# How does one organize a Doper's gathering? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513 "2000-06-26T01:18:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/1 "2000-06-26T01:18:10Z")
I’m sitting here at home not doing anything; this is my plan for most of the summer and following autumn and winter. I’d like to organize a dopefest but I have no idea how to go about it. Is a big house strictly necessary? A big budget? If invited, which dopers would trek out to lovely Montreal, Canada? ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/2 "2000-06-26T01:37:51Z")
Angkins and I might be able to make it, its not that far. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/3 "2000-06-26T01:41:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/4 "2000-06-26T01:44:12Z")
i think it should be held in toronto. much more convenient for… uhhh… everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/5 "2000-06-26T01:57:18Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/6 "2000-06-26T02:19:27Z")
Well, first off, you get yourself an aircraft carrier… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/7 "2000-06-26T03:01:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/8 "2000-06-26T17:11:22Z")
OK, cool. I know this _fabulous_ pizzeria/greek food place. ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/9 "2000-06-26T17:16:46Z")
I’d go to Montréal in a heartbeat! My sister lives there, so I have a place to crash. When were you thinking of holding it? ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/10 "2000-06-26T17:17:42Z")
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. Just call me the spindoctor. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/11 "2000-06-26T17:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > **Well, first off, you get yourself an aircraft carrier…** Only if your personality is so lacking that people wouldn’t come see you without it… _rolls eyes_ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/12 "2000-06-26T18:19:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Well, first off, you get yourself an aircraft carrier… > \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![Dylan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e95f7d/32.png) [@Dylan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dylan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/13 "2000-06-26T18:33:42Z")
bonjour voisin!!! first off, what you do is… 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… then, mon ami Matt…you say: ok, dopefest in montreal…who’s comin’?? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/14 "2000-06-26T21:15:45Z")
Hey Dylan - email me please! [matt\_mcl@hotmail.com](mailto:matt_mcl@hotmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![Dylan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e95f7d/32.png) [@Dylan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dylan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/15 "2000-06-26T22:13:59Z")
I did…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/16 "2000-06-26T22:39:23Z")
I’m in. I worship montreal… so… 🙂 Elenfair (and the guide dog) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-organize-a-dopers-gathering/23513/17 "2000-06-26T23:19:39Z")
Schedule a few weeks in advance. Request the meeting here & bookmark it so you can bring it up occassionally. Use a restaurant. First meetings in restaurants, a not very fancy restaurant, but patient, are most excellent. A lot of the dopers like alcohol, too.