I’ve been thinking a lot about community and how Machine fits into bringing people together. In the beginning, we didn’t set out to be a shop or a sticker printing company. All Machine was at the start in 2015 was a community space for people to come together, draw in the blackbooks, and participate in our monthly art shows.

Over the last 11 years, a lot of what people see of the world has been through their phone screens. Even people out in the world would be walking around looking at their phones. There seems to be a shift happening where people are being pulled back into reality.

I’m seeing more kids out in the neighborhood playing catch, jumping on trampolines, and driving go-karts around. Things I remember seeing when I was growing up before the internet. We were outside. People were engaged with the world around them.

It’s refreshing to see more of it. Even on our phones, we’re seeing memes about what life was like before the internet: renting movies at Blockbuster, gathering at friends’ houses, riding bikes. It’s a different world now, but young people growing up today seem to be seeking some of what older generations had.

So how does Machine fit into this now?

We’re getting back to our roots. We’re hosting blackbook sessions and planning events. We’ve had a few blackbook sessions so far, and everyone was engaged in real conversations, drawing, and connecting. Nobody was buried in their phone.

My role in the business pulled me away from this, and I found myself mainly glued to my computer, working on the business. While it was needed, my time with the community was missing. Now that I’m getting back into it, it’s obvious this is the direction we need to go. Everything at the shop is still going, but we’re adding the community aspect back in.

If you’re in Vegas, feel free to stop by. We’re gaining momentum, and I feel like it won’t be long before the community aspect of Machine is back in full swing.

We’re always open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but I’ll be at the shop on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to blackbook with people and have conversations. As we get things figured out, I should be around more.

— Bus