Adding a Casual Meet to your IPC

We’ve talked about add-on events with some structure, salons, cocktail parties, and supper clubs. How about an add-on event without any real structure? Something where you can stake out some space and let the event happen. Casually. Try a Casual Meet (not to be confused with hooking up!). This is probably the easiest type of event you can schedule. The huge advantage of the Casual Meet is that it goes with every basic type of IPC. Social, hobby, professional, or field, it fits everything. In a way, it’s the bean-bag chair of IPC events.

What exactly is a Casual Meet? Here’s the simple explanation – it’s an unstructured meeting to allow people (IPC members) to meet in a causal environment. While it’s easy to run, you’ll need to do some prep work ahead of time. It can be held anywhere that has space for people to move about and talk. My gaming group has a causal meet at a stand-alone coffee shop that treats us like gold. Then again, gamers are well known for their sugar and caffeine addictions. It’s a match made in heaven.

The hardest part is finding a place to meet. You can do it at home, but a house is a private space that is an unknown for some folks. Unless I’ve been to someone’s house more than a couple times, I find that I’m not completely comfortable. I suggest finding a quiet space at a coffee shop, restaurant or similar business. I whole-heartily recommend coffee shops, because they’re laid back and/or generally quiet places that don’t get too upset if some folks don’t partake. Be careful with restaurants. I find a certain tension exists if you have folks attend your event that have no intention of eating and drinking something. It’s taking away from the restaurant’s business, and some places become squirrelly about it eventually. I suggest talking to the owner or a manager before you plan a casual meet at their business. This way you can feel whether they would welcome your club’s presence or if they seem to be dubious.

Casual meets are just that, a causal meeting. Don’t try to impose a structure or force conversation, but do make introductions between people who may not know each other, or with new folks who are attending this as a first event. As a matter of fact, casual meets are a great first event for new club members. Talk should be organic and free-flowing, and as an event organizer all you’re doing is being the welcome-wagon and event closer. Then you’ll realize that your casual meet was the easiest and most fun event you’ve run yet.