Recently, I attended Alt Summit, a conference for creative entrepreneurs. Alt Summit used to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, a logical setting for a conference organized by members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. I've attended twice in that location. But this year, founder Gabrielle Blair moved the whole shebang to Palm Springs, California, and the new setting made a big difference for some interesting reasons.
Iconic Desert Modern Style Made Us Swoon
Palm Springs is a mecca of modern architectural design, and we couldn't stroll for a cup of coffee without tripping over midcentury masterpieces. Rumor has it that Alt Summit's overall social engagement was 60% higher this year, which can only be good news for the organizers.
Our hotel, The Saguaro Palm Springs, was originally a Holiday Inn, and the Paas Easter Egg color palette made for endless photo ops. Photo by Justin Hackworth.
Even typography gets its own due in Palm Springs. Photo by Justin Hackworth.
This house, or to be more accurate, its door is so famous, it has its own hashtag, #thatpinkdoor. Probably every hour on the hour, some Instagrammer is snapping away. If I owned that house, I'd dig a moat and stock it with crocs.
This is the famous Neutra House on Vista Chino Drive. Built in 1946 by architect Richard Neutra, it was also the setting for Slim Aarons's famous 1970 photo, Poolside Gossip.
People We Admire Got Up and Told the Truth
Bloggers are so secretive about their numbers and it drives me crazy. Everything is sunshine and roses until it's not. For once, many of the speakers shared honest information about the ups and downs of their careers. And in a striking break from tradition, politics came up. Perhaps leaving Utah was more than a venue change. Maybe founder Gabrielle Blair felt more free to discuss issues close to her heart. Overall, the keynote speeches were a refreshing change from the follow-your-dreams drivel that usually prevails at conferences like this.
John and Sherry Petersik of Young House Love, one of the first blogs to break into mainstream media, and who in 2014, shocked the blogosphere when they walked away. They're back at it again, more focused and certainly more circumspect. For example, when it comes to photos of their children, they ask themselves, "Why? Why does the Internet need to see this?" Photo by Justin Hackworth.
Meg Keene (left), founder of A Practical Wedding, talking politics with Gabrielle Blair (right): "If you don't have a point of view, then you have stated your point of view. People are worried about losing followers but I can guarantee that if you aren't taking a stand, then you are losing followers."
Luvvie Ajayi spoke emphatically about being a straight shooter with strong opinions on her corner of the Internet. "I run a dictatorship, not a democracy." Luvvie reports that in the past three years, as she became more outspoken, her income from sponsorships increased. Photo by Justin Hackworth.
Christiane Lemieux (center), founder of DwellStudio, author, designer, and creative director of Wayfair, listed the three biggest mistakes she made in her first venture: no business plan; shiny object syndrome; no CFO. "Starting over is amazing!" she said. As an entrepreneur a second time around, she can do in two years what it previously took her ten years to accomplish. And this time, she is using venture capital. And a business plan.
Todd Oldham (center), designer, art historian, publisher, archivist, said, "Even the things that went really shitty, I'm glad I did them. If you want to do lots of stuff, then do lots of stuff. If you keep baffling people, they get used to being baffled." Someone in the audience complimented him on his collection for Old Navy and asked if he was doing another. "I hope not," he said. "Clothing is incredibly wasteful and hard on the environment." About kids and iPhones, he said, "Digital experience is like a drug. You have to find the time to make analog intoxicating to children. Buy art supplies."
Best Part of the Conference? My Gang.
We four found each other last year at Alt and it was what I call a Bridges of Madison County thing where within three days, we just knew. Our bond was for real.
And if last year was the courtship, this year was the honeymoon in Tahiti. We roomed together and Oh Em Gee, what colossal fun! Also, we learned this scientific fact: despite being older than the rest of the attendees, when we four are together, our collective age decreases exponentially with each passing minute. Very strange.
Since Alt, we regularly connect via video conference calls where the one unspoken rule is "no make-up" and that includes Chapstick. We keep each other on track and give honest feedback.
I thought I'd share some of their takeaways from Alt Summit.
Brooke Hatfield, a designer, is one half of Designers Collective based in Vancouver. She said, "Things don't have to be perfect before you start something. You can keep redefining your goals and business as you go. Just try something and if it doesn't work, don't take it personally. Learn from it and try again."
Paige Lewin, a designer and blogger at Tess and Ted, said, "You meet certain successful bloggers and you realize that they are just as questioning and unsure as we are. No matter what your level, you have to deal with self-doubt."
Tina Dhillon (next to me in blue) is an architect and the other half of Designers Collective. She said, "We like being with the younger people. We like their energy. And they like us. They like our confidence."
And I say, "At Alt this year, my mind could absorb more information because I could relax in the knowledge that the room contained friends. Forget a business plan. Find your tribe."
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