Hosting an Event: Difference between revisions

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===Accessibility===
===Accessibility===
Please visit our [[Accessibility]] page for a full description of how Noisebridge makes our physical space accessible to everybody.
Please visit our [[Accessibility]] page for a full description of how Noisebridge makes our physical space accessible to everybody.
Temporary access code for the gate can be set up for your participants.


==General Guidelines==
==General Guidelines==

Revision as of 19:42, 20 November 2013

Overview

We're happy to host teaching and co-operative events at Noisebridge. There's no charge, though please consult and respect the many others working in the space. Here are some suggested guidelines for hosting an event at Noisebridge, whether its a short workshop, a regular hackathon, or a bigger unconference-style event.

Our Physical Space

Event-Hosting Areas

Noisebridge has three primary areas within our physical space for hosting an event, consisting of two classrooms and a large open conference area.

Common Areas

All events at our space may make use of our kitchen space and two bathrooms. Our kitchen contains a large counterspace. Our bathrooms are generally clean.

Accessibility

Please visit our Accessibility page for a full description of how Noisebridge makes our physical space accessible to everybody.

Temporary access code for the gate can be set up for your participants.

General Guidelines

Get members involved

It's recommended that involve at least one Noisebridge member as part of your planning to see that you avoid common pitfalls when working with Noisebridge. Ask around the space for a member, or ask on the discuss mailinglist. You don't have to be a member to start an event though!

Communicate the event to the group

Publicize the event to the users of Noisebridge via the 8PM Tuesday meeting, this, the Noisebridge discussion and announcement mailing lists, google calendar (to gain administrative access to the calendar, post to the discuss mailinglist and someone will add you), and the Noisebridge IRC channel, with enough lead time that the community can respond and give feedback.

Be aware of the existing ongoing events and try to work around them, even if they're not in your part of the space. Some events like 5MOF and work in the shop can be noisy! Also events might be happening that aren't listed anywhere that may create annoying room scheduling issues.

Setup and clean up

Leave the space cleaner than you found it. Have a plan for setting up the space. Have a plan for cleaning up after yourself (and follow it). Novice tip: Ask those participate in the event or class to help clean up the space used at the end.

Donations and fees

Consider asking participants for a monetary donation to Noisebridge during your event. We have a recommended one minute preamble for event organizers to say at the beginning of their meetings. It explains how we work, and how your visitors can help keep Noisebridge going.

Noisebridge prides itself in being an open space to all that are excellent. Please keep in mind that we generally don't host classes or events that have a participation or class fee. Charging for materials or kits is acceptable (such as buying a blinking LED kit to work on during Circuit Hacking Mondays), but shouldn't be required to join in the class or event.

No age restrictions

Noisebridge is an all ages space, if your class or event has an age requirement, please bring it up at a Tuesday meeting or on our discussion mailing list before proceeding.

Event Listing

After taking all of the above into consideration, and feeling like Noisebridge is the right spot for your event, listing it on our events page would be great! Here are some steps to do so...

  1. Create an individual page for your event. Include contact info for the organizer(s), date/time, location (if at Noisebridge, where in the space), and a pretty good description of what the event is. The important bit is contact info, helps when we're cleaning up the events list.
  2. Include the code [[Category:Events]] at the bottom of the page.
  3. Go to the Events page and add in your event to the correct spot. We use 24 hour time.
  4. The events listed on our Main Page are actually pulled from the Events page. So no need to add it again.
  5. If you have an event that happens once, or a reoccurring event that doesn't occur anymore, please remove it from the Events page after you're done.

Mitch's suggestion on how to do an event at Noisebridge

We don't have a formal procedure for scheduling at Noisebridge.

But here's how I suggest doing it:

  • First, take a look at the info on this page (above), where there's a bunch of good info.
  • Look on the Noisebridge website, and near the top, check out the Events and Classes section (both Upcoming Events and Recurring Events), and find a time where Noisebridge can accommodate the crowd you're expecting.
  • Send an email to the Noisebridge-Discussion list, and let folks know that you want to give your event. and when, and ask if there's interest, and ask if there is any conflict of space/time. (You'll need to subscribe: Mailing List page -- but please know there are trolls there -- please do not feed the trolls.)
  • If you get any positive feedback, then there that is indication enough that there people will show up (way more than give you feedback on the email list).
  • Create a wiki page for your event on the Noisebridge website (which is entirely a wiki).
  • Add the event to the Upcoming Events section, including the link to your event wiki page. Then post to the Noisebridge-Announce list (you'll need to subscribe -- Maling List page -- and someone will approve your post -- this is the only thing at Noisebridge which is moderated).
  • Publicize the hell out of the event to let people know it's happening!
  • One week before, post to both the Discussion and Announce lists. And then you can post to both lists again the day before to remind people (and to catch last-minute stragglers).

Procedural Checklist for Larger / More Impactful Events

Some events are bigger than others.

If you are expecting more than (say) 20 people at your event, you may find the Procedural Event Checklist useful for thinking through mundane but important aspects of planning such as managing the cultural impact of the event on Noisebridge at large and making sure there's enough toilet paper in the bathrooms.

Check out the Procedural Event Checklist page. (And don't get too overwhelmed; while quite long, it's meant to *help* you plan aspects of your event that you may not have thought of.)