When you’re building something exciting, sometimes enthusiasm gets the better of you. That’s exactly what happened when I thought I had secured the Checkout Summit venue by paying the deposit. I was so thrilled about clicking “pay” that I even tweeted about it with a screenshot from my internet banking app. The only problem? I hadn’t actually hit “send.” Days later, the venue called wondering where their money was. Cue the facepalm.
What could have been a minor disaster quickly turned into one of those stories that you can laugh about afterward. It’s a glimpse into the very human side of organizing an event: the slip-ups, the lessons learned, and the unexpected laughs along the way. Here’s the behind-the-scenes account of how I nearly forgot to pay for the venue, and why it made Checkout Summit feel even more real.
The Tweet That Made It Real
I couldn’t contain my excitement when the venue agreement was finalized. The contract was signed, the numbers were set, and the deposit was staring back at me on my screen. In that moment, it felt like the entire project had just leapt from “idea” to “real.”
So I did what any excitable organizer would do — I tweeted about it:
“Well, WooCommerce people of Twitter — I just paid the ~€5k venue deposit and signed the contract. So Checkout Summit is now reallyyyyy happening.”
To give it extra weight, I attached a screenshot of the banking screen showing the wire transfer details. That screenshot was supposed to be the final confirmation — the proof that Checkout Summit had a home. Except it wasn’t.
The Silent Error
Fast forward a couple of days. I expected to receive a confirmation email from the venue’s finance office, maybe even a polite “Thanks, we’ve got your payment.” Instead, my phone rang.
On the other end, a polite but slightly concerned voice asked: “We just wanted to check — did you send the deposit? We don’t see anything on our end.”
For a moment, I froze. Of course I had sent it! I even had the screenshot! But then, as I opened my banking app again, the truth stared back at me. The payment was still sitting there, unsent, waiting for that one extra click. In my rush to celebrate, I had captured the intention to pay, not the action itself.
From Panic to Relief
That realization came with the kind of embarrassed laughter you can only direct at yourself. I apologized immediately, explaining the situation, and promised the money would be on its way — this time for real — within the hour.
The venue staff, to their credit, were gracious. They’d clearly seen enough event organizers in their time to know that excitement sometimes overrides procedure. Instead of annoyance, they met me with good-natured understanding. It turned what could have been a stressful moment into a story worth telling.
And once the payment actually went through, I decided not to re-tweet my earlier enthusiasm even though this time, the deposit was really sent.
What I Learned
Looking back, a few takeaways stand out:
- Proof isn’t proof until it’s done. A screenshot doesn’t mean anything if you forget the last step.
- Excitement is a double-edged sword. It’s amazing to feel energized about a project, but it can also lead to rushing.
- Clear communication matters. The venue’s calm phone call diffused the situation before it could become a real problem.
- Mistakes can humanize the process. Sharing the story turned a slip-up into a relatable behind-the-scenes moment.
In the bigger picture, it reminded me that organizing Checkout Summit is a series of small wins, occasional hiccups, and plenty of opportunities to laugh at myself.
Connecting It Back to Checkout Summit
This little “deposit drama” is more than just an anecdote — it’s a reflection of what makes events like Checkout Summit special. Behind every polished schedule, sponsor banner, and speaker lineup is a whole lot of messy, human effort. There are contracts to sign, calls to make, forms to fill, and, yes, deposits to send.
Sharing these moments matters because they show that events don’t come together through perfection. They come together through persistence, communication, and a willingness to embrace the funny mishaps along the way.
If anything, nearly forgetting to pay for the venue made the event feel more real. It was a reminder that Checkout Summit isn’t just an idea — it’s happening, flaws and all. And maybe that makes it even more meaningful.
The Takeaway
Next time you’re about to celebrate a milestone — whether it’s signing a contract, launching a site, or sending a payment — pause for a second. Double-check that you’ve actually finished the task. Because nothing feels more humbling than realizing you announced to the world that you did something you didn’t actually do.
But then again, those are the moments that give you the best stories to tell. And as far as behind-the-scenes stories go, this one is going to stick with me every time I walk into that venue for Checkout Summit.
