How To Organise a Meet Up
The first time I met people off the internet, it was 20 bubblers at some pub I’d never been to, and I was supposedly the organsier- I was a nervous wreck!
Meeting complete and utter strangers off the internet isn’t always easy, even for the most social butterflies, and even if you feel like you know them pretty well from online.
So think about how best to comfort people and make them realise that not everyone on the internet is a scary monster…
- meet in a public place where there are passers by
- consider a daytime meet
- ensure any activities include people
- invite attendees to bring a friend or partner along for moral support
- be clear about how to identify each other at the meet up point
- have a way for attendees to contact you/someone on the day
- touch base with attendees prior to the day so they know you really do exist and that it will be going ahead.
Inviting People
Well I can tell you how not to invite people- with a vague open ended forum post like “anyone in suchandsuchatown want to meet up one weekend?” This results in three pages of umming and arring and trying to work out details.
What you need to do is give it some thought and present a cohesive idea along with the message that you are flexible to other people’s ideas.
Here is an example of how I first suggested a group of us drive 3 hours out of melbourne for a night in Lorne.
I suggest having the following details in your invitation post:
- A date and time to meet
- A specific meet up location (somewhere well known is best)
- A suggested activity for the day/evening
- How you will identify each other
- How you will contact attendees should there be a change of plans
- How attendees should contact you/someone else should they be late etc.
- Advise people on what they should bring- lunch money, camera etc.
Once you have written and posted your invitation in all the right places, (such as a relevant group) people will start to respond. Some will jump in with a big YES!, others will express disappointment at living at the other side of the world, others will ask you to change the date, some will ask you to change other details.
When negotiating details, remember that more changes, the more confusing it gets. So don’t feel like you need to bend to every person who can’t make a certain date, or whatever. Some people will miss out – they can come to the next one!
Lorne 07 – RB Melb Group Shot by whoalse
A few days before
Let attendees know that it is in fact going ahead, confirm the details and get yourself orgainsed. If you have promised them red balloons to mark the meet up point- buy them. If you need to wash your picnic rug, do it. Just trust me on this. You will be nervous on the day itself and are more likely to forget things.
Some of my suggestions for the day before are:
- charge you camera batteries
- print off a list of people who are coming and any mobile numbers you have for them
- double check any reservations you have and confirm numbers
- Charge your mobile phone and ensure you have enough credit to make several calls
- If you are doing the popular red balloon thing, bring string to tie them to something
- Pack a map, even if you know the area well. It makes giving directions to others easier.
- If there is a reservation, make sure attendees know what name it is under
Once you are all packed, leave everything you are taking at the front door or in a pile somewhere like that.
On the Day
This is the bit where people call you to cancel, rock up late, get lost, and never arrive for reasons you will never find out.
- Have your mobile phone on Loud. Boy I have learned this the hard way several times over!
- Be the first person to the meetup point
- Decide how long you are prepared to hang around waiting for latecomers
- Watch out for people arriving
- Introduce yourself with a smile and if your real name is different to your username, introduce yourself with both names.
- Introduce people to each other as they arrive
Then you all go off and have a bunch of fun!!!
The rest takes care of itself, trust me :)
Oh yeah, almost forget… the absolute most important bit of all
post all the photos in a journal post on redbubble so we can all see :)
Anne van Alkemade
Good one Jo. Really good advice.
(oooooohhhhhh there’s my red hat oooooohhh)
John Robb
All good advice. I’ tend to follow the same tenants.
Melinda Kerr
Could have used the photo I was in at Lorne…hmph…
Boadicea
Thanks Jo, I have been thinking about a Brisvegas meet up and your advice will be valuable. (If I ever get a round to it.) The only thing now is that Red Bubble is soooo big is there anyway to search for home towns by name???
RoughDiamond
One day I will go to one :) x
great tips Jo x
Edwin Wood
Great tips Jo, thanks for sharing.
SpaceAce07
Thanks for the tips JO, next time I’ll remember the Red balloons.
When we had our mini meet up back in November we met outside Flinders st.
Only 4 of us turned up, but it was a great night. I’ll remember the rest for next time though.
I might have a crack at another meet up in the new year, see how many we get next time.
Steven Lippis
Good advice!
