Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Handmade Seattle?
We are Seattle’s top conference for systems programmers. Read our origin story.
2. What does buying a ticket do?
a. Physical Track: Reserve a comfortable seat at the venue plus access to a private chat server.
b. Online Track: Access to the same chat server but you cannot enter the building.
The event streams for free. Buy a ticket to keep us indie
3. Where is the venue?
The Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at Seattle Center: Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109. Should be easy to punch in the name of the hall or full address in your Maps app.
4. 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!
5. Are refunds available?
We don’t process refunds. The physical track is a superset of the online ticket, so if you can’t come in person anymore you may participate online.
6. And if you cancel the event (e.g. COVID-19)?
Your ticket would automatically transfer to the next available conference. We already negotiated a contract with the City of Seattle, so we are not in a hurry to cancel events.
7. Should we bring masks, vaccine records, or a negative test?
Yes. At the time of writing we are bound by King County policy. You’ll need a mask while inside unless eating, drinking, or presenting on stage. You’ll want to show either (1) proof of vaccine or (2) proof of a negative test in the last 72 hours (a rapid test is fine too.)
An image from your phone is enough evidence. Non-US documentation is allowed.
8. Why can’t your conference be free of charge?
We (surprisingly) hear this often and it needs addressing:
To secure a venue we 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. The list goes on.
We are a small business that operates independently. We take extraordinary risk spending this much money upfront. We humbly ask you support your favorite indie conferences.
If you can go the extra mile support Handmade Seattle with small donations.