Building a community around events is hard, but it doesn't have to be. It just takes a few things:
- Consistency, rhythm and trust. The event will happen and continue to happen. It's worth a spot on our busy calendars.
- A theme that resonates. Two solid examples:
Neal's Founders Hike: people who like building things and hiking.
Hussein's North County Founders meetup: no pitching, no selling.
Both are monthly events and have grown significantly as a result.
- Freedom to connect with each other.
Neither example above has programming, but that's not to say that programming-free is the way to go. I’d say there needs to be a balance. And a heavier focus on connecting with others.
- Collision opportunities, sometimes that's just getting into a circle and saying a name and one thing about you. It gets tough past a certain size.
- Promoting the cool happenings.
Neal has done a great job with this by setting up a pack photo (my words, not his). This shows who came out, honors the early risers, and shows the energy!
- The last thing I’d say is to be an active organizer. It can feel like sitting back and letting it all happen is a good idea, but it's important to roam, make connections, intro people together, and be present at the event.
Both of these founders are exceptional at this.
We can always use more events, more gatherings, and more packs. If we get the essence right, it doesn't take a lot to create an impactful gathering. It just takes a little time.
And these are my favorite types of events to share!
Howl yeah!
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If you're organizing something - howl at me
If you're looking to plug into the community - check out the Social Coyote
howl.thesocialcoyote.com
