DEF CON 19 Vendors

[Chris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

I wonder if some of the Scavenger Hunt sponsors would be interested in being a full fledged vendor. Would ThinkGeek.com be a welcome addition? Or Evilmadscientist? I have no idea if they would be interested but I have contacts I could share with you, Chris.

Eris,

Please do (pm or chris@defcon.org). ThinkGeek in particular would probably do very well. If send me their contact info I'll get in touch with them and see if they are interested.

Thanks!

[Bbox]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

I know UAT has a booth but it would be great if a few other universities or colleges had booths. I notice plenty of younger people attend Defcon and with the growing need for Netsec and other computer professionals it could be a great opportunity for both the schools and the younger members of our Hacker community.

Also it seems many of the people that attend Defcon also have interests in things like Magic, Music and Goth. Maybe a vendor that sells magic products. A vendor that sells Goth style clothes for the "professional world" and a vendor that has unique instruments or electronic gadgetry for musicians.

Just something to think about.

Thanks for asking our input and thanks for a great Vendor Area in the past.

[Chris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

I know UAT has a booth but it would be great if a few other universities or colleges had booths. I notice plenty of younger people attend Defcon and with the growing need for Netsec and other computer professionals it could be a great opportunity for both the schools and the younger members of our Hacker community.

Also it seems many of the people that attend Defcon also have interests in things like Magic, Music and Goth. Maybe a vendor that sells magic products. A vendor that sells Goth style clothes for the "professional world" and a vendor that has unique instruments or electronic gadgetry for musicians.

Just something to think about.

Thanks for asking our input and thanks for a great Vendor Area in the past.

Thanks for the input. I had an alternative/Goth clothing vendor a couple of years a go (DEFCON 17 I think, I'd have to look back and see) and they didn't do very well sales wise. I would imagine that some of that can be attributed to their inventory not being what the attendees were looking for and some of it could be the attendees.

I am not against having another, but the one I had I wouldn't invite back. They just didn't really seem to fit well with the DEF CON culture and didn't really seem to "get" our attendees.

Last year another university applied to be a vendor but they applied too late and I didn't have any space left. I'll hit them up early this year and see if they have interest, especially since I have more space this year.

Thanks.

[Xeon]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

Another vendor idea: Sparkfun (http://www.sparkfun.com/)

I know there are usually component kits floating around for sale, but I think Sparkfun would offer a bit of a different take. They have started to retail package many products that I am sure would draw interest.

Would he helpful if, for example, the badge of the year had some certain functionality and those entering the badge hacking contest needed some specialized hardware. Or even if an on-the-spot idea called for such hardware.

[Chris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

Another vendor idea: Sparkfun (http://www.sparkfun.com/)

I know there are usually component kits floating around for sale, but I think Sparkfun would offer a bit of a different take. They have started to retail package many products that I am sure would draw interest.

Would he helpful if, for example, the badge of the year had some certain functionality and those entering the badge hacking contest needed some specialized hardware. Or even if an on-the-spot idea called for such hardware.

Cool. Thanks for the idea. Please keep them coming. I'm going to collate all of this and reach out to some of these next week after the application process starts.

[eris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

Eris,

Please do (pm or chris@defcon.org). ThinkGeek in particular would probably do very well. If send me their contact info I'll get in touch with them and see if they are interested.

Thanks!

Email sent

[eris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

What about a tattoo shop booth? Maybe some proceeds to eff?

[Chris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

What about a tattoo shop booth? Maybe some proceeds to eff?

I've thought about this before. I can look into it again...but if I remember correctly the liability issues made it unrealistic in the past.

[mwerte]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

I'd like to get other people's take on this. The idea of having recruiters in the vendor area has been brought up to the planning staff before and we have always shot it down. If this is something a lot of people would like to see we can readdress it.

I like the recruiters idea, but maybe as a skybox or a more informal talk* or a separate sticker on recruiter's badges or something? Especially in today's job market, it could be very very helpful.

*To clarify, have several recruiters taking up a talk slot, and each gets 5 minutes to pitch their company, and then a Meet & Greet Q&A session in the rest of the time.

*shrugs* just kinda thinking outloud.

[shrdlu]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

I'd like to get other people's take on this. The idea of having recruiters in the vendor area has been brought up to the planning staff before and we have always shot it down. If this is something a lot of people would like to see we can readdress it.

