best gigs I've ever had, actually

[cojak]

As far as I know the best way to get in for nowt is to be one of the speakers. I really should get around to that some time

Absolutely, look out for the call for papers, there's usually a theme to conferences and they'll accept you if you can put a cogent 30 minute presentation together.

You'd be surprised at how easy it is to be accepted as a speaker. All conferences are keen/desperate for new blood.

As for getting in on the cheap: no idea. I like the fact that I've paid for myself though. One often sits next to permies who spend all their time scribbling notes, because they've got to submit a report to their boss justifying the expense of sending them there.

I sit back, relax, and enjoy, secure in the knowledge that if the whole thing turns out to be of no value it doesn't matter, because these things are my equivalent of sitting on the beach somewhere in the Med

WHS.

I usually greatly enjoy the presentations, but catching up with my fellow conference junkies (many of whom are usually also presenting) during the breaks/pre-party/mid-party/after-party is the best bit in many ways

Oh, and to avoid the supplementary question I can feel hovering in the air: yes, I have got gigs as a result of conversations in the pub at the end of the day. Two of the best gigs I've ever had, actually

WHS +1

The 'meetings' at the bar are as important as the conference itself. I've got my name in one book of the Service Lifecycle books (and work) as a direct result of a Service Management conference....

[DieScum]

Yeah, I've presented at a few conferences for companies I have worked with. Just answered a call for papers for another one last week. These have all been very tied to companies I am working with though.

Tried to get on an ITIL conference a while back but was rejected.

Planned to go to the free SQL Bytes conference this year but working away thwarted that.

Anyone got any other good conferences they go to/want to go to? I mainly do systems management and security but I'm interested in most IT topics.

My favourite conference blag was TechEd 2005 in Amsterdam. Was supposed to attend a user group meeting for MOM on, I thought, the Monday pre-conference. Turned up at the venue and nobody had heard of the meeting and my ticket was only supposed to let me in for the main conference Tuesday-Friday not the pre-conference day which costs extra.

Spend 20 minutes earnestly explaining how I had to get to this meeting to a rep there. He eventually relented and just waved me past security with a day badge and told me good luck finding the meeting.

Turned out the meeting was actually the Sunday. I had missed it completely.... but I enjoyed sitting in on one of the pre-conference tracks for free.

[Sysman]

As far as I know the best way to get in for nowt is to be one of the speakers. I really should get around to that some time

Definitely.

As for getting in on the cheap: no idea. I like the fact that I've paid for myself though. One often sits next to permies who spend all their time scribbling notes, because they've got to submit a report to their boss justifying the expense of sending them there.

Those permies will automatically accord you some respect if you have paid your own way in.

I usually greatly enjoy the presentations, but catching up with my fellow conference junkies (many of whom are usually also presenting) during the breaks/pre-party/mid-party/after-party is the best bit in many ways

It's the ultimate in networking, really. I like the bar session where everyone swaps war stories. You can learn a lot from the collective wisdom, and contribute too.

Oh, and to avoid the supplementary question I can feel hovering in the air: yes, I have got gigs as a result of conversations in the pub at the end of the day. Two of the best gigs I've ever had, actually

That's how I got the confidence to take the leap into freelance work in the first place. When voluntary redundancy came along it was just a matter of letting everyone know that I was available. You are much more likely to get direct work this way.

[Frogstomp]

Does anyone here go to industry conferences such as TechEd? Anyone got any tips for getting in on the cheap?

Could you get a job working for one of the catering outlets at the venue?

Would the panel consider this option to be a 'Plan B'?