Re: Space catalyst in Indianapolis all input is welcome!

[Toni Hogan]

have you searched "coworking indianapolis?"

http://www.indycoz.com/

http://www.speakeasyindy.com/

On Jul 24, 12:05 pm, bfogle <fog...@ymail.com> wrote:
> Hey everyone,
> Let me start out by saying I am new here so I don't really know the forum
> all that well. I have been researching coworking for several months now and
> I think that it is great! I just moved to the Indianapolis area and would
> love to start up a space here. Like I said I just moved here so this is
> really my first step I dont yet no anyone else in the area that would be
> interested in coworking so I am looking to meet some like minded people and
> see what kind of interest Indianapolis has in coworking. Soo if anyone is
> in the area please get in contact with me I would love to meet you
>
> So alittle about myself and how I ended up with my interest in starting a
> space. I have been doing freelance graphic design for many years mostly at
> my dining room table or at my office at my "real" job. My wife is a
> photographer as well and works from home. We have 2 small kids and trying
> to get any kind of real work done at home is a complete challange. Soo I
> stumbled apon coworking and have loved the idea every since.
>
> Anyone who has any feedback for a beginner please feel free to reply and
> anyone in the Indy area please let me know your out there!
>
> Thanks!
> Bfogle

[Alex Hillman]

As Toni suggested, ABSOLUTELY check out your local spots first! Get to know the local scene, especially given that you're new on the ground in Indianapolis, what's good about it and what's not. The people already doing it are the local coworking community - which means they're potential collaborators far more than they are competitors. 

Also, having been through this a lot of times over the last 6 years and that you're so early in the process, I strongly recommend that you try shaking the want to open a space while you don't know anybody yet and as a result, don't have any community built up yet. 

Opening a coworking space is the easy part, but bringing people in the door and building real community amongst them is a lot harder than a lot of people think. Search this group for the near weekly question of "how do I find members" from spaces that opened without them. It's possible to build community after the fact, but it's a LOT harder to do it after the fact:

http://dangerouslyawesome.com/2011/09/how-to-fund-your-coworking-space/ (hint, this post isn't really about funding)

You'll get to a space eventually, I promise. But developing community early will not just pay off in your ability to open the space of your dreams, but it'll plug you into the Indianapolis community in ways that you haven't even dreamed of yet! And that's the part that pays dividends FAR greater than owning a room full of desks :)

Also, if you're psyched about coworking ideas, I send a free weekly email newsletter that's got all of the best links about coworking related topics from the previous week. Jump on before Thursday morning of this week to get the next one:

http://coworkingweekly.com - there's also a quick reference to the first 20 issues work of links here to help you get caught up. These back issues cover a LOT of ground very quickly, especially a number of common discussions that happen on this list

http://dangerouslyawesome.com/2012/07/20-weeks-of-coworking-weekly/

Welcome to the global coworking community - it's fun here, happy to have you!

-Alex

-- 

/ah

indyhall.org

coworking in philadelphia

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.

To post to this group, send email to cowo...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.

[bfogle]

Thanks for the feedback and all of the helpful links, I will be checking out every one of them. I would love to hear about how everyone else got their start in coworking. Over the past few months of researching I have found the it is pretty unanimous that you build a community before you open the space. I would love to spend some time over the next few months traveling to some coworking spaces and just observing all of the different ways people have of operating them. What are some of your favorite spots? Also I know that Austin usually holds events for individuals interested in coworking, does anyone have more feedback on these?

 

Thanks everyone!

[Tom Brandt]

You are welcome to drup by Workantile in Ann Arbor to see the place, and talk to the members and the owners. You might also want to check out Seed in Toledo.

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/coworking/-/Urmas_6dlOsJ.

To post to this group, send email to cowo...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.

--
twb
member, Workantile

@twbrandt

[Denver Hutt]

Hi! 

It has already been mentioned a few times, but you'll definitely (hopefully) get plugged into the local coworking movement as a first step ... and I'd love the chance to personally show you around The Speak Easy. 

There are several people in Indianapolis that are already coworking and even more that are starting to generate community support to expand the efforts (Alex, be happy - we're all building communities before spaces). Please let me know how I can help and who I can help connect you with locally! 

-d

denver (at) speakeasyindy.com 

[bfogle]

Great! Id love to be able to swing by The Speak Easy sometime and see the facility and cowork with you all. Like I had mentioned I just moved to Indy a month ago so still dont know many people in the area. Im excited that there seems to be a want for coworking in the area.

 

Do you all offer any events open to the public? Id love to get some feedback on your experience thus far with The Speak Easy. 

 

Thanks for writing

Bfogle

[Jamie Wright]

Yes, as Tom mentioned below, you are welcome to come by Seed any time. We can hit Tony Packo's for lunch (right behind Seed) and answer any questions you might have.

If you want to make plans, feel free to email me (jamie AT seedcoworking DOT com). I found that visiting other coworking spots on my travels allowed me to see what worked and what didn't. It helped a lot.

Good luck.

Thanks,

  Jamie

[bfogle]

Thanks Jamie I do plan on checking out several different spots and I will make sure to add Seed to the list. I will keep your contact information.

 

Thanks for the support

[Tom Brandt]

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 10:08 AM, Jamie Wright <ja...@brilliantfantastic.com> wrote:

Yes, as Tom mentioned below, you are welcome to come by Seed any time. We can hit Tony Packo's for lunch (right behind Seed) and answer any questions you might have.

Mmmm, Tony Packo's. Time to schedule another trip to Toledo.

[bfogle]

What part of the city is The Speak Easy and Indy Coz located in? What influenced your desicion on location? Hopefully I can get out this weekend check out some of your locations. I just started a facebook group Indianapolis Coworking Connection to see what kind of interest there is and to hopefully use as a resource for people to set up meet ups or jellys. The group hasnt launched yet (Im still trying to figure out facebook groups). Im living in Greenwood and would be interested in setting up a meet up for anyone in the area that wants to cowork!

On Wednesday, July 25, 2012 10:38:53 AM UTC-4, Denver Hutt wrote: