How to run a successful meetup at CCL

From Counter Culture Labs

Counter Culture Labs is a Do-ocracy. We love it when one of our members wants to teach something, or organize an event! Here are some guidelines for success:

Scheduling[edit | edit source]

  • Always check the Meetup calendar before you schedule any new events. Meetup is our most authoritative source for what public events are happening at CCL.
  • Please let someone know that you are planning to schedule an event. The weeekly Working Meeting (currently Wednesdays 7-8:30pm) is a great opportunity to do so.
  • All public events at CCL must be on Meetup! That includes BAAM events etc.
  • Please make sure to add your event at least a week in advance. Ask someone (e.g. at the Working Meeting) if you do not know how to do so.
  • Most of our regular weekday events start at 7pm, but often we can schedule a second event afterwards at 8 or 8:30pm. Check with whomever is running the other event first, to see if that will work.
  • In some cases it may be possible to run events simultaneously, provided they use different parts of the space (e.g. a lecture inparallel with a lab session) and are not otherwise likely to interfere with each other. Again - check with whomever is running th eother event, to see if your event may be compatible!
  • If you cannot make it for some reason, it is always better to find someone who can run the event in your place, rather than canceling last-minute.
  • If you do need to cancel, always cancel the event on Meetup as well!

Advertising[edit | edit source]

  • Please make sure to add your event on Meetup at least a week in advance. Ask someone (e.g. at the Working Meeting) if you do not know how to do so.
  • Always add an image - people don't like to read a block of plain text.
  • Feel free to use other platforms (facebook, eventbrite, etc.) to advertise the event, but always link back to Meetup and ask people to sign up through there.
  • Crosspost on the Omni calendar, so our direct neighbors know what's going on!
  • Crosspost at the Bay Area Science Calendar at the latest the Saturday before the event (because they send out a very well-read newsletter with upcoming events on Sunday).
  • Crosspost at FunCheap for fun & cheap events. If you get picked as one of their events of the day, that can easily double your attendance.
  • Crosspost any food-related events at edible EAST BAY.
  • Crosspost your events on Twitter, Facebook, and whatever other social media you have access to. If you don't have access to the CCL accounts, ask someone at the Working Meeting.If you do all of these, you are pretty much guaranteed to have a great turnout for your event.

Running the event[edit | edit source]

  • Show up early to make sure the place is in order to run your event! You may need to rearrange tables, clean up someone else's mess, set up audio/visual equipment, or even ask another group of people to wrap up and make space for your scheduled event.
  • Always spend a few minutes at the start to introduce Counter Culture Labs.
  • Make sure to explicitly pass around the hat for donations, or for people who have not yet paid the class fee (if any) online.

Cleanup[edit | edit source]

  • ToDo