About Meetup
A meetup does an excellent job of bringing people together from all walks of life. It helps create a positive community and provides an avenue to connect with like-minded people, generate new ideas, and share common experiences. While all these are wonderful and pleasing, hosting a successful meetup isn’t a walk in the park. Even the most experienced host still struggles to organize an event that attracts many participants.
A lot of things come with planning a meetup, but finding the ideal venue remains one of the biggest challenges for organizers. Although meetup groups can gather in any setting, such as the park, meeting room, or school gymnasium, different communities and activities have varying needs.
That’s why it’s essential to be open to possibilities, so never limit yourself to just one meetup location. Don’t hesitate to explore other unconventional spaces like museums, art galleries, or bars and lofts. No matter what venue you pick, always consider your goal and audience and choose the right fit for your theme.
The Best Meetup Venues
Conventional meetup sites are established and reliable places to gather, but extraordinary spaces will keep your attendees excited and engaged. If you’re looking to incorporate unique locations into your roster of venues, here are some options worth considering.
- Golf Courses
The location is a significant contributing factor to the type of attendees you want to attract to your meetup. So if your goal is to encourage sports fans and golf buffs to participate, private golf clubs can be a fantastic choice. They provide an elegant and relaxing atmosphere, a spectacular setting for everyone to de-stress and unwind.
- Local Shops
Sometimes, you don’t have to crack your brain or go too far to find a suitable meetup studio. Walk around the town or search at local papers to find businesses willing to work with you to host a meetup. It could be a coffee shop, a snack bar, or a vape shop and bar to accommodate your meeting needs.
- Distilleries
Today’s distilleries are no longer just for true whisky or brandy geeks. As more distilleries take visitor experience more seriously, they have designed one-of-a-kind spaces for meetups. They often come with all the catering services, tech, and drink options you want. They may also offer rare bottles to share with everyone or bring home. Additionally, they’re typically set within scenic environments, providing more photo opportunities to post on social media or show off to others, especially those who failed to participate.
What to Look for in Meetup Spaces
A great event could quickly turn awful if hosted at the wrong place. So keep these items in mind before committing to any meetup location.
- Size
It’s essential to identify how spacious a meetup room is, but most importantly, how much of the space is actually usable. There might be stairways, odd corners, or other obstructions that reduce the available square footage. Knowing its size is vital for determining how many people could fit comfortably in the area. It also helps you decide the appropriate size for other features, like projector screens, video walls, and décor.
- Amenities
Before booking, don’t hesitate to ask questions about their available amenities and services. You can save a lot of money if the meeting venue already has chairs, tables, and linens that match your event tone and theme. Otherwise, you’d have to invest in furniture and décor. If it doesn’t come with kitchen facilities, check if they provide catering or partner with a reliable food vendor.
- Accessibility
One of the factors that make the best meetup site is its accessibility. All participants, including those with mobility issues or disabilities, should be able to access it and its services. You’ll also want to hold a gathering in an area that’s easy to find and close to public transportation.
- Flexibility
The venue’s flexibility refers to its ability to adapt to your event and achieve your activity objective. Some spaces already have set menus, styles, and designs that may not suit your theme. But a flexible meetup site can accommodate any sudden alterations needed and adjust based on your needs.
- Services
When considering a venue, check if they have a WiFi connection, access to food and drinks, provide special equipment like speakers, projectors, or microphones. Before hiring a team, it’s also a good idea to confirm if they have on-site decorators and set up crew.
Meetup Inspirations
So, you’re finally ready to move from a virtual group to having physical interactions. Transforming your simple gathering into a remarkable event that everyone will look forward to starts with choosing the best meetup spaces.
- Group Meetup in a Park
No one can resist the beauty and calming atmosphere of outdoor locations, so having a meetup in a park is a good idea as long as the weather is pleasant. Parks are versatile and more flexible and allow for physical activities and games. If having a gathering at a nearby park is not feasible, you can hold it in a group member’s backyard.
- Community Meetup at Gymnasiums
This type of meetup allows community members to connect and strengthen their ties. And there’s probably no better place to host a community meetup than at a local gymnasium. You can convert this large room into a functional space for networking and organizing get-togethers. You can also include sports activities and recreation to maximize the gymnasium facilities.
- Tech Meetups at Conference Rooms
Better connectivity, convenient space, and good support service are crucial for tech meetups, and conference rooms excel in those areas. Whenever you book a conference room, you’ll have peace of mind knowing it will be customized to fit your needs. They also offer a modern and professional setting that will help everyone get in the zone and be ready to learn and share knowledge.
- Book Club Meetup in Private Homes
Perhaps, someone from the group is willing to use their home and has enough space to accommodate guests. If not, there are also private homes for rent, offering a comfortable and chill environment for you to discuss and share ideas. You can enjoy the privacy of the space, and there are facilities you can use, like restrooms and kitchen.