DoItInPerson.com recently spoke to Kyle McCullers, who runs the Rising Affluent conference in New York. 

DIIP: Tell us a little bit about your group and the events you run?

KM: The Rising Affluent: Advancement and Achievement Conference is the premier conference event for young professionals to network, grow, and develop themselves for professional advancement and personal achievement.

Our mission is to empower young professionals with information to achieve their goals.

Our vision is to see people actively pursue their passions as a result of the information we provide through conferences, events, web and all special media.

 

DIIP: How often and where are the events run? Are there expansion plans?

KM: The Conference is annually held in May on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. There are plans to expand to Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, and Chicago, IL.

 

DIIP: What led to you creating this community/events?

KM: Rising Affluent was founded on the principle that young professionals need an outlet where they can network, learn and get practical advice on growing their careers or their businesses that understands their specific issues and concerns.

 

DIIP: Are the events open to the public or must they be part of your community?

KM: our events are open to the public.

 

DIIP: What makes your community and events unique from others in the same space?

KM: Our events are unique because we draw from professionals and entrepreneurs that  have varied levels of experience in order to present a thorough perspective of how to advance.

 

DIIP: Tell us a bit about whom your target attendee is for this event?

KM: Our target is the ambitious and audacious young professional.

 

DIIP: What is important to you when you look for venues to host the event?

KM: Venues must be able to accommodate our size, have great customer service and have a strong reputation.

 

DIIP: Explain a little about how the event works in terms of structure and sessions?

KM: The conference begins with a light continental breakfast then proceeds to two morning sessions that have 2-3 panels running concurrently in each. There is a networking lunch and then two more sessions with 2-3 panels running concurrently.

 

DIIP: As networking is always a huge part of these events, what advice would you give to an attendee on how to best meet the right people and network effectively?

KM: Meet someone new early in the day to break the ice and get comfortable introducing yourself. Once you meet new people, introduce them to whomever you have already met. This creates a small community feel and people will reciprocate.

 

DIIP: How do you judge the success of your event?

KM: Number of attendees, but more importantly, the attendees feedback.

 

DIIP: What is the single most important piece of your event and why?

KM: The single most important piece of the event is the networking. The real magic in going to conferences is the relationships you walk away with. The knowledge you get from the panelists can be found in books, blogs, magazines, newspapers but the relationships must be made in person.

 

DIIP: If you could have one person attend/speak at your event, who would it be and why?

KM: Rachel Sterne – Chief Digital Officer of NYC

Rachel embodies the ambition and audaciousness of the Rising Affluent and she has found herself in a place of influence with an abundance of great relationships.

 

DIIP: When is the next event and how can people sign up and learn more about it?

KM: 2^nd Annual Rising Affluent Advancement & Achievement Conference

May 12, 2012. Sign up at www.Risingaffluent2012.eventbrite.com

To learn more about Rising Affluent, please visit their website at www.risingaffluent.com and follow them on twitter: @risingaffluent and facebook: facebook.com/risingaffluent.

We recently interviewed Ashley Gallman, who manages the events for Wix Lounge in New York.

Located steps from Union Square, the Wix Lounge is a completely free co-working and event space for creative professionals. Grab your laptop, pop into the Lounge and enjoy a productive workday, great networking opportunities, and amazing events. Active since 2010, the Wix Lounge is run by Wix.com, a free website publishing platform providing user friendly tools for building beautiful, easy-to-make desktop, mobile, and Facebook sites. The Wix Lounge provides free support to Wix.com users, giving them help and advice for making the ideal website.

 

DIIP: How many events do you hold a month?

AG: It varies from month to month, but generally we have 1 event per evening Monday-Friday, so approximately 20 a month.

 

DIIP: What types of events are run in your venue?

AG: If you can imagine it, we’ve probably hosted it or are currently planning it. We’ve hosted art exhibitions, fundraisers, panel discussions, clothing swaps, live paintings, comedy shows – the list goes on.

 

DIIP: Do you run any of your own events or are they all from outside organizations?

AG: We host an event exclusively for Wix users once a month. These events either provide a valuable resource like social media advice or feature the work of Wix users, such as a Wix music festival or fashion show. We also have monthly exhibitions of artists with Wix sites and treat them to a special reception. The most popular event we run, however, is our monthly networking happy hour that encourages our co-workers to meet and connect in a laid back environment.

