A conference is a physical network of incredible people.
Earlier this month, we delivered the final All Day Hey! conference, our tenth edition. I’ve been reflecting in the aftermath of the event as people have published their thoughts on the day, about the purpose of events like ours and how their existence is fundamental to our industry.
We closed the day with a talk from Phil, our loyal MC for the past ten years. There was only one way we were going to close out the conference, and that was with Phil. His talk on learning by doing and pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone resonated so strongly with me. It was the perfect segue into my closing remarks.
The conference was actually founded on that mindset. I started it because I was terrified of public speaking and wanted to hone that skill. Fiona Safari talked a lot in her lightning talk about pushing your comfort zone into a growth zone, and this began as very much that thing.
But the real reason is deeper than that, and something that means the most to me. I began running conferences because I wanted the North to have a community that represented the talent and passion of a collective of creators.
I realised very quickly that a certain type of crowd began coming to the events. A friendly, creative bunch of problem solvers who just wanted to hang out and talk about tech. The events became a safe haven from tech that had to deliver value or profits, one that focused on the very human and fun parts of building. And then by accident, I’d realised I had created a space where a community had formed, and that was pretty cool to me.
You never own a community, but you can create a space for one to exist and grow, and so I’ve committed the last ten years to doing just that.
I think consistency has a lot to do with community. It’s all about showing up. Ten years of doing a thing, listening to feedback, iterating on it to make something even better.
A decent community is harder to come by these days, but certainly not impossible.
There are so many other events and organisers showing up daily with consistency and they deserve the recognition. Those organisers have become good friends of mine. It can be a lonely old game when an event isn’t performing as expected, and that support network is crucial.
We’ve also seen a lot of new friends created over the years amongst attendees. Even a wedding and a baby! To me that’s quite mind-blowing.
In recent years the web has become more fragmented. An anti-pattern to what we were promised, ‘this is for everyone’, after all. Algorithmic feeds replacing shared timelines and open networks. AI is reshaping how people find each other and communicate authentically. I believe the people who come to conferences like ours are a physical network that can’t be cloned in that way.
And on the subject of the fragmentation of the web and a space to connect online. Remember: you have a voice, and no one should convince you otherwise. It seemed very fitting to say that on local election day in the UK, as the polling stations opened for voters.
We heard from Bramus at the start of the day about the importance of a blog both personally and professionally. I’ve seen a number of great posts on the return of the personal website. A space you own where you can exercise that voice, using it to build things that give you joy.
They’re also a great place to share what you learn and collectively solve problems. I think conferences are very good at encouraging that sharing in a space where you’ll feel heard.
I owe a lot to the team of people behind the conference. Phil, Jack, Rio, Simon, Rosy, Marcus and the rest of the production team. These are the people who run the show, and I’m forever grateful for what we’ve created together. Sponsors are also an integral part of indie events. They make them affordable and accessible, and I’m grateful for all the sponsors who have supported us over the years.
Hey! isn’t going anywhere; we’re just bringing this chapter of events to a close. Sometimes it’s good to pause and reflect on things, and come back with new ideas. I believe events like this are foundational to our industry and I’m as committed to them as when I started.
Who knows what’s next, but I’m excited to find out.