Interested in helping at BSidesSF 2019?

BSidesSF is a security event that would not be possible without the work of our local community. Every year, the organizers work hard to build a fun and exciting agenda so that you can experience the latest in cool security happenings. However, as a community event, we rely on contributions from volunteers like you to help with various tasks on the two days of the event. Join us!

What’s in it for me?

Volunteering is a great way to get involved with the local security scene and community, especially if you are a newcomer. It’s a good chance to meet other security-minded people while picking up various skills along the way. All volunteers that work for a minimum of 4 hours will get a free BSidesSF t-shirt + badge (and food), which means you can attend talks during the times that you are not volunteering. All we ask is that you dedicate a few hours of your time to help us out!

What tasks need to be done?

  • General Registration / Information Desk
  • Audio / Visual wrangling
  • Room moderators
  • Public Safety
  • Speaker wrangling
  • Room set up and teardown

What if I don’t know how to do any of these?

Our volunteer leads will train you for the specific tasks you sign up for, in addition to volunteer Q&A sessions prior to the event. If you have any further questions on what various tasks may mean or entail, feel free to contact us at volunteer@bsidessf.org.

What if there are specific talks I want to go to?

We understand that our volunteers will want to attend specific talks, whether it is because of an interesting topic or just to show support for a friend or colleague. We will try our best to work with you to make that possible.

How do I sign up???

You can sign up at https://calendly.com/bsidessf-volunteering-2019

Please reach out to volunteer@bsidessf.org with any questions.

Please note there will be training provided for all roles.

Also, join us on Slack for live action updates:

Here are the job descriptions for the different roles:

Workshop

*** Please note that this shift will be on March 2nd at the Workshop Offsite and will be counted towards your volunteer hours.

Brief description:

In this position, you will be responsible for making sure the workshops are conducted smoothly. Ensure that all attendees and presenters have everything they need during the workshops.

Duties include:

  • Direct attendees to their correct destination (registration desk, sessions, etc.)
  • Answer questions for attendees and presenters
  • Check-in pre-registered attendees
  • Ensure attendees and presenters have everything they need for the workshops
  • Proctor the workshop sessions

Choose this role if you:

  • Have strong communication skills
  • Are a “people person”
  • Keep cool under pressure

Registration bag stuffing

Brief Description:

Our sponsors provide us with materials to put into the bag participants receive at registration. This all needs to be put into the bags and organized for registration to be able to hand them out. *** Please note that this shift will be on March 2nd and will be counted towards your volunteer hours.

Duties Include:

  • Preparing registration swag bags for all attendees
  • Choose this role if you:
    • Able to work in fast paced semi-repetitive environment
    • Able to stay organized and focused as part of an assembly line

Setup/Teardown

Brief Description:

In this position you will be responsible for the appearance of the venue and ultimately support the overall BSidesSF experience!

Duties Include:

  • Work with Vendors to unload freight from trucks, move it into the venue, and back out again
  • Set up tables, chairs, linens, podiums, stanchions, and signage according to space plans

Choose this role if you:

  • Are able to commit to early or late hours outside the normal event hours
  • Able to lift heavy objects and do physical labor
  • Able to stand for long periods of time
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Prior experience with moving freight is a plus

Registration/Greeter/Information Desk

Brief description:

You will be the “face” of BSidesSF for all attendees. Your goal is to make a positive, welcoming first impression for all attendees and visitors.

Duties include:

  • Greeting attendees arriving (or departing) at each Metreon entrance in an engaging and confident manner
  • Direct attendees to their correct destination (registration desk, sessions, etc.)
  • Answer questions for incoming attendees
  • Check-in pre-registered attendees
  • Ensure attendees have everything they need to enter the conference
  • Sell conference merchandise at the desk, provide a receipt and direct attendee to coat check to retrieve their merchandise
  • Share attendee feedback with other volunteers as necessary
  • Handle walk-in ticket sales

Choose this role if you:

  • Are passionate about attendees having an amazing experience at BSidesSF
  • Are a “people person”
  • Have strong communication skills
  • Have strong customer service skills
  • Keep cool under pressure

Coat Check

Brief Description:

You will distribute pre-purchased merchandise and collect attendees’ coats/bags.

Duties Include:

  • Collect attendees’ coats and bags for storage during the conference
  • Distribute conference merchandise (badges, t-shirts, drink tickets)
  • Answer questions for attendees
  • Manage venue Lost and Found

Choose this role if you:

  • Have strong communication and customer service skills
  • Perform well under pressure.
  • Ability to multitask.

