Venue

[Anthony Sterling]

Good afternoon everyone,

I'd like to kick off a discussion about our current venue for our
meetings.

It appears those folk at SuperMondays have been approached by a local
not-for-profit landlord, who specialise in providing space for small
businesses, and they have a large presence on Pink Lane.

I'm led to believe this venue has excellent presentation facilities,
can seat ~50 attendees, and will be available at no cost.

The support from The Town Wall Pub has been excellent, from my point
of view anyway, but if it's not suitable we have an opportunity to
obtain a viable alternative.

Thoughts?

Anthony.

[Alistair MacDonald]

My view is that we should give it a look and perhaps a try. The Town
Wall Pub is okay but not the best for presentations, and can be tight
for time when the room is booked out later on. The proposed venue is
literally just over the road taking less than 10 seconds door to door
so we can still gather in the pub before and after.

Alistair

[James Mills]

I think we should try Pink Lane and see what happens.

James

James Mills
www.jamesmills.co.uk
07921220224

This email was sent from my iPhone so please forgive an unexpected short response.

[Anthony Sterling]

Okay, a new venue it is.

I'll start making enquiries.

Thanks,

Anthony.

On Apr 29, 4:30 pm, James Mills <ja...@jamesmills.co.uk> wrote:
> I think we should try Pink Lane and see what happens.
>
> James
>
> James Millswww.jamesmills.co.uk
> 07921220224
>
> This email was sent from my iPhone so please forgive an unexpected short response.
>

> On 29 Apr 2011, at 14:31, Alistair MacDonald <alistair.macdon...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > My view is that we should give it a look and perhaps a try. The Town
> > Wall Pub is okay but not the best for presentations, and can be tight
> > for time when the room is booked out later on. The proposed venue is
> > literally just over the road taking less than 10 seconds door to door
> > so we can still gather in the pub before and after.
>
> >  Alistair
>

[Anthony Sterling]

Afternoon all,

I've emailed the contact at the proposed new venue, once they come back I'll post an update.

Anthony.

[Anthony Sterling]

Good morning everyone,

I'd really like to get some feedback about @PostOfficeNE1, more
specifically, should we cancel our agreement with The Town Wall and
move our events.

Here are my thoughts:-

THE GOOD
* Lots of seating/room
* Projector supplied
* WiFi
* Just as easy to find
* Food is cheaper for sponsor
* Well advertised socially

THE BAD
* No beer!
* A little too formal

My vote goes for a permanent move to PostOfficeNE1.

Anthony.

[Alistair MacDonald]

Unfortunately I was away last month (apparently I was not allowed to
miss my brother's wedding) so I will abstain from the vote. I will
suggest the there is no reason why we can't continue the event over
the road after the talks.

Alistair

[James Mills]

Morning,

I like the fact that @PostOfficeNE1 has more seating/room and that the projector is supplied and is easier to view. However I could not get onto the Wifi. I could not have a drink whilst waiting for the speaker to start. I felt as if I was in a school class room.

As I dont know that many people at the events I find the first moments as I walk into the room quite daunting. Then I find myself frantically looking around the room for someone I know. At the last event some people I knew were already talking to people and so I had to go sit on my own on a table for a while. If this was in the pub I would have just walked to the bar and got a drink. I also find that the beer helps me relax and get chatting with others.

I travel from Stockton to attend the events and although the subjects of the talks and the speakers themselves have been great a big part of why I go is to socialise with other devs. I find I relax more and people talk more when they have a beer in them?

Just putting it out there...

[Chris Neale]

It should be easier for regulars to introduce themselves to new faces in an environment like the PostofficeNE1 space rather than the dark underground hole of the Town Wall.. perhaps we should make sure there are two or three "greeters" to say hi and make introductions next time (regardless of where the event is).

Chris

[Anthony Sterling]

Nice idea Chris.

Laura would be good for this I reckon, but it would be good if
everyone made a concious effort to introduce themselves to people
they've not met before anyway. :)

Although, I'm certainly guilty of not doing this myself at times.

Anthony.

On Jul 5, 12:58 pm, Chris Neale <ch...@usablehq.com> wrote:
> It should be easier for regulars to introduce themselves to new faces in an
> environment like the PostofficeNE1 space rather than the dark underground
> hole of the Town Wall.. perhaps we should make sure there are two or three
> "greeters" to say hi and make introductions next time (regardless of where
> the event is).
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 11:44 AM, James Mills <ja...@jamesmills.co.uk> wrote:

> > **

[Jamie Hurst]

I do like the new venue, my only concern is the one of a lack of beer on entrance!

I hear what everyone is saying about the classroom vibe, because when I stood up to address you all last week I did feel slightly like a school-teacher... Not the best feeling. The world but I think it's one that will pass as me become more comfortable in the new venue. It wasn't that long ago that it was just 15 or so of us in the Town Wall and no one would speak up at all!

I don't know whether there is a possibility of arranging a crate or two of bottles of beer to be brought in (this might be a lovely gesture from our sponsors HINT) but it would certainly relax the atmosphere slightly.

I'm not too sure about the greeter idea, just because a few people might feel as though an introduction is a bit more formal... It could work though, I just remember being a greeter at PC world and how awkward that made everyone feel...

Anthony always seems to be very good at making his way around the meeting and having a chat t as many people as he can, both new and old. I say we should all take a leaf from his book :)

So, for TLDR purposes, is a yes from me to @PostOfficeNE1 :)

Jamie

[Anthony Sterling]

Morning all,

I'll contact the lovely folk at The Town Wall and inform them we'll be
holding our events elsewhere.

Thanks,

Anthony.

[Anthony Sterling]

Morning all,

I've informed The Town Wall Pub that we'll no longer be using the
venue. :(

Anthony.