Simon Willison’s Weblog

Which web/software development conferences a student should attend and why?

24th February 2013

My answer to Which web/software development conferences a student should attend and why? on Quora

Offer to volunteer at conferences. If accepted, you’ll get in for free and you’ll get to meet loads of people (including spending time with the speakers)—in exchange for a full days work manning desks, finding speakers in time for their talks, giving people directions and generally helping organise and clean things up.

It’s a rare conference that doesn’t need volunteers to help out. Just get in touch with the organisers a month or two in advance and ask if they need any help on the day.