I've thought about this for a few days, and here's a perspective from someone who *used* to hire people (me). Most places that have jobs of the type that people would want to have may send someone there, but they will probably not be interested in having a booth. A problem with official representation is that you get a very large number of people who are completely unqualified (for various reasons), and have no good way to filter out the wheat from the chaff without causing a lot of hurt feelings (or worse).

You also want to quietly observe, and having a marked up badge, or a booth, is like wearing an FBI shirt. Everything changes, from behavior to skill (some people who are remarkably competent are also remarkably poor test takers). You aren't doing it full time; you've got other things going on than just looking at prospective employees, and if you're manning a booth, then the only thing you're doing is manning a booth (and the vendor area is okay for an hour here or there, but not a good time, *for* *me*, full time).

In good times (think pre-2000), there were tech recruiters on every street corner (or so it seemed), but most of those guys have gone back to selling life insurance and used cars. Outside of the feds, I can't think of anyone who would even want to have a full time presence, or to be identified as in the hiring mode.

Was there still someone wanting to have a recruiter presence in the vendor area, or is that just hopeful queries from people who'd like to start job-shopping as the economy improves?

[Chris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

Was there still someone wanting to have a recruiter presence in the vendor area, or is that just hopeful queries from people who'd like to start job-shopping as the economy improves?

I have not been contacted by any recruiters this year yet. I think 2 years ago was the first time it happened (1 recruiter) and last year there were 2 that contacted me. I don't really see recruiters in the vendor area happening but I do want to gauge people's thoughts on pretty much anything they'd like to (or don't want to) see in there so that we have the right mix.

[TheCotMan]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

I have not been contacted by any recruiters this year yet. I think 2 years ago was the first time it happened (1 recruiter) and last year there were 2 that contacted me. I don't really see recruiters in the vendor area happening but I do want to gauge people's thoughts on pretty much anything they'd like to (or don't want to) see in there so that we have the right mix.

I get one to three recruiters each year sending mail to defconforums@gmail.com asking to post things to the forums, relay requests to other people I know (spammy) and asking about how they can recruit at Defcon. They usually do not follow-up when I describe what Defcon is like, and I direct them to try contacting someone else, as the forum email address is for forum support.

Other mods have mentioned that these recruiters are probably bad at their jobs if they don't know where to direct their messages properly, and might not be the best people to talk to when you want to talk to a recruiter if they don't know where to send requests.

If you want, I can send them your way if you are seriously considering doing this Chris. There was that one request from that recruiter with google that we talked about.... if you can't find the information discussed, I can try to get it for you.

As for my opinion on recruiters... I have a job, and I remember when Defcon felt more grass-roots, and was dismayed back at Defcon ?8? or ?9? when I walked by a presentation where they laid out full color glossy brochures about a product on all of the chairs before the presentation -- it felt really out of place back then...

Now? Eh. Now some events (not run by Defcon, but run by volunteers) have corporate sponsors, and there was at least one contest that committed the faux pas (several years ago) of putting sponsors before the contest/contestants in their presentation, website, and closing ceremonies. (Fortunately, they have become the cautionary tale for others, on what NOT to do with a contest or event, especially at the closing ceremonies.) Corporate sponsorships is not a BAD thing, but can distract people from the real point of these contests and events -- the people, the skills, the demonstrations, the fun.

"It is what it is," and it is a waste of time lamenting over how things have changed or choosing to tilt at windmills. If we did this, we would be in danger of becoming those old people that complain, "back in my day..." :-o

If a recruiting-event was to happen, I'd like to see it organized by volunteers, not corporate shills, and for it to be low-profile, but if the masses want it to be glamorous, eh. I know you (Chris) could do a great job with it, but I know you are already burdened with plenty of work at Defcon.

[eris]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

On the subject of job recruiters...if you want a job, go to a job fair. Keep that crap outta DefCon. Use your hacker given skills at TALKING TO PEOPLE while you are there.......

[shrdlu]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

On the subject of job recruiters...if you want a job, go to a job fair. Keep that crap outta DefCon. Use your hacker given skills at TALKING TO PEOPLE while you are there.......

Yeah, what Eris said. +++

[HighWiz]

Re: DEF CON 19 Vendors

If "recruiters" (Corporate) want to come, then they should just throw a party and serve refreshments. People may come and let you pitch them, if you are providing alcohol.

The only recruiters that may actually make sense in the vendor area are military ones. I'm sure there could also be issues people would have with that, but people also had issues when we initially wanted to do a DC101 and that turned out alright.