There were over 20 people at the Syracuse tweetup Thursday at . There is no science to setting up such an event, and getting people face to face is not brain surgery. Here's how this one came about.
Picking a date and time. Ask on Twitter. People seemed generally to think Thursday would be a good evening for them, and some mentioned specific dates. You're not going to please everyone, so you have to just pick a date. Most people get out of work between 4 and 6, so 5:30 seems like a good starting time, figuring that some people will arrive early and some people will arrive late, but nobody has to go home and urge themselves out the door after they've kicked off their shoes.
Picking a place. Again, you're never going to please everybody. But there are things everyone wants in a location: parking, something to eat and/or drink, and – something we learned from the last tweetup – someplace where they don't have to shout over loud music and loud dinner conversations. Since Recess Coffee is smallish, I called them three weeks ahead of the date and asked if they would mind if something on the order of 20 of us showed up (the worst thing we could do for them would be to scare away anyone who would normally be there, if we were going to show up once). They said sure, and most people bought coffee (or peanut butter hot chocolate), and we're good to go back, as long as we give them some notice.
Why? We're already connected on Twitter, why do a tweetup? Personalities and ideas tend to germinate in person, especially when people get to talk for several minutes and exchange business cards. And when great minds get together and create great things, everybody wins.
Who's in to plan the next one? I'll help!
January 22nd, 2010 at 08:04
Last night’s tweetup was my fave so far: intimate, good vibe, great coffee and to top it off I’d never been to Recess prior. After telling my wife about the Nutella hot chocolate, I think we’ll be regulars.
You know all the great spots in the ‘Cuse and have my vote as the Official Tweetup Place Picker.
January 22nd, 2010 at 13:24
I’m with Paddy on all counts. That was really fun. And it looks like you got everyone else, far as I can tell.
January 22nd, 2010 at 15:34
agreed – I can help with it but Josh, you do a fantastic job with everything!
Thanks for fitting that PB hot chocolate in there.. I think I have mentioned it to 20 of 28 of my coworkers today.
January 22nd, 2010 at 15:38
T – You and Kelvin and Sam and I’m not sure who else, but that peanut butter hot chocolate gotta lotta love.
January 22nd, 2010 at 19:13
haha, yes, it was amazing. I have a date with a friend to go back in a few weeks to try something new!
February 2nd, 2010 at 17:37
[...] did I want to find those people? In mid-January I attended my 3rd tweetup which my buddy Josh wrote about. A tweetup is where local people gather to meet the people they [...]