Last night I organised my first failed developer meetup. Seven developers showed, but the dinner was awkward compared to the four successful events I organised in Cape Town.
Running events like these require the same skills you need to get laid, so listen up, nerds!
What went wrong?
- The atmosphere was tense.
- Guests were unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
- Conversation was strained and argumentative.
- Nobody led the conversation well.
- The venue was too clean.
Luckily, these problems are easily solved. Here's what I learned.
3 Lessons in Hosting Developers
- Arrive early so you can introduce everyone and set a friendly atmosphere. This is key. I arrived late to a fully-seated table because I did not plan for parking. Always book a table under your name so people can find you in a crowded restaurant (and everyone knows the host). Welcome each party with open arms and make them feel at home as a King of Code.
- Be a strong, gracious host. Lead the conversation in the beginning. Coders, in general, are not social butterflies. Have some stories lined up that everyone can relate to. Tales of suffering at the hand of spec-less clients are best.
- Know who everyone is beforehand. This is key to introducing everyone successfully and being a gracious host. The event is not about the host, but it's your job to steer the atmosphere and get people talking about their passion.
Before, I was doing enough things unwittingly right to get a good result, but I learned the most from this meetup. Failure may be hard, but it's the fastest way to learn.
The next Stellenbosch meetup will be in Bohemia, where beer flows like milk and Perinaise like honey over lekker local pizzas.