 

DIIP: How do you select what events to allow to be held at your venue?

AG: We look for three things when choosing events: 1) a creative or entrepreneurial focus 2) the incorporation of a Wix product or user 3) the potential to successfully promote Wix to a large community. The third feature is what we look for the most and is crucial to how our events function. We don’t charge money to have an event here because our currency is promotion.

 

DIIP: What is your favorite group to work with?

AG: We have so many favorites! We do work a lot with Skillshare, though, to provide a venue to their many and awesome teachers.

 

DIIP: Who has been the most dynamic speaker at your venue?

AG: We’ve had so many incredible speakers. Two recent amazing speaker groups come to mind, though. Our Promote Your Art panel featured Alexis Tryon of Artsicle, Charlie Grosso of Baang and Burne Contemporary, Eleanor Whitney of NYFA, Jon Feinstein of Humble Arts Foundation, and Galo Delgado of The Photobooth Project. We also organized a Social Media Simplified event that featured Emily Miethner of NY Creative Interns, official LinkedIn spokeswoman Lindsey Pollak, branding coach Jeff Ramos, and Cynthia Hellen of Girls Who Rock. Both were knock-it-out-of-the-park events.

 

DIIP: What is the one thing you wish organizers who use your venue did or were better at with their event?

AG: Because we don’t charge to have an event here, we ask that organizers promote Wix and the Lounge extensively. Some organizers are better at this task than others, and we’re trying to get better and better at only choosing the co-branding rockstars out there.

 

DIIP: What is the one critical factor you use for measuring the success of an event at your venue?

AG: We definitely focus on how effectively each event promotes Wix. One way in which we do this is by looking at the Google analytics numbers. Each event gets trackable links that tell us exactly how many people they have referred to the Wix.com and Wix Lounge websites. Also, the amount of media and press write ups before and after an event is also crucial for us.

 

DIIP: What was the most unique event proposal you have been sent and asked to host?

AG: The most unique was definitely a dog wedding with celebrity guests, but alas, we are not allowed to have animals in our building.

 

DIIP: If you can give one piece of advice to organizers on how to make their event better and more attractive to your venue, what would it be?

AG: Wix, Wix, Wix! Our venue is run and funded by Wix and exists purely to promote the company. The most effective way in which we can do that is through our events. The more Wixie an event is and the larger the community it will reach, the better!

 

To learn more about Wix Lounge and their upcoming events, please visit http://www.wixlounge.com/, and follow them on facebook and twitter.

We recently interviewed Stephanie Auteri, founder of the Word Nerd (speed) Networking Events.

DIIP: Tell us a little bit about your group and the events you run?

SA: I’m the founder of Career Coaching for Word Nerds, through which I offer one-on-one coaching and consulting to freelance writers and other publishing professionals, and also build opportunities in which fellow word nerds can share stories, experiences, tips, and resources with their peers, and connect with established experts within the industry.

In November 2010, I hosted a Word Nerd (speed) Networking event that attracted 75 writers, editors, and other publishing professionals. The event earned outstanding participant reviews, and led to a series of virtual speed networking events that were hosted on Brazen Careerist.

At the time, that initial event was just an attempt to market my services in a new and unique way, but attendees (and others who missed the event) have begged for more. I’m finally looking at ways in which I can make word nerd networking a bigger part of what I do.

 

DIIP: How often and where are the events run? Are there expansion plans?

SA: I’ve had only one in-person event so far, but am in talks with several people about co-hosting additional events in both NY and NJ. I’ve also started work on a new website that will offer word nerds the benefits of coworking and networking in a virtual space, and which will also operate as a home base for news on forthcoming, in-person events.

 

DIIP: What led to you creating this community/events?

SA: I entered a career coaching certification program after the recession hit, and it became obvious that I would have to diversify if I wanted to continue writing and editing on a freelance basis. As I experimented with different approaches to my brand-spanking-new coaching business, I realized I was more interested in community-building than anything else.

 

DIIP: Are the events open to the public or must they be part of your community?

SA: Open to the public. It’s always good to expand your network!

 

DIIP: What makes your community and events unique from others in the same space?

SA: When I planned my very first event, I approached things from the perspective of an introvert. I had been to so many publishing cocktail parties and happy hours and accomplished nothing, because I was afraid to approach people. I spent so much time hiding in corners with a glass of wine, or just chatting up the person I’d come with. I decided I wanted to eliminate that barrier for others. I figured a speed networking format followed by open mingling would take away that pressure, and also break the ice in advance of the mixing and mingling.

I’d also noticed that many happy hour attendees at other events were all in the same boat. While it’s good to build up a network of peers, I also wanted to connect publishing newbies with experts in the industry. So I mined my own contacts to fill up the expert side of the speed networking table.

In building this new website, I’m also looking at what’s missing out there when it comes to writer communities. I don’t want to reveal anything yet, but I’m looking to introduce several features I haven’t seen elsewhere. ;)

 

DIIP: Tell us a bit about whom your target attendee is for this event?

SA: A beginning freelance writer, or someone looking for their niche within the publishing industry.

 

DIIP: What is important to you when you look for venues to host the event?

SA: I learned a lot about what I didn’t like from the first venue I used. In the future, I plan on paying more attention to possible sources of background noise. (I made the mistake of visiting my venue choice in the off hours.) That was the biggest issue that popped up at my first event.

 

DIIP: Explain a little about how the event works in terms of structure and sessions?

SA: As I mentioned above, my first event featured speed networking, followed by an hour of open mixing and mingling. I’d love to do additional speed networking events in the future, but I’m also considering topic-specific panels, free-form happy hours, casual happy hours centered around a specific discussion topic, lectures, workshops, and even speed coaching.

 

DIIP: As networking is always a huge part of these events, what advice would you give to an attendee on how to best meet the right people and network effectively?

SA: I would refer attendees to the following post on how to build your network without having a panic attack:

http://www.freelancedom.com/2010/11/10/how-to-build-your-network-without-having-a-panic-attack/

 

DIIP: How do you judge the success of your event?

SA: Did a good mix of people show up? Were authentic connections made? Are people begging for more?

 

DIIP: What is the single most important piece of your event and why (could be planning or at event itself)?

SA: In order to provide true value to attendees, I made a huge effort to get people there who were several rungs above them on the publishing ladder. This group of people included published authors, agents, online magazine editors, etc.

 

DIIP: If you could have one person attend/speak at your event, who would it be and why?

SA: This one’s a toughie. I’d love to have people from all corners of publishing at my events: magazines, literary agencies, publishing houses, etc. I’d definitely like to have Susan Shapiro speak at an event, though. I consider her a mentor of mine. I took one of her freelance writing classes several times. In addition to being a writing/publishing professor, she’s still a freelance writer, and has also published a slew of books. More than that, though, she’s also dedicated to connecting her students with the professionals who can most help them. In that way, I suppose she’s inspired me.

 

We recently interviewed Tim Jahn, co-founder of Entrepreneurs Unpluggd about his organization and their events.

 

DIIP: Tell us a little bit about your group and the events you run?

TJ: Entrepreneurs Unplugged produces various types of events for entrepreneurs.  We started with our signature "Unpluggd" evening events that feature 3 entrepreneurs sharing their stories in an intimate, raw format, with a healthy dose of networking.  In April, we're debuting a new event series that will be more of a daylong conference format, with each event being focused on one specific topic for startups.  These will be in our signature "Unpluggd" style too.

 

DIIP: How often and where are the events run? Are there expansion plans?

TJ: Our original Unpluggd events are scheduled for every other month in 2012 and our new Summit series is tentatively scheduled for 3 events this year.  We evaluated national expansion in 2011 (and even did our first non-Chicago event in the fall) but we're concentrating on Chicago for 2012, and will re-evaluate national expansion at a later date.

 

DIIP: What lead to you creating this community/events?

TJ: My co-founder Stella Fayman and I used to organize Ignite Chicago, which is the Chicago chapter of the O'Reily Foundation's Ignite events.  We're both passionate about entrepreneurship and after a little more than a year of running those fun events, we thought it would be great to create an event series geared specifically for entrepreneurs, but keeping the intimate format.

