So things are firming up and I'll be focusing more on preparations for the big day over the next five weeks.
The Venue
Today's big news is that the venue is confirmed. We'll be at Impact Hub Birmingham in the City Centre (Digbeth side) which is ten minutes walk from Moor St Station and fifteen from New Street (if you don't get distracted walking through the Shopping Centre). I believe there are bicycle racks and this being Birmingham, there are, of course, two large Pay & Display car parks within easy walking distance of the venue.
I want to keep the cost for participants as low as we can, but also want us to pay our way if we can. The minimum fee is £500 inc VAT which includes tea & coffee all day. So for fifty people that's a tenner each (payable in STEEM/SBD or other crypto). I am prepared to underwrite the risk that we don't get fifty people to pay in order to have this lovely city centre space (ie if we only get 20 people turning up who each pay £10, I will pay the remainder). But I have faith in our ability to put something fabulous on without having to blag free stuff.
It would be nice to be able to give the venue a little more (they are a social enterprise) and perhaps organise a catered lunch, so I will be working on sponsorship and encouraging donations to top it up. I will also be running a travel support scheme for anyone who is facing steep transport costs. And all transactions will be transparent, if we have a surplus afterwards, the participants will decide what to do with it.
Bottom line is, I don't want anyone to not be able to attend solely because of money. I'll write something soon to clear up how I see all of this working and how to make your payments or donations, whether you're coming or not.
The Blog
Talking of which, the other news is that I created 
Please don't make any donations or payments just yet, I will be writing something to clarify everything tomorrow.
If you're coming but haven't signed up yet, please do so on the Eventbrite page, it really helps to have attendance numbers and e-mail addresses to ensure we communicate the most important things, but most communication will be through our favourite blockchain-based blogging platform.
Any questions, use the comments, that's what they're there for!
Photo Credit: techjobstour on Flickr
Photo Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0