Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
Meetups provided some really pivotal moments for me early in my career. I've met some long-lasting connections and had some memorable moments.
Haven't been to as many meetups lately, but we're going to start doing some https://t.co/lWepprFqmW meetups, I can't wait! #DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
I've gone to meetups in a couple of different cities, and experiences are mixed. I go hoping to meet like minded individuals. The bigger problem I've found, is general meetups (esp. in small communities) result in very little skill overlap. #devdiscuss
While I don't want to only know those with similar skills, it does mean the group isn't necessarily as useful in supporting development. Soo... for me, they're hit and miss... #devdiscuss
I’ve found meetups with a focus be the most interesting and successful. Speakers or a presentation can facilitate great discussion.
You never know where the conversation may lead. #DevDiscuss
Yeah, speakers are great. Just to get the conversation rolling. Hard when the meet up consistently is only 3-6 people. And not everyone has a project that they can (or want) to demo. Any suggestions for this size? #devdiscuss
The purpose of a meetup depends on you.
- do you want to meet like minded people?
- maybe you want to learn something new?
- perhaps you just love to talk to other people?
- or maybe you work remotely and you want human contact? 😃 #DevDiscuss
Meetups are awesome. They're great for meeting new people, talking about how cool code is, and for learning new things.
I like meetups that are inclusive, appeal to different levels of devs, have great COCs, and offer super cool talks I'll learn from.
#DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
What I personally like of meetups is getting an outside perspective from your coworkers. It gives you a chance to break away from the hive mind which often breeds in closed circuit groups. 🐝#DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
Poorly run meetups are a waste of time or worse. It's very frustrating to spend an evening out at an event that isn't run thoughtfully. #DevDiscuss
A few bad meetups had gotten me sort of tired of that seen for a while.
I got my job now because my friend—who I met through a meetup—referred me to /their/ friend.
As someone who was essentially a fresh grad last year (even though I've been working for a year then), meetups gave me the opportunity to grow my network. #DevDiscuss
Meetups aren’t just about networking. For devs it is an chance learn and collaborate with others. It also provides a supportive community which helps immensely when learning how to code. Good meetups are ones which you can feel the passion from each member and event #DevDiscuss
Just got back from one (https://t.co/soEFTGBUFP)
It really helps being around people that work in tech, especially when you are not in a big city. And when you are in a big city, it helps to be a part of a niche community that you care about. (@NashFP I miss you guys) #DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
Lately though, given that I'm more in the design field now than dev, I choose meetups I go to based on which topics I'll most likely be able to apply at work.
But that doesn't stop me from still attending dev related meetups because I want to keep honing my skills! #DevDiscuss
I haven’t done a lot of meetups since I live in an area that doesn’t have many active tech ones but I have always thought about starting one in my area. #Devdiscuss
The force others is probably key... we have over 150 people on the meetup group, just so few show up. And skill set is so diverse. Part of problem is location (lots of small communities here and not a lot of tech). I did find the artist for my tiny game via it... #devdiscuss
I'm not the main organizer (although I do organize lunches sometimes - which don't have a focus except for people to get out and have a break). It's usually left open for people to demo. Just some nights (only once a month) no one has anything... #devdiscuss
Sliding in late to this weeks #DevDiscuss, but I still made it!
I participate in meetups sparingly because I feel like there are only a few very good ones. The purpose for me is to learn something new I didn't know before, I should walk away feeling accomplished.
I always encourage my friends and co-workers to go to meetups because you can learn something new every day 😄 Especially if they haven't gone to one before! #DevDiscuss
A good meetup as a good mix of people, diverse across experience and backgrounds. Relevant and interesting concept that teaches folks something new. A set amount of time for networking and asking questions #DevDiscuss
Would like to try meet ups . Last time I looked there was a lot of activity in Michigan. Does anybody of any good groups? (Mobile, Dev, .NET) #DevDiscuss
Agreed. As a husband and father of two with a full time job it is a big commitment to carve out an evening to attend a meetup. If I don’t feel it is worth my time I won’t be back. I value my time. #DevDiscuss
On the other hand, I do understand why people who have been in the industry stop attending meetups at a certain point.
Most meetups I've attended are better suited for people who are just starting in the industry rather than people who have experience ealready #DevDiscuss
The lunches have been surprisingly pretty well attended (same core group, often 1 or 2 others). I think it can be sometimes easier to try something where there will be food (so you don't *have* to talk) and obvious start/end (only an hour). #devdiscuss
Also gives people a chance to sort of get a feel of the group without giving up an evening, or worrying about being put on the spot about their own work. #devdiscuss
I love going to meetups, I've met plenty of friends and made countless other connections throughout the industry by going to and speaking at meetups. #DevDiscuss
They are organized at a small restaurant that's pretty cheap (can get a full meal for under $10) and stated to be from 12 - 1. I've been using the same restaurants, as we have a vegan in our group, and everyone has been able to find food here. #devdiscuss
Some of the best meetups I have been a part of have had the smallest groups. They tend to be more close knit. Biggest problem is that people will likely need to travel far so you may end up canceling often of meeting on a less frequent basis. #DevDiscuss
I've spoken at several and I really enjoy it. Meetups are less stress than speaking at a conference and people are more likely to come say "hi" to you after (which is cheating on the networking part 😄). #DevDiscuss
Things I have seen done poorly:
- No networking time.
- Talks are from sales engineers and don't get into the tech details.
- Speakers aren't prepared.
