Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Handmade Seattle?
We are Seattle’s top indie conference for systems programmers. Read our origin story.
2. What does buying a ticket do?
If you buy a ticket for the physical track, you reserve a comfortable seat at the venue along with access to a private chat server.
If you go for the online track, you will have access to the same chat server but will not be able to enter the building.
The event will stream for free.
3. Where is the venue?
The Marion Oliver McHaw Hall at Seattle Center. Specific venue instructions will be in your ticket.
4. Are refunds available?
We don’t process refunds. The physical track lets you transfer the ticket to someone else. Online-only tickets cannot be transferred (although in theory you could just hand someone your chat credentials.)
5. And if you cancel the event (e.g. COVID-19)?
Your purchase would automatically transfer to the next available conference. We’ve negotiated a contract with the City of Seattle, so we are not in a hurry to cancel events unless it’s truly necessary.
6. Why can’t your conference be free of charge?
We (surprisingly) hear this often enough that it needs addressing:
To secure a venue we need to commit thousands of dollars months in advance. We need to buy insurance, hire staff, and rent A/V equipment. We award travel stipends to speakers in need. We pay contractors such as graphics designers, chat moderators, and video editors.
We are a small business that operates independently. We take extraordinary risks spending this much money upfront. We humbly ask you support your favorite indie conferences.
7. Where is the livestream?
We are streaming the event for free on Twitch and on this website. However, the official chat will be private and requires a ticket – speakers and attendees will be there!