BHW London Meetup?

ExtraWinner said:

If you want people from the whole Europe to attend you should create some plan.
So far organization is on kindergarten level, and you cant expect many people to attend with such a short notice like "in 1 week BHW meeting in UK"....
Act faster guys.

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I dont think anyone is trying to get everyone from Europe to come to London. It would make more sense to try that when its happened a few times and a weekend can be set up.

The organization was great and over 10 people turned up. I dont see the problem with it?

meathead1234 said:

I've given over a month's notice for the next one. Is that not long enough?

The first one took a while to organise as this has never been tried before so we didn't know who would turn up. As it turned out well, we'll do it more regularly with more notice.

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I think 1 month is more than enough notice?

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I think a months notice is enough. When it gets longer people will say yes then pull out when the time comes.



How many other BHW meets has there been?

meathead1234 said:

I've given over a month's notice for the next one. Is that not long enough?

The first one took a while to organise as this has never been tried before so we didn't know who would turn up. As it turned out well, we'll do it more regularly with more notice.

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I think 1 month is more than enough notice?

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The thing is I seen mentioning 14th, and new thread opening soon.
Meeting place information (for hotel reasons) would be cool.
Also - any idea who will be there?

It might be better if there was an agenda in place before.
Ok Central London is Big Time Charlie Potatoes but we can rave
there if you book accommodation Travelodge or Premier inn in the outer regions, It would
be good if we book a conference room for the day they are cheap.
One thing I have say to the alcoholics and junkies is why the fuck are you
coming? Sort out your issues first, getting pissed and being an alcoholic are two different things and no I don't want to go up Baker Street to buy drugs.
You'll never make money in IM with those issues.
Pub meet up or an BHW get together needs to be defined.

Fair point Oxon. Gets complicated when you really start trying to define these things though.
Last time was really good, just relaxed meet-up with a little bit of IM discussion and a bit of socialising.

Now we are talking about conference rooms and stuff the risk is it will end up a half formed beast

If we want a proper conference organised then I don't think a month is enough notice is it? Especially if we're doing a global meet-up now

Merriest I guess your right, we need to give it an agenda and some scope - that way no ones coming from Europe on false pretences...

davids355 said:

Fair point Oxon. Gets complicated when you really start trying to define these things though.
Last time was really good, just relaxed meet-up with a little bit of IM discussion and a bit of socialising.

Now we are talking about conference rooms and stuff the risk is it will end up a half formed beast

If we want a proper conference organised then I don't think a month is enough notice is it? Especially if we're doing a global meet-up now

Merriest I guess your right, we need to give it an agenda and some scope - that way no ones coming from Europe on false pretences...

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Agreed I attended with no real idea of what to expect but would say it was more of a social gathering with those who have a common interest than anything else, kinda like a works end of year party and a great way of putting usernames to faces.

If Meat and Oxon want to take it further and organise something more formal then I'd still be interested but for now I think anyone travelling from further afield need to see this as a social event more than anything.

True. Will wait to see what meathead and/or oxon decide.

I'm flexible. My plan was to have more of a Christmas social rather than a more formal conference style even. I think that would be more suited to the new year once we have got a bigger group together and some more advanced notice.

I'll be winding down by mid-Dec so I'd rather stick to something informal.

What would people prefer?

Social get together is always best especially in this industry and given many are experts in their own field. I left the corporate life to get away from formal meetings and stuffy conferences.

I agree to keeping it social - I actually learnt allot at the last one from just chatting to people. Besides socialising is important!!

Guys this is ridiculous.

Look to example that works. Martin Avis does London meets every month, I been there once and saw some of the ugly Warriors first-hand!

They meet in some restaurant he likes that is not too busy, hire out a small section and are there for a few hours eating then coffee, drinks.

Even the 2600 hacker guys meet once a month (I think).

But I think for us, just meet up in a pub, the big one in Baker Street. Why not make it regular? Once a month? Or even once every 2 weeks. I don't care if only one other person shows up.

