It’s happening again, I can feel it.
I wasn’t sure if the magic would return somehow but it feels as though it has already.
The magic is Commscamp. It’s a sort of magic that happens once a year when 150 people come together determined to make brighter ideas.
What makes the magic? People who give a damn and want to do things better. People who want to help see that too. And people who like cake. Definitely, people who like cake.
The truth is it also feels like there’s never been a more important time for an event like commscamp. It feels as though it is really needed this year. Against the backdrop of Brexit, cuts and rapid change there is a need for people to come together compare notes and work things out.
And yet
The phrase that runs through what I’ve done over the past seven or eight years is ‘militant optimism.’ At its heart is a resolve to do things better despite everything
At times, optimism takes a battering. A change of boss. Cuts. More cuts. Brexit. Change. New platforms. Keeping pace. The firm request for a back of bus ad you have to push back on. The easier thing would be to throw in the towel.
Why I think the magic is back
Planning an event like this is easier the more you do it. Writing emails to printers at 11pm when you haven’t seen your family all day is not ‘fun.’
But one moment this week made me think the magic was back. Late night I was looking down the session idea pitches in the Commscamp Facebook group.
- Income generation. How do we?
- Live streaming video. How should we?
- If everyone is a comms expert how do I make my professional advice heard?
- How can you stay politically restricted and still have a voice?
- How can I put a cat amongst the pigeons?
- Coping with guilt and reality post-cuts.
- Virtual reality video: a beginners guide.
- A cathartic session just to let rip a bit.
I want to go to them all. Reading them I was reminded why I love it. And I looked at the list of people who want to volunteer to make that happen.
If you can’t come you can still play a part
There’s a limited amount of room and we know that not everyone who wants to come can come. We’ll look to livestream some sessions, post to Twitter on the #commscamp16 hashtag and blog. If you are out of the room we’ll try and find a way you can catch-up.
But one thing makes it worthwhile
If there is one issue that makes commscamp this year really worth it for me it’s Brexit and how we cope with it. I’ve got this strong sense that there’s a strong sense of uncertainty that we would do well to tackle.
It would be great if we could tackle that together.
It feels like the magic is back.
Let’s make it so, shall we?
Commscamp is staged in Birmingham on Thursday July 14. Tickets are sold out.
Picture credit: Ann Kempster / Flickr