OK, the early-morning breakfast events aren’t much of problem; you can fit them into a busy schedule. But multiday conferences are another matter. Between clearing time on your schedule and weighing the costs of attending a conference, especially one out of town, you’ve got a tough decision to make about whether you really, really need to go.

Cost is certainly a major consideration. And it will likely become an even greater factor as Congress looks to limit the money agencies spend going to conferences. For example, in fiscal 2007, the Hill wants to reduce the Defense Department’s budget for conferences to $70 million, from $77 million this year.

So, you have to decide which conferences are worth the expense and time. Are the topics compelling enough? Will there be enough takeaway value? Do you go only if you’re invited to speak? Or do you skip them all? These are thorny questions. But there are ways to make your decisions easier, according to former and current federal officials:

Name That Theme. Every current and former federal official interviewed for this story said the theme of the conference was the most important element in deciding whether to attend. It can help you decide if it’s something you need to know—or if you’ve seen it all before. “One of the things that struck me is [that] you see a lot of the same people at conferences,” said one federal official. “The topics and speakers are the most important reasons I go. After a while, it is hard for them to come up with new information.”

A former fed said panel sessions shouldn’t simply be one-way streets. It’s important to be able to exchange views with the speakers.

“I look for the opportunity to sit down and talk to experts about a specific subject,” said a Defense Department official. “It also provides me with a network of government and industry people who are experiencing the same issues that I am.”

Venture Capitalist. One official said he doesn’t go to conferences unless he can do business. “Most of the information is stuff I already have access to,” he said.

He will go to conferences to meet with high-level federal executives to discuss how their agencies can work together, or if there is an opportunity to open up a new area of business for his agency.

The former federal official said since business at conferences happens during the formal sessions and informal ones—at the bar, for example—managers must learn to influence people at the top and around them.

Training Camp. Many officials said they look for conferences where they can earn continuing-education points. Some feds must keep accreditations and certifications up to date, and conferences that provide sessions for credit are more appealing.

No Pay For Play. Some executives look for conferences where federal officials attend for free. “Government employees shouldn’t pay to hear other government employees speak,” one official said.

Another official said they look for conferences with a lot of federal executives, especially if there is a mix of disciplines.

Off-Site Opportunity. Another federal exec said local conferences can provide great fodder for strategy sessions with your staff. “We spend a half a day at the conference and then meet for the rest of the day,” the official said.

“You can discuss what you heard and how it impacts your operations and future plans,” a former federal official said.