Workshops /w PreReg

[geeksedition]

Hi,

At 23 there was a series of workshops we were able to pre-reg for. Does anybody know if and when these will become available again? I found these very beneficial and liked the ability to pre-reg.

Cheers!
GeekSedition.

[TheCotMan]

I would expect that any attendee registration for workshops would be announced and opened after workshops are selected.

At this time, according to the main site, CFP (Call for papers) and CFW (Call for Workshops) closes May 2:
https://defcon.org/index.html#dc24cfpopen
CFP: https://defcon.org/html/defcon-24/dc-24-cfp.html
CFW: https://defcon.org/html/defcon-24/dc-24-cfw.html

If you check out https://defcon.org/html/defcon-24/dc-24-cfw.html you can see details about what those people/groups will have to provide and expect with workshops, but that is not for attendees to sign up to attend workshops.

If things work out as claimed, look for workshop announcements some time after May 2.

[geeksedition]

Thanks CotMan! Much appreciated!

Cheers,
//GeekSedition

[rorschach]

Hi,

At 23 there was a series of workshops we were able to pre-reg for. Does anybody know if and when these will become available again? I found these very beneficial and liked the ability to pre-reg.

Cheers!
GeekSedition.

The workshop schedule got posted today. Looks like it's first-come, first-serve. Too bad...the pre-reg last year was nice.

[Dallas]

I think some of them are pre-reg. The Raspberry Pi and Kali 2016 is pre-reg via Event-Brite.

I am a little biased, I have enjoyed workshops at many events (and Defcon), but for those that require extra hardware its difficult to plan without some sort of pre-reg so you know if you can get in, bring hardware and be ready to go. I went to one several years ago at Defcon (early workshops) and the guy was great, standing room only, but he only brought 20 kits, so after standing around for an hour, most people left as it doesn't work to do hands-on workshops without the right parts. That being said, I'm damn happy Defcon brought these back and let the groups work to develop the best ways to put them on. My work has encouraged them at Bsides, BlackHat and Defcon, in Defcon case they are much lower in cost than BH (depending on the topic)


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defcon-...01?aff=ebrowse

[Nikita]

I think some of them are pre-reg. The Raspberry Pi and Kali 2016 is pre-reg via Event-Brite.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defcon-...01?aff=ebrowse

Only yours, Dallas, 'cause you're special. ( in a good way)

I agree that pre-reg was nice for SOME attendees. Pre-reg last year was done by me last year, manually by email, I had a good system but it was a lot of work, hundreds of emails. So many people were still waiting on site for a spot, and a lot of people I registered didn't show up to claim their seat, it just wasn't worth it to do it again.

Plus, I have a lot to manage for this conference, so it's a lot to put on me as just one person, just being honest. As workshops grow, and we get a good team going for it, under the direction of Tottenkoph, I can see us expanding this and making it easier for attendees with a legit registration process. For now tho, it's simplest for first come first served.

[tarpitt]

Does registering for workshops on-site require lining up outside your favorite workshops, or can we enroll at the same time as we pay on-site?

[Nikita]

Does registering for workshops on-site require lining up outside your favorite workshops, or can we enroll at the same time as we pay on-site?

There will be a registration desk located in the workshops area. It will not be something you can do at badge registration. I wish you luck.

[x3nc0n]

I think some of them are pre-reg. The Raspberry Pi and Kali 2016 is pre-reg via Event-Brite.

Thanks for this head's up, Dallas. Missed this last year, but now I'm in.

[geeksedition]

Well, if you're interested in doing a full registration, a friend subcontracts me to do Trade Show Reg services (badges etc...) We can talk if you want. The down side is there is a cost for that. But I personally would be happy to pay above and beyond DefCON fees if I knew I had a seat in a workshop where I was going to learn things...

Also, Thanks Dallas,. I am going to look at the eventbrite link now. For me I am traveling from Toronto Canada, so I like to make the trip as worth while and take in as much as I can.

Cheers all!

