The Sights and Sounds of DEF CON (Patreon)

Special note: I returned late last night from Las Vegas. I need a few days to collect myself but things will start returning to normal as soon as possible and presets and tutorials will start up again! Thank you for your patience and welcome to all the new patrons.

“Bring good walking shoes!” is what someone told me before I left for my first trip to Las Vegas. They weren’t kidding. I have walked over 35 miles in the past 5 days and as I sit here in this crowded Las Vegas airport after experiencing my first in-person DEF CON, my legs and feet are more exhausted than they’ve been in YEARS.

The Linq Promenade as they call it at sunset.

To collect my thoughts about what I’ve I just lived through isn’t easy at this moment, but I’m going to try. I’ve been sitting here for the past 3 hours trying to gather enough energy to jot down a few of my feelings which are still fresh as this experience was easily one of my favorite in a good long while. 

The first sign you see as you enter DEF CON! Is that a portal? Most definitely yes.

For those unaware, Las Vegas is a spectacle in the desert which feels unnatural to it's surrounding landscape. Surreal isn't even potent enough to describe it. Before this trip, I'd never been to Las Vegas, despite having lived most of my life one state over. I never had a reason to go there...until now. 

Typical sight in Las Vegas, everything larger than life. Is it real? Maybe?

DEF CON is the World's Premiere Security and Hacking Convention, held yearly in Las Vegas, the place where it originally started. There's a suitable Wiki article on the history of DEF CON so I won't bore you guys with the specifics now, but it's amazing both how it started and how big it's now grown. 2020 was cancelled, last year was a hybrid event, which was both in-person and virtually and this year was masks required but the first full fledged DEF CON in 3 years and people were PUMPED. 

Everyone took a picture in front of this cool banner. How could I not?

The vibe was as electric and enthusiastic as expected. I was there to not only perform in the "Chillout Lounge" but do my duty as the social media manager of SomaFM. Being that coding, hacking and securities is outside the realms of my understanding, it was the perfect role to play to visit this mythical conference and fit right in. I had a job, I had a purpose, and everyone was very excited I was there. 

We were chillin in the Chillout Lounge almost the entire time.

I felt welcomed by so many people which was such a heart-warming and welcomed experience, it made me feel even more fortunate as we all try to find some semblance of normal life after such a jolting pattern change in our reality. 

I snuck my mask off on day 1 for this selfie BEFORE the show started. Shhhhh!!! 

One of the coolest parts of DEF CON has to be the "badge" which is both unique every year, and comes in 8 different varieties. The goal of these badges, is they are not only "hackable" but come with a specific challenge, which is kept top secret, to even some of the highest ranking members in the GOON squad. 

The "artist" badge with the front panel removed, which reveals more details? That's so DEF CON.

Many attendees are working diligently to solve this and on Thursday (and somewhat on Friday) I had several people asking to take a picture of my badge, as it was one of the more rare "artist" badges. Collect all 8 and at least you have some clues as to what to do next. I'd never seen anything like it, but again - my first DEF CON so a little insight goes a long way. 

I had no idea what this screen wall was all about, but it certainly looked cool.

The weekend wasn't without it's set of drama, however. There was a massive thunder and lightning storm on Thursday night which caused the parking garage of the neighboring hotel to completely flood (which I found it later it was designed to do this) and create a massive river that looked straight out of a disaster movie! 

The storm on Thursday made Vegas look like it was straight out of a video game! 

The public works had it nearly cleaned up by 10:30 am the next morning, so I assume they were prepared. There was a bit of a kerfuffle on Friday night with one of the performers rushing the main stage (I missed all of this) but other than that - everyone and everything was completely nominal and again, well above anyone's expectations for the level of amazement. 

My new buddy kampf laying down all vinyl sets the entire weekend.

My live sets were actually quite fun and one of the highlights of the conference - just being up on stage again and performing for a ton of people who seemed to appreciate live ambient/chill music being performed was definitely on my wish list for 2022 and beyond. 

A still shot of one of many videos I have. I might post some later, once I collect more video footage, but for now you can see a few of my live clips here and here. You can also listen to my livesets in full starting next weekend at somafm.com/live 

DEF CON delivered that and more. It was awesome meeting other DJs and artists as well as all the good folks who really love SomaFM. They are so thankful for the presence and the impact that the station had had on their lives and are continually thankful for it's existence. I am too. 

The badge, the handbook, and the stickers. OMG the stickers at DEF CON were soooo good! If you go to DEF CON, bring some. They are the underground currency.

All in all I would rate my entire DEF CON experience a 10 out of 10 and would I do it again? Most definitely and I hope to be invited back next year. Shoutout to Rusty and Merin and all the rest of the SomaFM crew who hung with me and helped make my first trip to Vegas and first ever in-person DEF CON an unforgettable and magical memory that I'll carry with me wherever I go. 

Right before I hit the stage. My heart is full and I'm grateful for the opportunity!

If you ever have the chance to go to this event, even if it's outside your realm and you're just slightly curious, go. You certainly won't regret it and at the very least, will be welcomed by 30,000 other humans who live and love what they do.

See you next year DEF CON!

Cheers and thank you for supporting me on Patreon,

Chris | S1gns Of L1fe