 

DIIP: Are the events open to the public or must they be part of your community?

TJ: Our events are open to the public.

 

DIIP: What makes your community and events unique from others in the same space?

TJ: Our events aren't gigantic by design.  We generally limit our Unpluggd events to 200 people (our largest to date was 300) and our Summit events will probably be limited to around 100 people.  People love the intimacy of our events and the raw nature of the material they hear.  We've been applauded for getting speakers to open up and "be real", rather than delivering the same canned talks usually heard at big conferences in this space.  We also don't let speakers use PowerPoint slides; instead, it's just the speaker and a microphone.

 

DIIP: Tell us a bit about whom your target attendee is for this event?

TJ: We cater to entrepreneurs and startup folks of all stages, from somebody working a corporate 9-5 job that aspires to start their own company in the future, to the founder of a startup who is looking for guidance and mentorship along the way.  We generally slant towards tech entrepreneurship but we've had attendees from other industries as well.

 

DIIP: What is important to you when you look for venues to host the event?

TJ: We purposely seek small theaters that have a very intimate, raw feel to them.  We prefer a more "theater in the round" feel than a traditional movie theater or classroom setup.  We look for venues that allow the audience to get as close to possible to the stage and feel the energy.

 

DIIP: Explain a little about how the event works in terms of structure and sessions?

TJ: Our Unpluggd events feature a half hour of networking after the doors open.  Then everybody heads into the theater space for 3 speakers who take the stage for a half hour at a time.  Afterwards, we head back to the networking space to network for the remainder of the evening.

 

DIIP: As networking is always a huge part of these events, what advice would you give to an attendee on how to best meet the right people and network effectively?

TJ: Don't be afraid to chat with new people.  Ask them about their story and the conversation will almost always continue naturally after that.  Remember that you're simply having a conversation with people, nothing more.  If you build it up to be more intimidating than that, it will be.

 

DIIP: How do you judge the success of your event?

TJ: We consider an event successful if it's sold out and the feedback afterward is positive.  If people don't enjoy our events, get a lot out of them, and look forward to future events, then we're not successful.

 

DIIP: What is the single most important piece of your event and why (could be planning or at event itself)?

TJ: Creating the unique experience.  There's an intangible experience that sets our events apart from others. We hear feedback all the time after our events that confirms we're creating the unique experience we've set out to create and people love it.  It's a huge reason our events have become so popular.

 

DIIP: If you could have one person attend/speak at your event, who would it be and why?

TJ: We've had some amazing speakers so far, including Jason Fried of 37signals, Matt Maloney of GrubHub, and Genevieve Thiers of Sittercity, among many others.  I'd love to have Scott Harrison of charity:water at an event.  I've seen him speak at Big Omaha and a few other places, and not only is his story just phenomenal, but his storytelling ability is top notch as well.  And our events are all about storytelling.

To learn more, visit the Entrepreneurs Unpluggd website at http://entrepreneursunpluggd.com/, follow them on twitter @entunpluggd and on facebook https://www.facebook.com/EntrepreneursUnpluggd.

We recently interviewed Liz King about her group NY Events. The NY Events community launched in January 2012 and brings together some of the biggest leaders in the NY Events industry. Our attendees are corporate and social event planners, event technology companies and others involved in the industry. When you sponsor our events, you’re reaching event planners who blog, tweet, and, most importantly, value a modern approach to events.

 

DIIP: When and why did you start this group/organization?

LK:  We launched this group in January 2012 to bring together all sectors of the event industry. The number of event professionals in NYC is astounding, but there aren't many regular opportunities to get together and meet our colleagues. We created this group as a way to connect the industry and help us work better together.

 

DIIP: What type of events do you have and how often are they held (i.e. pitch parties, seminars, conferences, happy hours)?

LK:  Our events are monthly happy hours. We also have two events a year that are larger and showcase our industry. In June we host a Summer Kick Off event and a Pre Holiday Soiree in November. These are great opportunities for you to experience first-hand the best lighting, DJs and entertainment in the NYC industry.

 

DIIP: What is your value proposition to those that attend?

