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Earlier this month, I had the chance to be a part of the fifth and final Brooklyn Beta. I’ve been wanting to go for years, but my desk job has always prevented me from making the trip. I’m incredibly grateful to have been able to make it this year.
Within the web design community, Brooklyn Beta’s reputation precedes it. In fact, I don’t think I’d be off base to say that it’s the best, most well respected conference in the industry. And that reputation is well deserved.
While I was there, I couldn’t help but think that these are the sorts of defining moments that future generations will look back on wistfully about our community and generation. There are speakers, sure (all of whom were fantastic), but you’re also spending the day in a picturesque venue with dozens of unique and interesting people. It’s the conversations with those people — the company of friends, old and new — that give Brooklyn Beta it’s character. It makes the world small and the internet real, if only for a fleeting moment.
And since the event was all about people and moments, I’d like to share a few that stood out in my mind:
Meeting several totally random people who immediately befriended me over our shared Baltimore heritage and love for the Orioles (I was wearing an Orioles hat.);
Comparing Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn with Jesse Gardner;
Playing cornhole with Jeremy Jantz;
Talking with Dan Mall about freelancing, running an agency, and the SuperFriendly model;
Finally meeting my longtime internet friend Chris Bowler live and in the flesh;
Discussing the potential pitfalls of managing a team with Jamin Jantz;
Learning about how the really interesting work Ben Peck is doing at Experticity;
Catching up with Marco Suarez;
Talking baseball with Jay Fanelli;
Seeing Christian Ross again;
Getting called out by Ismael Burciaga for attending basically every conference this year (it was the third one we’d both attended this year);
Thanking Jonnie Hallman for building Cushion, which has transformed how I see my freelance business;
Discussing Ugmonk’s fantastic sweaters with Sam Soffes;
Meg Lewis recognizing me from my avatar when I said hello;
Talking NationBuilder with Ben Handzo; and
Finally meeting Reuben Ingber in person.
And what’s even more awesome is that — even after having had the chance to chat with all those awesome people — there were still dozens of amazing people who I know from Twitter that I never got to connect with.
Brooklyn Beta was a unique gathering of some of the brightest, friendliest, and most interesting people on the web, and I’m glad I had a chance to be a part of it. Hopefully someone can pick up the torch carry on next year where Cameron Koczon and Chris Shiflett are leaving off.
