Thursday "Bored" Night at Wildflour

Matt W.	Posted Oct 7, 2011 6:41 AM Link to this discussion
DecaturGamer Group Organizer Decatur, IL Post #: 763	Discussion time - Our monthly First Thursday Meetup at Wildflour is our least attended event. While some months have been okay with a handful of attendees, most Wildflour events are very sparsely attended. Our most recent event (Oct 6) was only RSVP'd by Kyle and Julie (not sure if they made it or not). Unfortunately, Wildflour owner Kelly Wingard said that there were two new couples that showed up to play games... but none of us were there. So what do we need to do about this? Do we have too many "open Meetups", and should we cancel this one entirely? Is Thursday bad? Is it just the first Thursday (would a different Thursday be better)? I know that the venue isn't the problem. Wildflour is great, and it's received many great reviews from the group. And Kelly and the staff have been very accommodating and kind to let us meet there. For me, personally, any Thursday is bad. I just always seem to have something else going on. Really, weekdays in general aren't the best - that's why you're much more likely to see me on a weekend event. But at one time, members were clamoring for additional Meetups, so that's why we went to one per week. Plus doing the alternating days was advantageous to those of you that couldn't make a Tuesday or Wednesday event. Should we now scale this back a bit? I'm happy to listen to any suggestions or comments you might have about this. Thanks.
Steve Sanders	Posted Oct 7, 2011 7:57 AM Link to this reply
spqr2001 Mt Zion, IL Post #: 241	I know that, for me, Tuesday/Thursday during soccer season is bad, but that ends next week. Michelle and I try to make the Wildflour events when soccer is not going on, but I tend to agree with you about the attendance at these events. I would love to see if improve because I really enjoy gaming there, the staff is always more than happy to help us out! Plus, as I mentioned yesterday, I heard people talking about coming (and apparently they did!) who aren't members of our group. Now, I know that I will be at the next one (assuming we decide to keep it) and would love to have more people come with us.
Chris Baker	Posted Oct 7, 2011 7:38 PM Link to this reply
UberGeek Decatur, IL Post #: 482	For me, Thursdays and Fridays are out because I work late. I'd love to give them some business, but I simply cant get there before the festivities are over.
Matt W.	Posted Oct 7, 2011 8:30 PM Link to this reply
DecaturGamer Group Organizer Decatur, IL Post #: 764	But then the question is - what, if anything, do we change? Leave it like it is and hope for the best? It doesn't reflect well on us or on Wildflour when new people show up to play games, and we aren't there. Those people are lost - they're probably not going to give us another shot. I just wonder if it's worth it to continue to have an event there or if we're spreading ourselves too thin.
Jeff Jones	Posted Oct 8, 2011 7:51 AM Link to this reply
user 4194056 Metamora, IL Post #: 180	I would say that to have an ongoing event, we need to have one person ultimately responsible to either be there OR make sure somebody is there. If that is too much of a hassle for anybody in our group, then just drop it. While recruiting new people is good and healthy, but if an event becomes more drudgery than fun for the organizer(s) then drop the event.
Jeff Wells	Posted Oct 8, 2011 8:02 PM Link to this reply
user 9865671 Decatur, IL Post #: 29	I can make the next 3 unless of course something comes up between now and then. Then the trick is making sure you have games that take no more than 2 hours to play.
Steve Sanders	Posted Oct 8, 2011 8:10 PM Link to this reply
spqr2001 Mt Zion, IL Post #: 242	Personally, I say we keep them for now and reevaluate in a few months. I'll even take charge of this meetup if thats what it takes
Josh Chestnut	Posted Oct 9, 2011 2:57 AM Link to this reply
kensai13 Decatur, IL Post #: 309	I don't think there's a real problem. We had 10 folks show up 2 Thursdays back. It's unfortunate that we had people show up with nobody to greet them, but I don't think we're to blame for not having someone there. If this was 1991 and we were a club that ran by word of mouth and flyers alone I'd say we were at fault. However, as an online meetup group, we have an RSVP system in place that ensures any prospective member will know whether there will be someone at the meetup. If we need to take any action, at most we may need to remind folks to try and be more diligent concerning their RSVPs. Do your best to give as much notice as possible. If you say you'll be there, be there. There may be other people counting on your commitment to an event. The RSVP system is really the bones of our group if you think about it. It can solve most of the problems you brought up if we all use it right. :)
Josh Chestnut	Posted Oct 9, 2011 3:03 AM Link to this reply
kensai13 Decatur, IL Post #: 310	A couple additional thoughts.... I think moving days will just change the roster rather than increase it. For every person that can't make Thursdays there's probably a person who can't make Mondays, or Saturdays, etc... Being our shortest meetup I'd expect wildflour will likely always be our smallest as well. Personally speaking... if I'm stretched and need to ditch on one of our monthly nights it'll probably be Wildflour. I'd rather miss 2 hours of gaming on a Thursday then miss 4+ hours on a Wednesday or a Tuesday.
Matt W.	Posted Oct 9, 2011 7:35 AM Link to this reply
DecaturGamer Group Organizer Decatur, IL Post #: 765	If this was 1991 and we were a club that ran by word of mouth and flyers alone I'd say we were at fault. However, as an online meetup group, we have an RSVP system in place that ensures any prospective member will know whether there will be someone at the meetup. True, but I don't really expect Wildflour prospects to use the RSVP system. Wildflour does some of their own advertising (like their own calendar), which encourages non-members to come play with us. Those people don't necessarily even know we're an organized group, and are probably unfamiliar with the site or the RSVP system. They assume that since we say we'll be there, we'll be there. If we need to take any action, at most we may need to remind folks to try and be more diligent concerning their RSVPs. Do your best to give as much notice as possible. If you say you'll be there, be there. There may be other people counting on your commitment to an event. The RSVP system is really the bones of our group if you think about it. It can solve most of the problems you brought up if we all use it right. :) You're right, and I highly encourage all members to do as Josh suggests - RSVP as early as you can, give plenty of notice if you have to drop out, and don't drop out very often.

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