Are your Meetups outgrowing the current location?

[TSIAS]

I know many candidates have Meetups, so this is not a question exclusively for Dean supporters.

Here in West Palm Beach, we are outgrowing our current locations. I think we have a small group, only around 40 or so people. I've heard of Meetups with over a 100 or more people.

Our meetings have all been in coffee houses or bookstores. Originally, we met a bookstore, but it quickly was too small for us. We are now meeting at Starbucks. It is still too small. The Meetup in June was bad because there was so much noise. They didn't turn off the music, and I kept on hearing the coffee grinder. I don't know if and how much these establishments get paid for holding Meetups. It would seem that holding Meetups in their bookstore or coffee house would be good for them economically. Lots of people buy coffee or books when they go for a Meetup.

I don't know how Meetup determines what the possible locations are. I get an email from Meetup when Meetup time is near. I am given three venues to vote on. We meet at the location which garners the most votes (I live in FL, so I can't say that for sure :)). We've discussed trying to get into other venues. Some even mentioned local churches. Not sure if that would go over very well.

So basically, I'd like to know everybody's Meetup experiences, and most specifically how you deal with the ever growing sizes.

--Taylor

[expatriot]

1. sure a lot of candidates have meetups, but how many candidates' meetups...

...are outgrowing their present locations? Well I guess if they hold them in like a port-a-potty or a shoebox. (ommigosh... that was the first time I have been a smart-ass in reference to other Dem candidates.... geez, being the front-runner goes to your head...)

[sybylla]

2. Nope. But we meet in a library

with large meeting rooms. We can always expand there if we need to. What we may do instead, since my meetup is in such a rural place is divide into smaller, more local groups so we don't have to drive so far to meetup.

I have also heard rumors of groups outgrowing their venues. Coffee houses and the like are a great way to get people to show up but it is very difficult to hold a meeting like that. Sounds like it's a good time to start thinking of a new location.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. out on Long Island it sure has

There are TWO seperate meetups scheduled for tonight with about 300 people total set to attend.

They hold these in Starbucks' - on in Nassau County, one in Suffolk.

On the agenda is how to get more seniors and minorities into the fold.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. out on Long Island it sure has

There are TWO seperate meetups scheduled for tonight with about 300 people total set to attend.

They hold these in Starbucks' - one in Nassau County, one in Suffolk.

On the agenda is how to get more seniors and minorities into the fold.

[Terwilliger]

5. maybe...but isnt this thread a topic for Politics and Campaigns?

[revcarol]

7. I agree. NOT for GD.

.

[onecitizen]

6. I'm in WV and my meet-up was...........

(for Dean) canceled due to lack of people!! Jeesshhh! I know there are other Dean supporters here but I have no idea how to reach them. Any help would be appreciated.

[deutsey]

8. There are currently 8 Dean Meetups in Maryland

I'm one of the organizers for the first one in our town tonight.

Gulp.

[hedda_foil]

9. In North Suburban Chicago area

We split into two groups so people from the Northwest burbs wouldn't have to drive for an hour to get to the venue. The next month we moved to a bigger room which should work for the rest of the campaign as it has a 300 person capacity. If not, we'll move again.