LK:  Our business is based on relationships. Before you suggest a vendor to your client, you need to know them well. Forming and keeping up these relationships is a full time job for most event planners. By attending these events, you are connected to innovative professionals who take their business seriously. The group is social, but there are many great connections for everyone who comes in. If you attend regularly, you will reap new business.

 

DIIP: What makes your group unique or different from other groups?

LK:  Many other groups require a hefty annual membership and turn into self promotion sessions. Our eye is on valuable networking and we organize the meetups so that there is a structured ice breaker and then networking. We also are committed to keeping the group very affordable - pay when you can come and don't when you can't. We use the money collected to buy something for the group too!

 

DIIP: Why do you think it is so important for people to go out to your events and “do it in person?”

LK:  We all make many connections online, but in order for you to really KNOW a vendor or planner, you have to see them in action. You have to know their personality and their style - and this cannot be done over the internet. Anyone can pay to design a beautiful website, but the devil is in the details.

 

DIIP: How has your group evolved since you started it?

LK:  In it's short history, the group is already becoming a very vibrant and connected group. We are already seeing our members find new business leads and partnerships. This is very exciting and only the beginning of what is to come!

DIIP: What do you look for when choosing a venue?

LK:  Our venues are good people - they are open to working with planners, have great service and always have wifi!

 

DIIP: What was the best event you have ever been to?

LK:  The best events I've been to have been full of creativity and energy. The logistics were managed so well you didn't even notice them and it was all about the energy in the room for good content.

 

DIIP: If you could recommend one book to your group members to read, what would it be and why?

LK:  I would say that Keith Ferazzi's Never Eat Alone would be a great book to read. I think his philosophy is important and right on!

 

DIIP: What is your biggest pain point in organizing an event?

LK:  Getting the right people to know about the right events.

 

DIIP: What industry(ies) is your event geared to?

LK:  Event

 

DIIP: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other groups that run events?

LK:  Focus on your members. The money is great, the publicity for you is great, but it's all about your attendees. They need to connect to what you're doing.

 

DIIP: What is the one key metric you look at to see if your event was a success?

LK:  It's one of the hardest things to measure, but engagement is the most important thing to me. It's important that our attendees connect with each other and find ways to work together. I never want to see someone sitting in the corner alone. One way to measure this is how often they come back and sitting back to watch the fruits of new partnerships.

 

DIIP: If you could create a single event, without worrying about cost, what would it be and who would be your "guest of honor?"

LK:  I would create the most tech integrated event ever!

 

DIIP: Fill in the blank: The one thing that makes or breaks an event is ________________?

LK:  how engaging it is

 

DIIP: Fill in the blank: The first thing I notice about an event is _______?

LK:  the way it's run logistically

 

To learn more about NY Events, please email Liz King at liz@lizkingevents.com. You can also follow NY Events on twitter: @lizkingevents or via Facebook at http://www.facebook/nyevent.

 

If you would like to have your group featured on the Do It In Person blog, please email info@doitinperson.com

We recently interviewed Jacki Rose about her group Fun Stuff for Singles Over 40.  Fun Stuff for Singles Over 40 plans several events per month and attracts great people from all over New England. Most events are free, membership is only $10 for a lifetime, and we have over 700 members.  The group is recognized as one of the best social clubs around. There's something for everyone: social events, dining out, walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, comedy shows, outdoor concerts, symphony, dancing, beach days, game nights and lots more!

 

DIIP: When and why did you start this group/organization?

JR:  I actually took it over from the previous organizer who was the third organizer of the group. I took it over because the previous organizer stepped down and I was an active member who loved the group.  I also have had several years’ experience of running single events in the past where I started up and ran single clubs and was also employed as a full-time social director. I've been running single events for over 30 years.

 

DIIP: What type of events do you have and how often are they held (i.e. pitch parties, seminars, conferences, happy hours)?

JR:  Dining out, holiday events, game nights, hiking, kayaking, biking, day trips, movies, outdoor concerts, dancing, etc.

 

DIIP: What is your value proposition to those that attend?

JR:  Your life will change!  You will never be lonely again if you don't want to.  You will meet people, establish great friendships, and have a great time.

 

DIIP: What makes your group unique or different from other groups?

JR:  We have several assistant organizers who plan events.  Any member can plan an event which gives our members more selection. We could have up to 3 events on one night and they will all get a good amount of people.  Everyone is very friendly with a positive outlook on life.

