Buzzword Survivor - Seeking comments and contestants

[numbertwo]

Seeking Contestants: Win $10,000 in 36 hours at Defcon

We’re working a new contest idea that would require 10 contestants to sit in chairs from noon Friday to midnight Saturday. This is an endurance contest defcon-style. No sleeping, but you get to eat, drink, and take bathroom breaks. Plus, the contest ends in time for you to party Saturday.

Basic premise: 10 contestants listen to 36 hours of nonstop vendor pitches (working title: “BuzzWord Survivor”). Last person standing (after 36 hours) wins $10K. Multiple winners split the pot so even if everyone stays you win at least $1K. Everyone left standing at the end gets Sound-of-knowledge for the talks they missed.

The hook: This contest idea came from an alcohol induced bull session at RSA where we pondered how agonizing it is to sit through even one vendor presentation and how painful it would be to sit through dozens...and how entertaining to watch if you didn't have to do it. Our plan is to entertain defcon attendees and pay-off the victims (I mean contestants). Do you have the stomach to stay awake through 36 hours of mind numbing vendor presentation? We have $10K if you want to try.

This is a work in progress so the details are in flux.

We need to gauge interest before we go ahead. Post here if you are interested. Comments welcome on ideas to improve the concept.

[TheCotMan]

Comments welcome on ideas to improve the concept.

Dissallow headphone, or other devices that allow people to be entertained (iPod, TV, Laptop, Game units.)

Ask simple questions between presentation about the presentation just offered. Small prizes (food?drink?) could be awarded, or sufficient failures could remove people from the running. (These kinds of questions are similar to those you see at conventions where they give away freebie's.)

Get this on video, and provide it for download (torrent?) after it is over.

Use some metric that allows one or more remaining players to get a greater share of the money to be split. (More interactive players, more correct answers, something that creates action from the people sitting down, so the audience (if any) can also be entertained and create some competition for players.)

You will probably need some rules on people having their eyes closed too long, and if you have it on video, it will be difficult to contest.
"No, I wasn't sleeping! I was resting my eyes!" Having interactive questions can help with this too.

This could be fun to watch-- especially near the end. :-)

[Voltage Spike]

Dissallow headphone, or other devices that allow people to be entertained (iPod, TV, Laptop, Game units.)

I figured this was a given. Otherwise, what's the point?

Get this on video, and provide it for download

Perhaps using a cool time lapse where you slow down to show highlights. After all, if I wasn't willing to compete in the first place, why would I want to compete after the fact? :wink:

[converge]

I smell a four dvd set coming on.. you know.. Fox might sign you guys up on something like this...

[astcell]

I do that all the time.

Disallow e-mail, Internet, chat. Give them a laptop with no network connection and only Windows ME and Minesweeper installed as a game.

This ought to make folks fall pretty fast.

[TheCotMan]

I figured this was a given. Otherwise, what's the point?
Sure. I'll be Mr. Obvious today.

if I wasn't willing to compete in the first place, why would I want to compete after the fact? :wink:
Heh. Well, I'm guessing there will be some humorous content, but I am not going to dedicate 36 hours of my con-time to be in the audience for just this contest.

I've been to a few expos, and conventions, and buzzword overflow errors are annoying. This might provide the sanity-time humor as a pre-expo or pre-seller presentation. A summary video would be good, but a low-quality or really small-sized video with good audio might be sufficient.

I smell a four dvd set coming on.. you know.. Fox might sign you guys up on something like this...
Fox news might use it as a "HowTo".
"Tune into fox news to leverage your current infrascture, and human resources and create community and teamwork through dynamic convergance and yield a lower total cost of ownership." (It does not have to make sense, and the lack of sense may be funny.)

Disallow e-mail, Internet, chat. Give them a laptop with no network connection and only Windows ME and Minesweeper installed as a game.
How cruel!

This ought to make folks fall pretty fast.
If they added this to free booze, but no free redbull (etc) for contestants, and they might drop even faster... or would that be an incentive for them to stay?

[astcell]

How about putting up a partition and having nekkid chix back there? Anything to hack their mind.

At DC8 one guy set up a table in the hall and stayed up for the entire con. I am thinking that this is not going to be as easy as you think. How will you break a tie?

[bascule]

Do you test for crank?

[TheCotMan]

How will you break a tie?

Multiple winners split the pot so even if everyone stays you win at least $1K. Everyone left standing at the end gets Sound-of-knowledge for the talks they missed.

heh-heh......

[Voltage Spike]

buzzword overflow errors

I sense an attempt to steer this into another patented TheCotMan pseudo-technical discussion. Who is susceptible to buzzword overflow errors? Are there any dynamic overflow protection systems (bascule seems to believe crack might work)? Can Dan Kamininski find a new way to quickly scan large crowds for vulnerable people?

At DC8 one guy set up a table in the hall and stayed up for the entire con. I am thinking that this is not going to be as easy as you think.