- No time for questions.
#DevDiscuss
I have spoken at several meetups. Having an engaged audience helps immensely. Having a good facilitator is another huge plus. Word of advice: if you are going to speak be prepared. And if you think you are prepared enough, prepare some more. #DevDiscuss
The evening ones don't have any food (or drinks). They're held at a place you can drop in and work out of. Agree that beer/drinks aren't as inclusive. Another thing to get anxious over... #devdiscuss
I'm into meetups on the more meta/theoretical end of the spectrum. Went to one recently that was about creative applications for code (interactive installations, etc) and I left with my brain swirling with possibilities. #DevDiscuss
Agreed! It's so much easier to meet and chat with people at meetups than conferences. And you can make longer lasting connections too, as you'll probably see people repeatedly. #DevDiscuss
The NYC Fullstack Engineering meetup is great, and I recently went to NYC Golang Which was really well balanced between beginner and intermediate content #DevDiscuss
I just hope the people who go to meetups don't just attend for the sake of attending, but really try to learn from what's being discussed and grow on their end. #DevDiscuss
About to blow this thread UP.
A year & half ago I looked around my community here in Metro-Detroit and found that 1) I was the only woman in the one meetup I attended and 2) a lot of the topics of meet ups I stalked were advanced. There wasn't any room for beginners.
#DevDiscuss
One of the biggest advantages of meetups over conferences is you can grab coffee with a person and have in-depth discussions anytime. You are not limited to cramming a conversation in-between talks or in a noisy hallway. #DevDiscuss
Enter @ladevmi
I started it targeting women in tech. But I soon realize that many men entering the field were in similar shoes, they just didn't talk about it as much. So.. we now officially target problems faced by women in tech, but welcome everyone.
#DevDiscuss
Having a clear agenda / outline of what to expect makes for a good meet up. One of the first ones I went too was way over my head it wasn't as geared toward beginners as I thought #DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
As I was hoping to lift the tech scene in Mi up, I unexpectedly found a community of kick-ass people who are kind, helpful, and are so much fun! My hope for anyone joining @ladevmi is that they learn one thing and meet at least one person while they're with us. #DevDiscuss
Meetups with a twenty minute max on talks (but maybe multiple talks) are great. If you love it, more chance to talk to the speaker. If you hate it, it's over quickly. #DevDiscuss
Also, if you want to get involved, propose talks for meetups! They always need speakers. Plus, if you are more introverted or shy, giving a talk ensures that you people *will* come up and talk to you after. #DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
Some are much more focused on a specific skill and announce speakers/topics. But in small communities (where I am now) not enough people to do that. There's still lots we can share with each other without overlap, but it takes more work to figure out what those are. #devdiscuss
If you are new to meet ups, here's my advice:
Enter with an open mind. Introduce yourself to one person and ask about their work. Ask the presenter at least one question.
You went because the topic sounded interesting to you. Milk it.
#DevDiscuss
The purpose of meetups i think are to gather the people in related field to discuss new things and challenges on it.
A good meetup makes when people from different places came to know and interact in meaningful way.
Currently i am part of Ruby on Rails meetup. #DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
It is so incredibly easy to sit in your car, panic and leave. But the accomplishment you'll feel from going in and meeting someone new makes it all worth it. (You're always welcome to bring a friend too).
#DevDiscuss
What tech meetups _aren't: mini tech conferences.
What tech meetups _are_: communities.
If you want meetups in your area to be better, volunteer to give a presentation/demonstration. I promise you the hardest part about being a meetup organizer is finding speakers. #devdiscuss
Meetups should help build community and lift members up. A good meetup isn't too long, has interesting speakers, and provides time to mingle a bit and meet other people. I'm not currently part of a meetup (I'm on hiatus) but I have had a hand in running a couple. #devdiscuss
What tech meetups _aren't_: mini tech conferences.
What tech meetups _are_: communities.
If you want better local tech meetups, volunteer to give a presentation/demonstration. I promise you the hardest part of being a tech meetup organizer is finding speakers. #devdiscuss
Hi - Organizer SF E-commerce Meetup & SF PHP Meetup
Key to attending Meetups - interact without preconditions.
Too many people come to meetups because they "want..."
Instead be open to the idea that there are people working on cool things you haven't heard of yet #DevDiscuss
No arguments on inclusivity. That’s far from a solved problem.
Re: advanced meetups. Bring it on. I can pull up a YouTube and brush up on the beginner stuff. If I am going to spend my night at a meetup it is going to be to learn something substantial. #DevDiscuss
These twitter chats 😉 #devdiscuss
Agreed - I would like (need) to find more ways to have face-to-face interaction with a wider group. Hard in small towns/cities.
Good meetups are accessible - and up front about it.
I often don't go if I'm hurting and would need an accessibility device like my rollator, because I don't know what seating and bathrooms will be like. #DevDiscuss
Time for #DevDiscuss
Tonight's topic is
Community Meetups 🤗
- What's the purpose of meetups?
- What makes for a good meetup?
- What meetup groups are you a part of?
One more thing.
If you are at all remotely interested in speaking and sharing your story and experience, consider speaking at your local Meetup for practice before hitting a conference. Experience is key to success, and meet ups audiences are way less intimidating. #devdiscuss
Meet-ups are a waste of time if you are looking for knowledge, whatever is conveyed in a meet-up can be done via a blog post or online tutorial. If your aim is to get contacts and networking with people then meet-ups are best #devdiscuss
