[chevman]

Best way to get free tickets is to ask the sponsoring vendors/companies directly I've found - can play either the 'I'm a current customer' card, or the 'I'm considering your solution seriously' card.

Have gotten many free tickets, dinners, sports tix, etc that way over the years!

[EGreg]

How exactly do you contact them and ask? Can you give an example

[kunzhi]

Sales people are always happy to talk to you. :)

[EGreg]

Sure, but why would a sales person give me a free ticket to a conference? Am I going to come by their booth and buy something?

[ghaff]

For major conferences, they probably have a fairly limited number of free tickets.

[AznHisoka]

You might think of them the next time you need their product