Update: I was wrong about how to run our monthly meetups

At the last EBN mixer, a member told me straight up, 'Your 90-minute agenda feels like a lecture, not a network.' They said people just zone out after the first speaker. So, I cut the formal talks to 30 minutes and added two 20-minute open chat blocks. The vibe at our last event in Old Strathcona was way better. Has anyone else tried a shorter format for their group?

2 comments

2 Comments

graydavis2d ago

I used to insist on hour-long panels, but our Calgary group got way more lively after cutting them in half.

sean7822d ago

Ever try a lightning round of intros? We did 60-second "what I'm working on and what I need" pitches at the start. It cuts the small talk and gives people a real reason to chat during those open blocks. Someone always needs a graphic designer or knows a good accountant. It turns the room into a live help board.