For any range of topics, lighthearted to serious, hobbies and games to helping and engaging with community matters. Regarding reach, I mean what ways may be used alongside word of mouth, as I honestly don’t hear people talk about groups they’re in (besides sports/bands) all that much.
Some cities have gaming stores with active groups and tournaments and learn-to-play events. Public libraries often have a calendar of community events. Restaurants sometimes have them, too. Community theater. Bridge clubs. Churches often have secular events like concerts, games, fairs, book clubs, etc. Maker spaces. Community college adult education. Hobby classes like woodworking and pottery.
These are all great examples. And sometimes, you just start your own, like inviting a few neighbors to a cookout.
Appreciate the advice for finding groups! However, my question is more about getting them started and handling outreach to keep them going.
This does provide some insight into some venues that may be good for them, so thanks!
Sorry, my reading comprehension took a little vacation there!
Start offline - establish a location, time/schedule, snacks, etc. Advertise online (e.g. craigslist, local forums, via social media such as with school, city, library groups), put up flyers in advance (e.g. weekly starting MM/DD/YY. Try to find a group of core members because someone will need to keep track of things
snacks
never underestimate the power of punch and pie
Start paying attention to posters that get stapled around.
Or start stapling posters places.
I think posters/flyers are one of the most powerful ways to reach people in a local area, you’ve got to be in the local area to see them, right?
Another way to spread the word can be via the internet, Facebook is god awful, but a lot of communities will have something akin to a noticeboard that is another effective way to get the word out.
I think posters/flyers are one of the most powerful ways to reach people in a local area, you’ve got to be in the local area to see them, right?
For sure in terms of locality, but not sure how effective they are in areas with lower foot traffic due to infrastructure. In a city this may work well, but does it also work as well in more rural, spread-out areas?
It still works if the posters are in places that a lot of the people in town would visit. I’ve seen a lot of small town restaurants/gas stations/feed shops with an area by the front with posters and business cards etc.
found the college rpg group by seeing someone reading a source book in the common area of the student union.
Follow-up: has anyone coming across this post started a local group, or helped with one starting out that could relate how they went about it?
Website, social media (including meetup or facebook), flyers,
In many jurisdiction, it’s not that complicated to create a small non profit club to collect money to rent a space which is often sufficient to attract peopleoffline groups will be monitored, it will take the state, or state friendly associates, manpower to provide that level of surveillance, but as we saw in the soviet union, when there’s no hope, and nothing else to strive for, watching your neighbor becomes entertainment and employment. i’m not saying do nothing and stay home in the dark, i’m just saying be very aware of the universe we are all going to find ourselves living in a year from now.