[geeksedition]

BTW Dallas

Thursday morning, what time is the morning session, I am really interested, but don't badges only go on sale that morning? There may be a time conflict here. Or do badges go on sale before that? I have been looking through FAQs and cant find the answer. A friend and I are interested.

Cheers,
//GeekSedition

[FullyLoaded69]

BTW Dallas

Thursday morning, what time is the morning session, I am really interested, but don't badges only go on sale that morning? There may be a time conflict here. Or do badges go on sale before that? I have been looking through FAQs and cant find the answer. A friend and I are interested.

Cheers,
//GeekSedition

I had the exact same question. I paid for a spot in the morning Raspberry PI and Kali Linux class. I know I have to get in line to pay to get my badge for DefCon. What time do I need to get in line in order to get my badge before my workshop class starts? I don't want to be late and miss something...

Thanks
//FullyLoaded69

[TheCotMan]

I had the exact same question. I paid for a spot in the morning Raspberry PI and Kali Linux class. I know I have to get in line to pay to get my badge for DefCon. What time do I need to get in line in order to get my badge before my workshop class starts? I don't want to be late and miss something...

Thanks
//FullyLoaded69

It is difficult to accurately estimate this, as complications may arise. What we can do is best estimate how long it *might* take based on past experience.

Last year, once badge sales started, people just arriving at the end of the line spent just less than 2 hours.

if you and everyone else assumes that arriving 2 hours before a badge is desired is enough, and acts on this, and "too many people arrive at the same time" then the prediction of 2 hours as a max won't be accurate.

Other complications can delay the starting of badges sales:
* Badges get misplaced
* Any parts related to a badge (program, lanyard, CD, etc) are missing
* Staff is unavailable
* Fire Marshal closes access to the space where badges are sold because of an inspection or violation
* Problem to the hotel forces displacement of people , forcing an on-the-spot new plan for sale of badges, and passing of that information to attendees
* Missing "cash boxes" to be able to make change.

Arriving *at least* 2 hours plus time to get from badge sales to where you need to use your badge (at your class) is probably the best advice. The more time you pad ahead of that 2 hours plus time to travel, the greater the "insurance" you pay (in time) to arrive at your class on time.

Last year, i think a small number people arrived in line more than 24 hours before sales opened. Most people arrived after 6am.

3 hours (plus time to travel to your class) is a safer bet than 2 hours (plus time.) You will have to best estimate cost (in time) and risk, to get a badge and get your your class on time.

If there are strange complications, there will *probably* be goons walking around the line in red shirts with goon badges, yelling out details, or carrying out signs. One of their jobs is to try to get the line moving as quickly and efficiently as possible. Please help them help you and pay attention to their directions. Any gaps in line they enforce are probably to ensure we do not violate any fire codes and risk being shut down by the fire marshal.

If there is any announcement on changes to announced plans, these goons will probably be the ones to make those announcements known. Even with this, if you manage to buy a burner-phone with data, and support for a twitter client, follow several key twitter accounts:
* https://twitter.com/defcon
* https://twitter.com/dcib
* https://twitter.com/DEFCON_NOC
* https://twitter.com/thedarktangent
* https://twitter.com/v3rtig0
* https://twitter.com/Niki7a
* https://twitter.com/defcon101
* https://twitter.com/TCMBC

HTH,
-Cot

[FullyLoaded69]

Thanks for the great information. I kind of figured 2 or 3 hours a head of my class time.
Thanks for the suggestion about the burner phone and twitter links...I'll look into that too.

FullyLoaded69

[TheCotMan]

Some information I received from Nikita :

To register for a workshop, you will need to go to the Bally's side in front of the cafe arcade between Thursday 07:00 to 15:00. We will have goons to pre-register you for the workshop(s) of your choosing.

If the workshop that you want has filled up before you got there, don't worry! Just like last year, if you come to the workshop area early the day of, you can wait in the standby line. If a seat opens up, it will be made available to the first person waiting to claim it.

Please Note: You will be issued a workshop "pass". It will be required for class admission. If you lose it we can't help you, your seat will be made available for those in standby.