New events

So, you want to start a class / workshop / event? Great!

BTW: You don't need to be a member, you just need a member to sponsor you and your event. Which shouldn't be too hard.

Notice: Some of the content on this page is out of date (thanks to the pandemic). For better help, hop into #public-relations on Discord.

Initial Steps

• First, gauge interest in your class, you probably want to make sure at least three to four people intend to show up.
• Decide what you want and don't want to teach. Set a scope that makes sense to you.
• Come up with a good name.

Establish a Date

• Pick a day and time that works for you and has space available on the PS1 calendar. PS:One Google Calendar
• Send an email to the PR director at press@pumpingstationone.org with a formal request to add your event to the calendar.

• Warning! Don't ask for a date that "works for everyone." Down that path lies madness and obnoxiously long threads with no definitive answers. This is your project, make a command decision.
• Two or more weeks is a good lead time.

Write up a class description:

• Write something brief, and make sure to include the following things at the bottom of your post (seriously, use this exact format or you're going to get a lot of dumb questions from people who can't read anything not in bullet points):
  • Who: who the class is intended for (the public, members only, beginners, intermediate, etc)
  • Cost (if it's free, say that it's free, or people will ask)
  • Where it is: include PS1's address, which room, etc
  • (If you are going to use the Electronics Lab for events, please also subscribe to the electronics lab calendar (http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=hkgq1nkid9up5e4oe9uacqdlic@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago). Duplicate your event from the PS1 calendar by clicking the duplicate button in the more action drop down to create a reservation of the Electronics lab, and set your duplicated event to the Electronics lab calendar.)
  • When it is: Date and time. Start time and end time might be nice, too.
  • What you'll be teaching, what the event is about, etc
• Find an appropriate picture to go along with your description (because all blog posts must have pictures!)

Draw attention to your class:

• In everyone's fantasy world, you just put something on the calendar and hundreds of people flood into PS1 to sit at rapt attention while you expound intelligently on [insert class subject here]. That can happen, but you need to do some marketing first.
• Post your class description to at the very, very least the following places (this is minimum effort):
  • PS1-Discorse Announcement category
  • Help the PR person promote your thing. They have the access, but you have the details.
  • The calendar:
    • PS:One Google Web Calendar
    • PS:One Google Calendar .ICS file

• Other places you may want to consider:
  • The Blog (which means a post on the web site)
  • Facebook, make it an event.
  • Twitter
  • Other local hackerspaces' mailing lists (W88 and SSH for starters)
  • Enthusiast mailing lists that talk about stuff you're interested in
  • If your event is general interest enough, consider local event blogs like chicagoist, or local specialty blogs
  • Make blog / similar blogs
  • Eventbrite or Meetup or similar: Meetup.com https://wiki.pumpingstationone.org/Meetup

Create A Roster of Attendees

• You'll want to know how many people are coming.
• You may want to send out waivers / any special instructions ahead of time.
• Please give your attendees a way of contacting you directly.

On the Day of Your Event

• Show up early to make sure everything is in order for your event. Only you know how long that will take.
• Have guests sign the waiver. https://pumpingstationone.org/ click Join, Begin Application. or https://tinyurl.com/iwillnotdiehere or https://ps1.link/waver
• Make it easy for people to find you. Put up signs.
• Host your event! Share your enthusiasm for the subject!
• You or someone should give guests a tour. Tell them they can put on events too.

After the Event

• Make sure your event doesn't leave a mess. Clean up. Take down signs, and make sure the door is firmly closed and locked if you had it unlocked.
• Get feedback from your attendees: what did they get out of the event? What do they think should be done differently?