Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions, if you can't find the answer to your question below, please contact info@archive.qconsf.com.
At QCon, we prefer Engineers over Evangelists, Practicitioners over Trainers/Coaches, and Team Leads over Consultants. That is not to say we don't find value on the people on the right, we just prefer those on the left. This simple mantra guides our editorial content. We want to hear from the people who are living with decisions and implementations. This is core to what makes QCon QCon.
Outside of the main 18 tracks, QCon will offer additional sponsored tracks. If a track is sponsored by a vendor, it is separated from the main editorial tracks and labeled as sponsored. These are separate from the 18 editorial tracks at QCon. One of the core tenants of QCon is transparency, you will never find sponsored content hidden into the main editorial content at the conference.
At QCon, we don't have a Call For Papers. Instead, we go to the extra effort to have a domain expert curate every track at the conference. This means every one of the 18 tracks at the conference takes an intentionally opinionated view of the topic. You will not hear multiple talks covering the same thing from different angles. Instead, each track is put together to cover all aspects of the topic in software. While we have no call for papers, you're welcome to submit spontaneous submissions. The talks are reviewed by our chair and passed along to our hosts on an as needed basis.
The QCon conference Program Committee focuses on presentations that deliver a change in how the attendees will want to work, or knowledge of an important innovation that they will be recommending on their next project or to their peers. A presentation should be of general of interest to a broad audience and not tied to using a specific product. We believe in product-agnostic talks.
We offer three types of workshops/trainings:
- Full-day "workshops
- Half-day "workshops"
- 2-day "learning paths" by professional trainers
Tickets including workshops or trainings are specific and disctint ticket types, and as a result, a ticket including workshops does not give access to learning paths and vice-versa. When you purchase a "Learning Path", you buy a ticket to that specific class.
A light continental breakfast is provided each morning prior to the scheduled start time of sessions. Each day there are morning and afternoon refreshment breaks, and lunch will be provided.
Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options will be available. Menu items are labeled to assist with identifying allergens and food sensitivities. The menu will be available in the mobile app.
We do offer discounts for groups as small as 3 attendees, please refer to the registration page to know the date on which discounts are available. Email info@qconsf.com with the number of attendees you would like to register, we will send you your custom promo code. You will be able to register as a group or individually with the code. Please note: no discounts can be applied until after our Early Bird pricing ends July 31, 2020.
We do not offer any discount for non profit companies or students at the moment.
Yes! Attendees can book a room at the conference venue at a QCon negotiated rate. You will find more details on our venue page. We recommend that you book your hotel room early as the special rate is on first come, first-served basis for a limited number of nights.
No, you will not receive a physical ticket. You will be able to pick your badge on site on the first morning that you attend the conference. NOTE: A photo ID is required in order to pick up your badge.
Please email us the following information at info@qconsf.com: Full name as on passport, company name, city of residence and position. Note that we encourage you to apply for a visa before buying a conference ticket as we will not refund your registration fee if your visa application is turned down.
If you purchased a ticket including workshops, you will receive an email with your access code to login on the QCon website and pick your workshops online, about 6 weeks prior to the conference. You need to pick your workshops ASAP to secure your seat as workshops have limited availability and selections are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check your spams if you can't find the email from webmaster@qconsf.com.
You can upgrade your ticket directly on the “my account” page after you have logged in.
During the conference, you can attend the presentations that interest you the most. You can stay in the same track, or attend presentations from different tracks.
Workshop attendees will receive access codes to login to their account to make their workshop selection a couple weeks prior to the conference. All attendees will be emailed their access codes a couple of weeks prior to the conference, once the schedule builder is available. Authenticating to the site enables your custom schedule builder. Once logged in, from the schedule page, simply click on the (+) next to your selected talk and the cell will turn yellow. Those same codes will give attendees access to the event mobile app.
Yes! You can find more details on our volunteer page.
Please email sales@qconsf.com with your inquiry, and our sales team will respond with information about our sponsorship opportunities.
If you can no longer attend QCon, you can transfer your registration to another person if you contact info@qconsf.com by October 30, 2020 with the following details for the new participant: first name, last name, email, position, company and phone number.
We do not offer refunds. Once paid, registration fees for QCon are non-refundable.
We constantly strive to improve the overall conference and all presentations. To help us, you can provide us with your vote on your way out of the session room. Please note that these votes should only be in reference to the presentation (not the room temperature or venue amenities). You have the choice of voting:
- green - met or exceeded expectations
- yellow - lacked fundamental expectations
- red - failed to meet any of my expectations
Workshop feedback will be collected separately via an evaluation form. After the conference, attendees will also receive a survey to provide additional feedback to help us improve the overall attendee experience.
QCon offers all attendees free early access to most videos, within 24-72 hours of the presentation, on InfoQ and in the mobile app. An access code will be emailed.
Videos will also become freely available to the general public (non-attendees) on InfoQ at the rate of five published per week over the next four months after the conference.
Please note that a few sessions have a "no filming icon" in the schedule, if the speaker did not give us permission to share. Workshops will not be filmed.
At QCon, we want to foster an environment that is both diverse and inclusive.
The ideas and thoughts generated within a diverse group tend to be more innovative and thought provoking. This atmosphere characterizes the very essence of QCon.
Some of the things we are doing at QCon San Francisco to make the environment more inclusive include:
- Enforced Code of Conduct
- Family/mother’s room
- Non-binary bathrooms
- Childcare stipend
- Prayer room
- Service dog area
- Quiet Area
If there is something that would make you feel more welcome, you feel we’re missing at the conference, or would like more information on, please let us know at info@qconsf.com.