 

DIIP: Why do you think it is so important for people to go out to your events and “do it in person?”

JR:  It's so much fun having the personal connection and developing friendships.

 

DIIP: How has your group evolved since you started it?

JR:  We have over 700 members.

DIIP: What do you look for when choosing a venue?

JR:  Location and price.

 

DIIP: If you could recommend one book to your group members to read, what would it be and why?

JR:  Think and Grow Rich - It shows you that whatever you desire you are capable of achieving.

 

DIIP: What is your biggest pain point in organizing an event?

JR:  People not showing up who said they were.

 

DIIP: What industry(ies) is your event geared to?

JR:  All industries

 

DIIP: What is the one piece of advice you would give to other groups that run events?

JR:  Be friendly, accepting of all, and be flexible.  Let go of control and have the goal of every event be that everyone has a great time.

 

DIIP: What is the one key metric you look at to see if your event was a success?

JR:  Positive feedback.

 

DIIP: Fill in the blank: The one thing that makes or breaks an event is ________________?

JR:  Friendly organizers and members.

 

DIIP: Fill in the blank: The first thing I notice about an event is _______?

JR:  Friendliness

 

To learn more about Fun Stuff for Singles Over 40, please email Jacki Rose at jacki@jackirose.com. You can also follow Fun Stuff for Singles Over 40 on twitter: @brightsidefun or via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/funstuff39/.

 

If you would like to have your group featured on the Do It In Person blog, please email info@doitinperson.com

We recently interviewed Tony Cecala about his group DFW WordPress Meetup. The DFW WordPress Group open to anyone interested in learning how to build a website, start a blog, and build traffic to their website. We also discuss the technical aspects of WordPress, social networking and topics such as online marketing.

 

DIIP: When and why did you start this group/organization?

TC:  I inherited the organization in 2009.

 

DIIP: What type of events do you have and how often are they held (i.e. pitch parties, seminars, conferences, happy hours)?

TC:  We have monthly Meetups that are organized like mini-conferences. We have networking, food, a talk, some Q&A and then an after-party.

 

DIIP: What is your value proposition to those that attend?

TC:  You will learn something valuable or you get your money back.

 

DIIP: What makes your group unique or different from other groups?

TC:  We focus on WordPress and we are also a community of developers and business-people who look out for each other.

 

DIIP: Why do you think it is so important for people to go out to your events and “do it in person?”

TC:  There is a level of trust that can be built via face-to-face meeting that can't be matched in a webinar, etc.

 

DIIP: Describe the ideal attendee to your events.

TC:   A small-business owner looking to leverage blogging to grow their business.

 

DIIP: How has your group evolved since you started it?

TC:  DFW WordPress Group has grown from a few people chatting at a coffee shop to a recognized source of valuable information. We are one of the biggest WordPress groups in terms of raw size and monthly attendance.

 

DIIP: What other benefits, if any, do you offer outside of your events (i.e. discounts, mentoring, etc.)?

TC:  We receive discounts to other events and also get advance beta software. We also have a well-known after-party!

 

DIIP: What tip or tips would you give to an attendee of your event on how to make it successful for them?

TC:  Make sure you chat with your neighbors before the event, they are friendly, and if they are new, they are feeling as awkward as you do—so reach out. I highly recommend attending the after-party, it's where people network and look at each other's sites and help each other discover new plugins and web services.

 

DIIP: What do you look for when choosing a venue?

TC:  Great WiFi, easy access, good A/V options.

 

DIIP: How do you judge the success of an event?

TC:  I can gauge the success of an event when people are interacting so intensively that they don't want to leave. I also watch the Twitter stream to see what people feel is worth sharing.

 

DIIP: If you could pick one person that you would want to speak at/attend your event, who would it be and why?

TC:  Matt Mullenweg, founding developer of WordPress. Matt would have interesting ideas to share, and the most interesting things might not even be about WordPress.

 

DIIP: What was the best event you have ever been to?

TC:  TEDxSMU

 

DIIP: Can you share any success stories from your events?

TC:  A member was chatting with someone at the after-party and he picked up a contract for over $10,000 of business. It's really about the people. Our group has a great group of people that enjoy sharing.