Brief Description:

You will ensure each sponsor has everything they need to set up and operate their booth in the Sponsor Lounge.

Duties Include:

  • Welcome all sponsors to the conference
  • Check in hourly with each booth/table in the sponsor lounge
  • Ensure sponsors have everything they need
  • Answer any questions that sponsors have
  • Choose this role if you:
  • Have strong communication and customer service skills.

Party

Brief Description:

In this position, you will deliver the ultimate BSidesSF party experience!

Duties Include:

  • Help with the party set up and/or teardown
  • Work with party vendors to set up bar, tables, etc.
  • Check in all party attendees
  • Answer attendee questions
  • Route any complaints to the appropriate core staff member

Choose this role if you:

  • Perform well under pressure
  • Able to lift heavy objects (30lbs +)
  • Able to stand for long periods of time
  • Able to commit to early/late hours for set up and breakdown

Public Safety

*** Please note that you need to sign up for at a minimum of two 2-hour shifts for this role to meet your volunteer commitment. We’d prefer for you to not sign up for any other volunteer roles on the same day that you are doing public safety.

Brief Description:

Public Safety is the group at the con which helps to ensure the protection of our attendees, speakers and guests against threats to their well being and to the con. Some examples are: ombudspersons, safety monitors, crowd control and sometimes security guards. Public Safety is not EMS, law enforcement, or fire although we support and extend their reach.

Duties Include:

  • Badge check at all points of entrance and exit
  • Facilitate orderly conduct of the con for all our guests
  • Act as ombudspersons for our guests by representing them to the BSidesSF organizers and staff
  • Observe and report incidents which may endanger the safety of our guests of violates our Code of Conduct

Choose this role if you.

  • Enjoy meeting new people
  • Like to help others
  • Are comfortable with crowds
  • Enjoy greeting and welcoming guests
  • Perform well under pressure
  • EMT/EMS experience is a plus

Room Proctor

Brief Description:

This is a customer-facing position that ensures overall speaker readiness, primarily related to technology and announcing speakers and breaks throughout the day.

Duties Include:

  • Assist speakers with audio
  • Make sure speaker is present and ready prior to talk
  • Welcome and announce speakers
  • Thank our sponsors
  • Hand out speaker gifts on-stage
  • Announce lunch/coffee breaks, etc
  • Record speaker statistics: # people in talk, talk time, engagement etc

Choose this role if you:

  • Are passionate about attendees having an amazing experience at BSides SF
  • Are a “people person”
  • Have strong communication skills
  • Keep cool under pressure

A/V

Brief Description:

This position is responsible for capturing the talk on either a camera or selecting the “scene” to be recorded. Camera Ops will need to point the camera at the speaker and Capture Ops will need to pick between an image or the speaker, slides, or a combination, based on current speaker focus.

Duties Include:

  • Verify that the camera/laptop are recording
  • Listen to the audio for obvious quality issues
  • Report problems to the A/V Lead
  • Ensure your room is ready for the upcoming talk
  • Staying at your recording post until properly relieved (your shift)
  • Maintain attention to the speaker
  • Keep Speaker in Frame
  • Select the Active Scene
  • Attentively listen to the session

Choose this role if you:

  • Have strong communication skills
  • Are comfortable sitting and watching a session for the entire shift
  • Want to spend your shift watching sessions
  • Are familiar with Wirecast or other Capture Software, or have experience with shooting video cameras
  • Keep cool under pressure

Track Ambassador

Brief Description:

This role directly supports the Room Proctor and A/V personnel, and fill in for them as necessary. Duties Include: (see Room Proctor and A/V job descriptions)

Choose this role if you:

  • Have strong communication skills
  • Have strong A/V technical skills
  • Keep cool under pressure
  • Able to multitask

Event Ambassador

Brief Description:

In this role you will represent the interest of BSidesSF to ensure operations are running smoothly and support your fellow volunteers.

Duties Include:

  • Coordinate with and direct other volunteers should they need help during the course of their duties
  • Backfill open volunteer spots as needed
  • Ensure all volunteers feel supported and have what they need (water, bathroom breaks, etc.)

Choose this role if you:

  • Have excellent leadership qualities
  • Have good judgment
  • Have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
  • Able to multitask
  • Able to perform under pressure
  • Able to work independently with minimal supervision
  • Willing to work with all levels of internal management and utilize internal resources
  • Prior volunteer experience is a plus