It usually starts with a “Anyone interested in a Dopers’ meeting in (city/area)” thread. Find out how many people are interested, then you work out dates/times everyone is available and pick the one that fits the most people’s schedules. A big house wouldn’t be necessary, because you can always have the dopefest at a restaurant, bar, park, shopping mall, etc. (most of them have been at bars and restaurants, IIRC).
After you have the “who’s interested” list, you can even work out the rest (date, time, location) via emails if you feel like it.
Hi matt. I presume you’re talking about a local/regional gathering. We’ve had mention a few times of a continental/world gathering and techchick has something working there (up in the air at the moment?).
We’ve had several here. As noted by others, post a thread specifying locale. The hope is you’ll get enough bites that it looks like 4 or 5 might show up for something. At that point it is crucial that someone (nominate yourself) propose a specific time and place. That is the seed that seems to fail to materialize in some gathering threads.
It doesn’t have to be where you all wind up, it just gives the potential attendees some traction - a datum from which they can work.
Then bump that thread, baby. Keep it going. I think we’ve typically (not always - but for the better turnouts) run about a two month lead time.
Good luck! Tip one for me when y’all get together!
I think there have been a few regionals held at somebody’s home, and that would likely entail the host(ess) coughing up a little extra. Our public place gatherings have been handled on a pay-for-what-you-ate-and-guzzled basis.
I’m in. The RiddleParents live a mere 1 1/2 hours from Montreal. It’s a fantastic city to travel to, fellow Dopers. And for the Americans, the exchange rate is great for us. Plus, the drinking age is 18 in Quebec. All reasons to attend the Matt_mcl Doperfest: Montreal.
Well, I have been waiting for the Chief to extend an invitation.
Don’t worry, pal, we’ll be extremely discreet, no one but you will even know we’re there. I plan on disguising myself as Long John Silver, so as to fit in with rest of the crew.
ask Dylan if her incredibly huge yard is available for a dopefest…
then you ask her if there is any room in her 4 bedroom house in case 20 people need a place to stay…
also adding in a warning about potentially pissing off the neighbors in her suburban area…
then you wait for Dylan to say:
Sure! my yard is huge…it could easily hold 4,000 kegs of beeer…we can have a BBQ!! (cheaper than eating and drinking out)…the house can hold the teeming millions (but you have to bring sleeping bags and have a campout)…and since I am a deadhead (and it shows…I wear my tie-dyes with pride)and the neighbors think I am a freak already anyway, then potentially pissing them off might actually be entertainng…