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SXSW Community Voting is OPEN, closes Aug 23, 2026
Vote for me at SXSW 2027

AI is coming for the laptop class. The trades are hiring.

I want to say that on the SXSW stage, but the talks get picked by public vote, not executives. That is where you come in.

Vote for the SXSW Session Main conference Vote for the SXSW EDU Session Education track

Takes 30 seconds. Free account required. Voting closes Sunday, Aug 23, 2026.

45+
Years in the Trades
1.7M
Social Followers
158M+
YouTube Views
2
Sessions to Vote For
Why this talk matters

AI can write the emails, the code, the reports. It can't crawl under a house and fix a slab leak.

For years we told a whole generation that the only smart path ran through a laptop. Now AI is coming for a lot of those desk jobs first. Meanwhile the skilled trades, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, are not a fallback. They are one of the most secure, most lucrative paths left. And they are hiring.

I have spent 45 years proving the trades build wealth, not just fix problems. SXSW is one of the biggest stages in tech and culture, and it puts its lineup to a public vote. If you believe the trades deserve a seat at that table, two clicks from you make it happen.

Two sessions, two votes

Vote for both, it only takes a minute

Roger Wakefield has two sessions in the SXSW 2027 PanelPicker, one at the main conference and one at SXSW EDU. They are voted on separately, so a vote for one does not count for the other. Please cast a vote for each.

SXSW Main

AI Is Coming for the Laptop Class. The Trades Are Hiring.

The case for why the skilled trades are the smart, AI-proof bet, and why that argument belongs on the main SXSW stage rather than the sidelines.

Tracks: Workplace and Tech & AI · Format: Presentation

Vote for this session
SXSW EDU

The SXSW EDU Session

Taking the "trades are hiring" message to the educators, counselors, and students who shape what happens after high school.

Skilled trades and the future of work in education

Vote for this session
How to vote

Three steps. Thirty seconds.

Voting on the SXSW PanelPicker is free and open to anyone. The only requirement is a confirmed email address. Here is exactly what happens after you click a red button above.

1

Click a vote button

Hit either red button above to open my session on the SXSW PanelPicker.

2

Make a free account

SXSW asks you to create a quick free PanelPicker login and confirm your email, and that is what makes your vote count.

3

Hit the up-arrow

Click the up-arrow to vote. Then come back and vote for the other session too.

Heads up: Your vote only counts after you confirm your free SXSW account by email. One quick signup, then vote on both. Thanks for pushing through it.
Questions

Everything you need to know to vote

Community voting for SXSW 2027 runs from August 5 to August 23, 2026. These are the questions people ask most about how the voting works and what the two sessions cover.

How do I vote for Roger Wakefield at SXSW 2027?
Click either red vote button on this page to open Roger's session on the SXSW PanelPicker. Create a free PanelPicker account, confirm your email, and click the up-arrow to vote, then do the same for the other session.
When does SXSW 2027 community voting close?
Community voting is open from August 5 through August 23, 2026. Cast your votes before the end of August 23.
Do I need an account to vote?
Yes. SXSW requires a free PanelPicker account with a confirmed email before your vote counts. It takes under a minute, and then you can vote on both of Roger's sessions.
What is Roger's SXSW session about?
"AI Is Coming for the Laptop Class. The Trades Are Hiring." makes the case that while AI will reshape many desk jobs, the skilled trades, meaning plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, remain secure, lucrative, and are actively hiring. It is submitted to the Workplace and Tech & AI tracks as a Presentation.
Is there a SXSW EDU session too?
Yes. Roger has a second session submitted to SXSW EDU, bringing the "trades are hiring" message to educators, counselors, and students. You can vote for both from this page.
Who is Roger Wakefield?
Roger Wakefield is a licensed master plumber, keynote speaker, and trades educator with 45+ years of experience, 1.7M+ social followers, and 158M+ YouTube views. He is a leading voice for the skilled trades.

Let's put the trades on the SXSW stage.

Two sessions, two votes, thirty seconds, and it costs nothing. Community voting closes at the end of Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Vote for the SXSW Session Main conference Vote for the SXSW EDU Session Education track

Voting closes Sunday, Aug 23, 2026.

Roger Wakefield, Master Plumber, Keynote Speaker and Trades Educator · rogerwakefield.com
Real Trades. Real Talk. Real Growth.