The one thing I didn’t do was give out my mobile number, mainly just slipped my mind.
Would have been handy for the one person out of a dozen yeses who actually turned up. We didn’t find each other!
Matsumoto
Great info, I’m looking forward to meeting some of the people here on the east coast. Thanks!:)
Melissa Vowell
hah thanks Jo, this will be handy for organising my January Brisbane meet – you hear that guys, JANUARY ;)
transmute
I was there.
Many times.
It was good.
Every time.
Hien Nguyen
Nice one Jo!
I was there too Chris, albeit behind the camera for many of those shots :)
Darryl A
Yes, you are the Queen, Jo. I look forward to the next one! – daz
GrymmSong
Jo,
brilliant! I am glad you got to meet up with all these people!!
it’s comforting to know that not all meetings through the internet is bad.
keep this alive!! the more friends you surround..the more love is abound!^^
Faizan Qureshi
Great post Jo!!
Melissa Vowell
Thanks Jo I’ve just written finished organising my meet and only forgot one or two things from your list – I thought to myself “oh better go check Jo’s guidelines just incase i missed anything ” :)
Sara Lamond
Some great tips there Jo – I’ll keep them in mind if I ever organize another one!
RichardV
Thanks for that Jo. Having My Group for 8 weeks now, and spring arriving fast, I feel I need to do something.
Also, How do I post pics into a journal ?? Do I have to upload them to RB first ??
Jennifer Vickers
Looks like fun and a great idea too.
booboo
Thank you for the invitation to join this group Jo.
The sharing of information and ideas is one which I personally think is the lifeblood of any group and I was particularly please about getting this information for that reason, to pick up more ideas and to share my own with you.
I organise the meets for two groups Wales Rich In Beauty and also Castle Magic, (I also throw the invitation to join the meet open to anyone in the area from any group).
I combine the two groups together when organising a meet, and try to chose a venue which would suite both groups, although I have found that a lot of people will turn out to most meets just to have a fun day out as well as getting some pictures
The advice here is excellent advice Jo, most of which I already follow, I did think however, that the red balloon idea was unique to me and our groups, I am pleased to hear I’m not the only fruitcake around though.
The red balloon idea, for anyone thinking of organising a meet, is a marvellous ice breaker and a way of identifying people you have never met before. Also adults walking around with balloon are not very likely to be very timid or shy by the time you meet up with them are they! so it’s a great fun way of getting the party going. One added extra which our groups do is anyone not arriving or carrying their red balloon is fined (Token small Fine) and the money collected goes to a charity of the groups choice, just another way of getting the group to jell together. I have found that everyone is already laughing by the time we all get together, and all have stories to tell of the looks they have had, of questions they have been asked, while carrying their red balloons to the meet.
Adding photos of the group meet to a journal is one I haven’t done before but will from now on. We have a meet this weekend so no time like the present to start.
Thanks Brian
susan davies
as host of castle magic and wales rich in beauty I must applaud brian beckett for organising yours, brian does all that youve suggested, we tie red ballooons to ourselves and to cars for id, when travelling from one location to another we always ensure that those new to the area have a car to follow, we have had 4 highly suuccessful meets and have jelled with all, dont let bad weather put anyone off our first was cold wey and very rainy but boy we had so much fun, I was already friends with so many on here and after meeting them was not dissapointed, meeting up with friends old and new tomorrow, can I just add its nice that as many of the hosts can turn up but realise this is not always possible with locations and other commitments and a group photo always seems to go down well, on my profile page I have a link REDBUBBLERS here I post my own photos of that day some quite amusing.
Well done jo, this is such a great and encouraging piece to all im sure
DavidAmosPhoto...
Now that sounds like fun!!
monocotylidono
excellent practical advice! It’s going into favorites for future reference! :-)
Jennifer Woodward
All really great ideas, Jo – not entirely convinced I’d be able to organise such a thing, but I hope someone else in my area would, as I’d like to attend somethig like the meet-up you described – bet you all had a loada fun!
Clare Colins
Fabulous! thanks for all the info. Perhaps there are a few of us in the Mid North Coast area of NSW Australia. It would be good to see a few photo addicts :))
Newhouser
I am asking here in Ocala Florida yes that is the place. bubble me if you life there to. Hal Newhouser