Back To School

Today my 7-year-old son goes back to school, and next week my 4-year-old daughter starts in reception, both having been away from their friends at school and nursery respectively for the last 6 months.

Whilst over the summer they have caught up with some of their friends it has been difficult at times for both of them and us as parents. Watching my son work hard online doing school work, sometimes alone in his room, and trying to explain to my daughter why she cannot see her friends during the lockdown was really hard.

However, they did their very best, showing real resilience, as we all juggled work, homeschooling, and adapting to a new routine.

As they get to see their friends and socialise again, it is still not the same for us in the events industry which at the time of writing is still unclear. Whilst, in these unprecedented circumstances, we have seen many speeches moving online, I feel nothing beats being able to gather with others in person.

We have all learned to adapt to the recent crisis in one way or another and with some semblance of a normal daily routine coming back I feel the fog is clearing further.

We have however taken some positives from this time. It has been a great opportunity to update our website, meet more new speakers (virtually) and in some ways has brought many bureaus and speakers closer together. It is a cliché to say we have all been in the same boat, but we really have and I hope we all board that same boat as the event industry re-opens.

I will be a proud Dad walking my daughter to school next week for her first day in reception and I think we all should be proud of how we have stuck together and worked our best through this – all in very different and difficult circumstances.

Thank you to everyone who has worked with us, offered advice, and provided voices of positivity in the last 6 months. I hope we start to see the first shoots of live events returning soon.

Best wishes

Matthew Fisher
Managing Director & Proud Dad.