Open Evening = Social Evening

#1

Here’s how Hackspace describes their open evening:

Our weekly meeting, where people hang out and hack on projects, socialise and collaborate. Bring beer if you like.

Whereas ours can be (with exaggeration) descibed as:

Standing in an empty room with one other person while rain runs down the windows, punctuated by rather stilted one-on-ones with brave newbies

As a result, nobody wants to do it.

I think we should try and make Open Evening into a regular social night for Makerspace.

Come along, grab a beer from Canopy, sit down and catch up with everyone else. Bring a project or don’t bring a project. Talk about serious SLMS matters (floorgate! kitchengate!) or talk about kids TV shows. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that we get into the habit of making Wednesday a fun night.

With that in mind, I’ll be coming to next week’s with no plan and no intent to be on official door duty (we still need another volunteer for that btw.). I hope to see plenty of you all there too :smile:

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#2

I’l be there too…Its my turn to stand in an empty room :smile:

Hopefully it won’t be that empty!

#3

Perso I’ve done a few and it’s really fun, Introducing what we do to people visiting is great and part of sharing knowledge and passion.

A few time we had some beer and enjoyed long chat with members and visitors. Next time I’m around to host I’ll buy a beer to any member coming down to says hello and chat a bit.

Maybe I was lucky but I was never left alone being able to look into whatever I brought with me to keep me occupied in case it quiet down.

#4

My my experience, having been at nearly all of them is that they can be very enjoyable and stimulating evenings. But very unpredictable as to turnout.

Often two hosts isn’t enough.

Sometimes the beer flows, sometimes it’s tea.
I believe it’s an important feature.

My impression was that in general they were successful.

Where did this negative feedback come from?

#5

I wouldn’t be overly critical of the open evenings, especially not by making unfavourable comparisons with the Hackspace. I went along to a London Hackspace open evening last month and had a rather cool recption. There did not seem to be any engagement of visitors at all and the regulars were all absorbed in doing their own thing. I came along to the SLMS open evening the following week and it was a lot more welcoming and a huge contrast with my experience at the other place. People were friendly and I was engaged in conversation. As a result I joined SLMS and not Hackspace.

I would like to help out on open evenings, but I am beginning a part time degree next week, and have lectures on Wednesday evenings.

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#6

That’s really good to hear. It’s something we’ve deliberately tried to do :smile:

#7

Good idea to merge open evening and social evening. I’ll try to come down next Weds.

#8

I think that in the previous space it did become a chore. Really enjoying them in the new space. I think focus on social for Wednesday nights is right.

#9

I thought you might be interested in my point of view as a “new” visitor to an Open;

I had no problem finding the place. (Signs were not put out until just before I left - everyone was deep in discussion with visitors and I think they were overlooked, but I didn’t need extra signs or sandwichboard to find it though they might have added a bit of pzazz)

I arrived 7.30 prompt - Jan didn’t know how to put the lights on but this was a good ice-breaker.

There were no leaflets to be found :disappointed_relieved:

Other members - Connor, Dermot, Pete - and two more “newbies” arrived soon after and an informal intro to the ethos, the space and facilities followed. everyone was pretty chilled and I think all visitors learned a lot in a short space of time and conversation moved into other areas; what projects people were pursuing, future development of the space, getting to know members.

Eventually I was offered a cup of tea!

I found the Open Evening informative, welcoming and encouraging and will definitely be looking to becoming a member (waiting to see if my employer will stump up a monthly contribution as Continuing Professional Development)! :smiley:

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#10

This makes me think we should set up a refreshments table…plus a sign explaining that you can get very nice beer two doors down?

#11

Last night was great. Plenty of interested members. Lots of great conversations and both beer and tea were drunk. It was a veritable smorgasbord of activity.

Good to see new faces and members alike joining in.

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#12

Yep, two new members already and I expect to see one or two more,

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