Dear Lurkers,

There's like 70 people on our member list whom I've never met. It seems that most of you enjoy games, at least you say so in your profiles. But you don't really participate. Is there anything we can do, as organizers, to encourage more participation from you? Meetup on different days? Have specific games that you want to play? Have a different venue? Do we need to have a social gathering (IE, meet for pizza, but no games) first so that you'll feel more comfortable? Let us know, and we'll make every effort to accommodate.

Thanks!

I like the social gathering lets us all meet and not be in a gaming situation. I think some of us are nervous on meeting with strangers and not knowing wha type of personality people have.

Er...well I just signed up for the mini-con and then couldn't go, heh...I probably should leave the group since we have B.A.R.E.'s meetings on Wednesdays too...

I like the social gathering lets us all meet and not be in a gaming situation. I think some of us are nervous on meeting with strangers and not knowing wha type of personality people have.

OK, that's what I was wondering. We'll look at setting something up, thanks for your input.

Er...well I just signed up for the mini-con and then couldn't go, heh...I probably should leave the group since we have B.A.R.E.'s meetings on Wednesdays too...

Well, you certainly don't have to leave the group - you never know when you might be able to make it to an event in the future. We do have game days on other days that Wednesday, too. We do stuff on Saturdays and Sundays. Try to make it if you can! Thanks for replying.

Weird, I figured folks would be more nervous about a social event rather than just a gaming event. I would never go to a party of strangers but I have no problem going to gaming conventions by myself. With cons, I always have the games to focus on, but end up making new friends in the process.

I kind of feel the same, but perhaps others feel differently. Maybe if we held a get-together at a public restaurant or something, people might feel more comfortable meeting us than if we have a game at someone's house or RCC. It's worth a shot. I'll try anything to get more member involvement!

I kind of feel the same, but perhaps others feel differently. Maybe if we held a get-together at a public restaurant or something, people might feel more comfortable meeting us than if we have a game at someone's house or RCC. It's worth a shot. I'll try anything to get more member involvement!

Branching out and doing movie and food trips is a good way to try and make people acquainted with you. Getting a print of business cards that advertise your group, and giving them to people who may be interested or know those who are is also useful. Word of mouth is the most useful and powerful attendance booster. Another way to increase the odds is to mirror your site by making a group on Facebook, if you haven’t already, with a redirect to your Meetup page.

I endorse always holding meetings at neutral public locales so that no one feels out of place, but I know that in D-town that’s really asking a lot. Regrettably RCC might make people feel awkward if they aren’t students (even if it doesn’t matter), and someone’s home comes with legal risks and a whole bunch of other anxieties.

However even if none of those things work I have to put to you that you’re still in a very good spot. If someone comes to your site and sees that you have a lot of members it's a positive thing because they aren’t going to feel a great deal of pressure. They can be casually involved with the group without making any serious commitment so it increases your chances that someone will actually come (as backwards as that sounds).

The only thing you have to be wary of is lurkers who are creeping around out there because they think they can coerce people to join them in their campaigns/game nights without actually being active participants to your group.

We've talked in the past about getting together for a supper one night at a local food place, anyone interested in seeing if we can get some commitments and schedule a time?

My problem is Saturdays & Wednesdays are nearly impossible for me to make.

The Sunday ones are possibles, depending on church goings-on. I really wanted to play Talisman this weekend (one of my fave games EVER) but can't get away for it. Hopefully the next Sunday meetup I can make it to.

Dave