Ah, but there is a huge difference between doing something and passively watching other people do something.

[Voltage Spike]

I assume the contest money is coming from the vendors performing the presentations. Are they going to be okay with the mocking, derisive nature of the contest? Is there any way to make sure that those giving the presentations will be light-hearted enough to take a few jeers?

His account here was last used: 08-04-2005 07:10 PM. Maybe your message will prompt him to login and answer. He has agents patroling the forums, and some may even let him know about this, so he can answer.

I didn't know that he was such a devout member of the Church of Kibology. I suppose he now has the bandwidth to support a Kibo-approved signature/novel, too ... let's hope it doesn't come to that. :wink:

[TheCotMan]

I sense an attempt to steer this into another patented TheCotMan pseudo-technical discussion.
and
I didn't know that he was such a devout member of the Church of Kibology. I suppose he now has the bandwidth to support a Kibo-approved signature/novel, too ... let's hope it doesn't come to that.
(Continued here.)

[astcell]

heh-heh......

Oops, I fell asleep before finishing reading. :>

I still think they should sit there with Windows ME. :>

[numbertwo]

I assume the contest money is coming from the vendors performing the presentations. Are they going to be okay with the mocking, derisive nature of the contest? Is there any way to make sure that those giving the presentations will be light-hearted enough to take a few jeers?

We think we can find vendors that understand that this is their best shot at reaching a DC audience and that their ability to take a joke will actually improve their respect (if you can call it that). Basically, if they don't get DC, we won't be asking them.

More importantly we can't ask any vendors until we line up interest from contestants. Can you all reach out and see who would give up Friday and Saturday (not Saturday night) at the Con for a shot at the prize and Sound of Knowledge? We'd like to think $10K is worth it.

[Nikita]

I would do it for sure and I can think of some folks crazy enough to sit with me. :-)

[eris]

We’re working a new contest idea that would require 10 contestants to sit in chairs from noon Friday to midnight Saturday. This is an endurance contest defcon-style. No sleeping, but you get to eat, drink, and take bathroom breaks. Plus, the contest ends in time for you to party Saturday.


I highly suggest you allow 1-3 minute stretch breaks every hour or something. The lack of good circulation could induce actual injury. I, for one, have knee issues that on a normal day of activity require me to sit/stand periodically or they stiffen and/or lock up.

Ask simple questions between presentation about the presentation just offered. Small prizes (food?drink?) could be awarded, or sufficient failures could remove people from the running.

A prize of some caffeinated drink would certainly be an incentive, especially after hour 10-12 or so.

you know.. Fox might sign you guys up on something like this...
There was a time in history, the latest being the 50s I think, where endurance contests were quite the range. Dance offs and such. It might just ring a bell and catch someone's attention in the mass media. I will then hate you for bringing about a new kind of reality show.

That all said, 36 hours of work, with a $10K payoff (minus taxes of estimated 20%) is not a bad income. It's somewhere around $8K final payoff or $222/hour. I am intrigued and interested.

[jdcrow]

I would do this in a heartbeat.

36 hours for a chance at 1K - 10K... Failure is not an option... although I do like the idea of it being like Texas Hold'em where each contestent gets a % based on thier position.

where do I sign up?

[renderman]

Why am I imagining a sight like something out of ' A clockwork orange'? Contestants strapped to thier chairs, eyes held wide open while they scream at the images before them.

The only problem I can forsee is who would want to watch this for more than a couple minutes (as audience)? Could end up with an empty room and a whole lotta hot air.

http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/theater/images/clockwork_big.jpg?mii=1

[MitchMitchem]

What if no one makes it through the entire thing? I think all sharp/blunt objects should be removed from the room. I know at times I've thought to myself "a pen through my eye might end my misery."

[hackajar]

Is this still an active contest? Or just spoof all along? (being as it got it's own form sub folder)

[TheCotMan]

Is this still an active contest? Or just spoof all along? (being as it got it's own form sub folder)

Since the leader/organizer has not logged into the forums recently and may not know about your question, I just passed an e-mail message to the email address associated with this subforum leader/orgainzer's account letting them know about your question.

Normally, I would not do this, but other people had the same question, and we are quickly approaching con.

[numbertwo]

This is real. Due to time constraints with lining up vendors and not knowing how to set it up at the Riviera I spoke with DT and we're going to put it together for next year.

Great suggestions from the thread. Keep them coming. I'll be looking for hard core contestants. Maybe we'll have a meeting at the con for people that are interested. Watch this space for details. Thanks!

[russ]

Ok, so NOT this year. And please keep me in the loop on this.

-Russ
Contest Goon

[bryan]

Sign me up for Defcon 15 Buzzword Survival. I'll do it. I'll sit there. You watch me. I'll even interact with the vendors.

What was the email address you announced at Defcon 14 closing to register numbertwo?

Bryan (BCCC Winner)