Third Time is a Charm @ Corwin Hiebert

Eileen Rothe and Corwin Hiebert at CREATIVEMIX 2010. Image by Jeremy Lim.

CREATIVEMIX 2011 is coming up quick! November 3rd is just around the corner (gulp). We’ve announced the speaker roster BTW – check out the CREATIVEMIX BLOG.

I really can’t believe this will be our 3rd year running the “little conference that could”. Planning, producing, and hosting this event is a labour of love for sure but it’s self-inflicted and it has become who we are. Thankfully we’re not alone. Our relationship with Boca Del Lupo has gone to the next level and we’re now one big happy family. Eileen and I are still the producers but the partnership with Boca Del Lupo is a testimony of the creative spirit and collaborative soul of this very special event and we’re deeply grateful for their support as stakeholders.

I’m not sure how many people actually get how big of a deal it is that CREATIVEMIX is back for a third year. There’s a lot of reasons why this small, creative conference shouldn’t have made it this far. Off the top of my head, here’s a few reasons why CREATIVEMIX is thriving despite the odds:

- Vancouver is an event graveyard. There’s a ton of hot events that happen once and then never surface again. They’re to expensive, sponsor-dependent, or miss the mark in some way.

- We don’t have big money to throw around. We’re not on a lot of people’s radar. We’re the best kept secret in Vancouver’s creative community… still.

- The conference is industry agnostic which makes our target audience wildly diverse and difficult to market to. We love the challenge but it’s harder that you think.

- We mash together professionals, students, solopreneurs, arts groups, small businesses, and creative people of all kinds – it’s an unconventional audience to say the least.

- The theme never changes – it’s all about creativity and collaboration; deal with it.

- Our exhibition is not a trade show (because trade shows suck); we give the space away to people and groups and companies that inspire us.

Anyway, clearly it’s built for success thanks to the amazing creative community that lives and works in this wonderful city by the sea. The conference connects with people in a way that truly inspires and motivates them to be creative within the context of community. It’s an awesome thing to be a part of.

Kudos to the speakers, musicians, exhibitors, staff, partners, and supporters (past and present) – we are driven to make CREATIVEMIX what it is because it represents the creative spirit you so generously share with those around you.

Now go buy a conference pass for $99 ‘cuz we’re expecting a sellout and I want to fill the room with all my friends