 

To learn more about DFW WordPress Meetup, please email Tony Cecala at tonycecala@gmail.com. You can also follow DFW WordPress Meetup on twitter: @dfwwp or on the website www.meetup.com/dfwwordpress/.

 

If you would like to have your group featured on the Do It In Person blog, please email info@doitinperson.com

We recently interviewed Dave Rafkind about his group Boston New Tech Meetup. The Boston New Tech Meetup allows you to see local startups and associated hacker types in action, marvel at the latest in cool technology and watch some slide decks and pass around a mic to ask questions!

 

DIIP: When and why did you start this group/organization?

DR:  I was living in New York City, and attended many of the New York Tech Meetups. I thought they were a great idea and a good way to spread ideas and meet people in the tech community. Some time later, I came to Boston and found some events, but none that had a similar energy. So I decided to start this group and our first event was January 2011.

 

DIIP: What type of events do you have and how often are they held (i.e. pitch parties, seminars, conferences, happy hours)?

DR:  We have a monthly Meetup. I try to keep it to 6 presenters, each giving 5 minutes of demo (some PowerPoint is allowed), and then taking 5 minutes of questions. This structure is directly copied from the New York Tech Meetups as I experienced it at the time. I try to keep it to the 3rd Tuesday of each month, but we are flexible when coordinating with other events or venue constraints.

 

DIIP: What is your value proposition to those that attend?

DR:  To the presenters, we offer a way to get their message out and to give a chance to present to a general tech audience, with very little barrier to entry other than public scrutiny.

To the audience, we offer a chance to see what people are doing that they might otherwise not run across, and to poke the presenters and see how they react. Of course there is networking opportunity, too.

 

DIIP: What makes your group unique or different from other groups?

DR:  Not too many other tech networking events have this specific structure, occur this frequently, and have this many presenters. There are plenty of other events that have some of these attributes but not all. Also we hope to keep it free (or very low cost) for all attendees, to encourage participation by everyone.

 

DIIP: Why do you think it is so important for people to go out to your events and “do it in person?”

DR:  Seeing someone give a demonstration in public is a really great way to learn what it is they are trying to do. My favorite thing is to gauge whether I think I could do what the presenter is doing. If they are running a successful startup, hopefully it will inspire others to do the same!

 

DIIP: Describe the ideal attendee to your events.

DR:  The ideal attendee is someone who is interested in technology (software, hardware, tech startups, etc.) and has some strong opinions they'd like to share in public. I feel that audience participation really makes the events, and the give and take between the presenters and the audience can be pretty fun.

DIIP: How has your group evolved since you started it?

DR:  My co-organizer Chris has done a lot of work trying to get sponsorships and growing the group. We have about 1000 members so far and we're growing. Hopefully at some point we'll be comparable to the NYTM in size and influence :)

I would like to keep the format constant if possible, although we might have more presenters per event if demand increases.

DIIP: What other benefits, if any, do you offer outside of your events (i.e. discounts, mentoring, etc.)?

DR:  Some of the sponsors offer discounts on their services to group members. We also maintain (as part of Meetup) a discussion list/board for people to keep in contact with each other or forward other items of note.

 

DIIP: What tip or tips would you give to an attendee of your event on how to make it successful for them?

DR:  Try and ask some good questions of the presenters...I love questions like "what about your competition" and "how did you get started/build your team" because they reveal so much about that person's startup process that is often mystifying to those who have never gone through it.

 

DIIP: What do you look for when choosing a venue?

DR:  Availability and size. Also T-accessibility (from the Red Line usually) and cost (free if possible).

 

DIIP: How do you judge the success of an event?

DR:  A good event is the result of good presenter curation, good audience interaction, and if people tell me they had a good time. Also there are post-meetup ratings for the numerically inclined :)

 

DIIP: If you could pick one person that you would want to speak at/attend your event, who would it be and why?

DR:  I personally am most interested in technically novel startups. Academic research-project spinoffs or other great, nonobvious ideas are the most satisfying to discover.

 

DIIP: What was the best event you have ever been to?

DR:  The TechStars/DartBoston party with Coolio was pretty fun :)

 

DIIP: Can you share any success stories from your events?

