We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again — Targi Młodej Sztuki (Young Art Fair) in Łódź was a huge success.
Thousands of people came through. The vibe was incredible, and it was clearly one of the best events we’ve ever been part of. Artists sold work, made meaningful connections, and left happy. Media showed up. Hive was visible.
But we also believe the best time to talk about what didn’t work is right after something did.
And here it is: onboarding new people to Hive didn’t land the way we hoped.
We came in prepared — posters, rollups, info stations, QR codes. But what we learned is that in the middle of a high-energy art fair, people just aren’t in the mindset to set up blockchain wallets. They’re there for connection, for creativity, for the art — not for technical onboarding.
The word “blockchain” still carries baggage. Coins, scams, and crypto hype have made people cautious. But Hive is something different. It’s more than a tool. We came in with confidence, ready to tell a better story — one that actually matters to creators.
What did work were quiet, personal conversations.
A few artists asked about Hive directly. Some curious guests too. Those moments were genuine and impactful — because they had context. That’s what makes all the difference.
We believe that meaningful, long-term collaboration brings in the right people. We're not interested in onboarding for the sake of numbers. Effective onboarding starts with engagement — making people feel like contributors from day one.
This isn’t about quick wins or empty promises. It’s about showing the true value of Hive — something much deeper than “you can make money.”
What Surprised Us: Real Voting, Real Engagement
We also tested a basic, real-world version of Hive-style voting. It was all manual — just pens and paper — but it worked. Visitors were really engaged. They voted for their favorite artist, and the winner earned a free stand at our next event.
That level of honest participation was exciting to see. And yes, we’re thinking about how to bring this onto the blockchain — but only when we can ensure the process is smooth and intuitive. People need an easy, accessible way to create Hive accounts first.
So Instead of Forcing Onboarding, We’re Pivoting
We’re producing an artist-friendly YouTube video that clearly explains Hive and the onboarding process — no jargon, no crypto speak, just practical, creative-focused information: the how, why, and what.
We’re working on a voucher-based onboarding system, and we’ve already requested this feature from @keychain. Special thanks to @engrave for their support as well. This will make joining Hive faster, easier, and more accessible.
We’re not redesigning the fair around Hive — and we never will. The fair exists for artists and their audiences. Hive belongs in the background, quietly supporting the people who make it all happen.
To everyone posting in the YAF Hive community — thank you. You’re helping shape what this becomes. Your posts, ideas, and engagement truly matter.
But we still want to encourage more of you to post. The more you share, the more we can build together.
And what’s next?
Who knows — maybe those posts will lead to real gallery shows or invitations to future fairs. We’re already brainstorming competitions and initiatives that could make that happen.
We’ll keep learning, growing, and improving — and hopefully one day, we’ll see your work hanging at TMS too.
We’ve got more on- and off-chain initiatives in the works, and we’re hoping to roll out some exciting competitions soon to help bring even more creatives into Hive.
If you’ve got feedback, critiques, or a better way to approach this — drop it in the comments.
We’re always honest. Always learning.
New updates coming soon.