Too much planning going on here. Choose an evening that is not a Friday or weekend (e.g. Wed/Thu) and stick to it e.g. first Wed/Thu and third Wed/Thu of the month. (first and third is better than the final because many people are often busier at end of month).

Make it regular like this and people can come on both short and long term notice.

I don't object to a one-off special on 14/12, I think that's a great idea, but having a regular meet is also a good idea, there are enough of us in UK to justify it.

On that note, as we are half-way through the month already, I will be at Baker Street "Metropolitan Bar" (http://g.co/maps/7vuzn) next Wednesday 23rd at 6pm till 8pm minimum if anyone wants to meet. It's a Wetherspoon pub so its cheap, plus its huge so should be no problem for seats. Plus Baker St is an easy transport hub to reach.

I will write here beforehand how to spot me, maybe I will wear something recognisable, like my black hat!

Ever two weeks is a bit too much! I don't get let out that often

I like the idea of once every month or two to go out and have some fun.

Oops just noticed that you guys did manage a meet already.

Well I'm up for more regular in between meets at short notice if anyone wants to. I'll be there as mentioned in a week. Big meets are great but I don't mind just 2 or 3 attending. Networking, chatting, it's all good.

The main advantage of regularity is more people able to make it to at least one or two meetups a year. A meetup once a quarter means that many will miss the chance.

as a north london boy, im happy to meet up. ill be there on the 23rd

oxonbeef said:

It might be better if there was an agenda in place before.
Ok Central London is Big Time Charlie Potatoes but we can rave
there if you book accommodation Travelodge or Premier inn in the outer regions, It would
be good if we book a conference room for the day they are cheap.
One thing I have say to the alcoholics and junkies is why the fuck are you
coming? Sort out your issues first, getting pissed and being an alcoholic are two different things and no I don't want to go up Baker Street to buy drugs.
You'll never make money in IM with those issues.
Pub meet up or an BHW get together needs to be defined.

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I actually PMed David saying we should organise it like this:

1)Hire a Conference Room have a few hour meeting or round table to discuss everything and anything, and AFTER that go to a Pub or a Bar...

Or we could just make it a social event, but it should be organised each month or two so we can turn this into a regular thing

There is a LOT of benefit to be drawn from such meetings, just look at the Warrior forum clowns!

Georgebg said:

Or we could just make it a social event, but it should be organised each month or two so we can turn this into a regular thing

There is a LOT of benefit to be drawn from such meetings, just look at the Warrior forum clowns!

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As it's relatively short notice, I think the informal meetup would be the best idea for now.

Going forward, we can make it more formalised, but the original idea was just a meetup to see how it turns out. If we get 20+ this time, then something more formal would probably make more sense than just meeting up at a bar.

It will also be a few weeks before Christmas, so I would rather have fun than talk about work

Georgebg said:

I actually PMed David saying we should organise it like this:

1)Hire a Conference Room have a few hour meeting or round table to discuss everything and anything, and AFTER that go to a Pub or a Bar...

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I suggested to meathead that although I wouldn't mind a formal meeting occasionally, a regular informal/social meeting would be preferred for me. Reason being that at a conference, people would be obliged to talk, and share effective techniques and ideas etc. At least in a pub, you can get to know everyone first and discuss your ideas/work accordingly. I'm not really up for open speaking but have no problem at all sharing certain tactics and ideas with people once I've had a beer with them and got to know them a little better.

Abstroose said:

I suggested to meathead that although I wouldn't mind a formal meeting occasionally, a regular informal/social meeting would be preferred for me. Reason being that at a conference, people would be obliged to talk, and share effective techniques and ideas etc. At least in a pub, you can get to know everyone first and discuss your ideas/work accordingly. I'm not really up for open speaking but have no problem at all sharing certain tactics and ideas with people once I've had a beer with them and got to know them a little better.

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Exactly best mate.

Okay informal works for me too Just confirm the dates so I can buy my plane tickets and book the hotel!