DR:  No specific stories, but people really enjoy the events (judging by how many people tell us so, and keep coming back).

Note: We're looking for someone to videotape the events, if anyone is willing to donate some videography skills please let us know!

 

To learn more about Boston New Tech Meetup, please email Dave Rafkind at dave.rafkind@gmail.com. You can also follow Boston New Tech Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/newtech-73/, on twitter: @BostonNewTech or via Facebook at facebook.com/groups/bostontechmeetup.

 

If you would like to have your group featured on the Do It In Person blog, please email info@doitinperson.com

We recently interviewed Matt Wilson, co-founder of Under30CEO. Under30CEO is the leading media site covering news, advice, trends & events for the young entrepreneur. Our events bring together the top innovators in New York City.

 

DIIP: When and why did you start this group/organization?

MW:  After graduating from college in 2008, we realized that there was a serious lack of resources for entrepreneurs our age.  In college we were surrounded by smart, young, innovative people, but finding that niche after graduation was very difficult.  We wanted to bring together the most ambitious young people we could find and we did that first through Under30CEO.com and then with our events in New York.

 

DIIP: What type of events do you have and how often are they held (i.e. pitch parties, seminars, conferences, happy hours)?

MW:  Entrepreneur Matchmaking, Demo/Pitch Competitions and a conference coming soon.

 

DIIP: What is your value proposition to those that attend?

MW:  Our demo/pitch events are branded as The Tough Question Competition.  We offer candid feedback by top notch investors, who give the feedback that these young founders need to hear.  The startups and the audience alike benefit from learning what angel investors and venture capitalists would actually say in the board room.  No sugar coating allowed.

 

DIIP: What makes your group unique or different from other groups?

MW:  While you don't have to be under thirty years old to attend, the best thing about our events is everyone is young at heart.  Attendees really feel like they can connect with one another because everyone shares a common interest and attitude in building businesses that they are passionate about.

 

DIIP: Why do you think it is so important for people to go out to your events and “do it in person?”

MW:  Entrepreneurship is a lonely endeavor and connecting with other people going through the same things is one of the smartest things you can do when trying to grow your business.

 

DIIP: Describe the ideal attendee to your events.

MW:  Someone with the passion and drive to build their business at all costs.  Our attendees are looking to connect with like-minded people who are building businesses at a young age.

DIIP: How has your group evolved since you started it?

MW:  Two years ago we encouraged our readers to organize all across the globe using Meetups Everywhere.  We decided that we should organize our community in New York City every month or so in various bars in Manhattan just to hang out for happy hour.   Our events have since grown to over 200 people in venues such as Microsoft's NYC HQ and the Empire State Building with top speakers like Peter Shankman of HARO and Alexis Ohanian of Reddit.

DIIP: What tip or tips would you give to an attendee of your event on how to make it successful for them?

MW:  Figure out how you can add value in every conversation.  Don't go around talking to people and asking them what they can do for you.  Build your network by helping others.

DIIP: What do you look for when choosing a venue?

MW:  We look for a place where our attendees would want to hang out in the first place.  Not just anyone can walk into Microsoft or the Empire State Building and meet entrepreneurs and have a drink.  This type of venue makes people excited to attend.

 

DIIP: How do you judge the success of an event?

MW:  We strictly judge the success of an event by the energy level inside the venue.  If people are excited to be there, connecting with one another and everyone is having a good time, the event is a success.

 

DIIP: If you could pick one person that you would want to speak at/attend your event, who would it be and why?

MW:  Richard Branson.  Regardless of his age, the attitude that he embodies is timeless.  Branson has an amazing method to building businesses and having fun at the same time and that's what Under30CEO was founded upon.

 

Under30CEO is holding its next event, Under30CEO Demo/Pitches: The Tough Question Competition, on Thursday, March 15, 2012 - . To register, please visit: http://under30ceonyc16.eventbrite.com/.

 

To learn more about Under30CEO, please email Matt Wilson at matt@under30ceo.com. You can also follow Under30CEO on twitter: @Under30CEO or via Facebook at http://facebook.com/under30ceo.

 

If you would like to have your group featured on the Do It In Person blog, please email info@doitinperson.com.