I Gots Me a Meetup!

So...I started a meetup group yesterday. Well, technically I started it last Friday and it went public yesterday morning, but who really cares about technicalities, right? It, like this blog, is focused on exploring the interesection of Arts, Culture & Techonolgy (seeing a pattern here?).

To be honest, I didn't really anticipate much of a draw for my little group. To me, it seemed like it would be way too niche to appeal to any more than a handful of people, so my goals were pretty modest--amass maybe 20-30 members in the first month and maybe a group of 10 or so for the first meetup (scheduled for Thursday, January 15th at Art Bar, if you're interested).

Boy, was I wrong.

Since yesterday morning 57 members have joined the group, 22 RSVP'd Yes for the event, and 14 Maybe. I'm not sure if this is a typical response for groups on meetup, but judging from the reaction I've received from the Meetup staff, my guess is no. And the best part is,the group just keeps on growing! It's making it difficult to focus on anything else in my haze of giddy excitement. Every time my phone buzzes with another meetup member notification, I drop what I'm doing and go to the group's page to check out my newest cohort.

Reading people's responses to the profile questions I added--"What interests you about this group? What do you hope to get out of it?"--has been incredibly interesting and inspiring, too. Here is just a brief sampling:

“media artist, performer, social entrepreneur, skydiver. Things I find tasty: networked performance, motion capture / movement-based, sensor-driven synthesis, performance in virtual environments like Second Life. http://funksoup.com/bio.htm”

"I'm still loving the web and started out as an artist/writer so I'm completely fascinated by the prospect of bringing my major romances together."

"I'm an artist with a psychology and science background. As a modern Zen practioner I enjoy turning analog paintings into digitally reworked pieces.That an art piece can exist as only as wall paper s fine with me.I'm not a techology expert. I'm interested in art,technology and recreating a subculture that is anti-nihlistic,although many plunge into darkness during these 'interesting times'."

"have an arsenal of paintings and can't seem to get past the velvet rope of the art world mafia."

"I am a consultant who works in the media, entertainment, and technology sectors -- I joined for the great networking opportunity."

"I'm a technology guy interested in the arts, and applying technologies there (specifically mobile technologies)."

I'm really excited to see that my group, and more specifically, my curiosity, has brought together such a diverse and interesting bunch of people working in every facet of the arts-technology spectrum. I can't wait to meet them and for them to meet one another, start up a discussion, maybe start some collaborations, and to see what sorts of innovative projects come out of those relationships.

But, to be honest, I'm also a little terrified. Could this diversity make the group too unfocused to ever become a cohesive community? What is my role, as organizer, in shaping and guiding the group? How much influence and control should I be weilding here? Or should I just open it up to the masses and see what happens?

I've never organized anything in my life. I have initiative, don't get me wrong, but I'm more of a joiner than a starter. I'm not 100% sure what's going to be expected of me here, and how much I should or can consider this group as my own. Initially, I started it asa vehicle for exploring my interests and connecting with people who have similar interests with the purpose of connecting them to one another and listening in on the discussion that ensues. But at what point does the group cease to be a product of the organizer and take on a life of its own?...And is it appropriate for me to be having these questions before I even host the first meetup? Did I mention I have a tendency to over-think things?

Comments

[Bernadette]

Hi Julia,
I just saw a recommendation for your blog from someone in my Twitter circle. My New Year's resolution was to revamp and really be good about using my own blog. I am glad I came to visit yours! It gives me some really great inspiration and encouragement for the direction I am taking mine in.
Since I know an important part of blogging is the other ones you visit, read and comment on, I look forward to keeping up with what you are doing and saying and thinking about in NYC. Gives me a nice counterpoint to my life and experiences here on little old Cape Cod. I love living and making art here and wouldn't dream of being anywhere else. Since the Boston Globe decreed Provincetown in 1915 the world's biggest art colony, Cape Cod has always been a great place for the arts. But it sure ain't New York so I am glad I can drop in on the Big Apple through you.
Nice to "meet" you.