HiveFest Reflections 3: Bring on the Beers!

Now we’re rockin’ and rollin’. This is where things actually start happening - the official first day of HiveFest ‘22! On my to do list today: 1) Register 2) Have drinks. Let’s see how I got on…

The now infamous Volkshotel, a ’Hive’ of activity

The now infamous Volkshotel, a 'Hive' of activity

Another stroll around the city and taking it all in. To be honest I was just ready to get on with the bloody thing now. The Telegram group was going wild, people were arriving and the excitement was building. I perhaps didn’t need to get there a day early and just rock up today but no worries, plenty to keep me occupied.

At around 4pm I went to the Volkshotel to get registered. Many people were there but I had no idea who was there for HiveFest. I saw the registration place and a couple of characters I thought I recognised but didn’t get chatting to anyone, other than passing the time kind of thing.

I had a coffee and a small beer (not at the same time, there was a progression), registered with some of the crew who would become an integral part of this whole show but I was pretty much in and out. It was around 5pm so I thought I’d drop my bag back to the hostel, get sorted and by the time I did all that it would be nearly time to head back for drinks.

Registration room with the Beet Boys & crew. Pic by @rubencress

Registration room with the Beet Boys & crew. Pic by

@rubencress

My bag and badge, with a few bits and pieces inside

Of course, I got all that done and was ahead of schedule so took a cheeky beer in the hostel bar then headed back to the Volks. What wonders would await me there?

Entering the Fray

Immediately I could see the whole area awash with Hivers so I tried to survey the scene first then get in amongst it. Bar first, then a spot of mingling with new people. At that stage I hadn’t seen anyone I knew but there may not have been that many from 2017.

It wasn’t long before I ran into @steevc who had arrived to the hotel a few hours before and at the bar just a few minutes after me. This guy has always been a long-term supporter of Hive (and Steem of days passed) and of many individuals and initiatives on the platform. He loves the social aspect and has a genuine appreciation of what is being built.

You can just about make me out in the middle - pic by @rubencress

You can just about make me out in the middle - pic by

@rubencress

Steve helped with some intros too. Some I already knew (but not well) like @detlev and @arcange. Then new faces like @slobberchops and @tdctunes. These are 2 of the English crew and we got along famously from the get-go. One of my first encounters was with the ever keen @awildovasquez, followed by the delights of @crimsonclad and @brianoflondon.

Another character that came a bit later and I'm glad he could make it after some doubts was @revisesociology, a great and interesting guy also from England. Add in @starkerz and all manner of people from around the world. The crew was building.

Of course, there were many people there that night and many conversations. I’m not going to tag everyone here but the night went in full swing. A good 4 hours plus exchanging stories and time to head off.

Well, there was a chat with @minigunner outside about getting more beer but I was off back to the hostel, no diversions or distractions and straight to bed. This party was still young and I needed to be on decent form for the conference days.