The hardest part about being a speaker.

[Wayne]

Before we begin, let me say that this is not going to be a rant. In fact, it's going to be just the opposite.

As you're no doubt aware by now, I've been doing a number of talks recently. In fact, I worked it out that, apart from the very first one I attended, I've been a speaker at every BSides event I was at. At the last BSides I even ran a workshop on how to call scammers as well as my talk. That's not including the conferences I attended with the dating site industry to tell them how bad the scammer situation is. They're great, but there is one major issue that really reared its head at the last one. First of all, let me tell you what it isn't. Let's build up the anticipation.

It's not having to write a talk. That's actually one of the easiest bits about it. You think of an idea, write a rough draft then finesse it as you go along until you're completely happy with it. The ideas bit is easy. There are always things you want to talk about. So it's not that.

What about the travel? The next one I'm attending is a 12 hour round trip, not taking into account unexpected traffic jams, stopping to eat, stopping to use the bathroom and any other thing that can go wrong. Some company or a good talking book can be your companion. The journey back is easier as you're still buzzing from the event.

The cost? Nope. The most expensive talks I've attended as a speaker, they covered my expenses. Most are just a drive there and back. If I do need to book accomodation, I just find somewhere cheap to lay my head.

So what is it? Well, simply put, it's the lack of time. By the time you talk to everyone who wants to chat with you, there's no time to actually go see the other talks. You have to wait til they release them on video to see them, and you miss out on the actual experience. THAT is the biggest problem - they need to be longer so you can go watch other talks as well. See, I told you it wasn't going to be a rant. The hardest part is the fact there aren't enough hours in the day when you go there. Thankfully, some are starting to do two day events now, so that should hopefully mean I get to watch other talks and learn some new stuff as well as teach others.