Organize a Bitcoin meet-up

The search for a location

How to Create a Bitcoin Community

The search for a location

Finding a venue for your events is often no easy task. On top of that, it's essential that this venue be located in your community's city.

There are several criteria to consider, including:

Location: is it easily accessible by public transport? By car? Is parking available?
Is the venue pleasant and not too noisy? Are you looking for a formal setting (co-working space, meeting room) or something more informal (bar, restaurant)?
Does it have enough capacity to host you, even on a rugby or Champions League match night?
Does it have a video projector and a quiet area for presentations?
And finally, if it's a bar or restaurant, does the menu offer something for everyone to eat and drink?

In addition, here are three important points to keep in mind:

If you plan to split the evening into two parts: first, a presentation in a formal space to help everyone focus, then moving to a bar or restaurant to continue in a more relaxed atmosphere, experience shows that changing venues mid-evening often leads some participants to leave during the break. This approach is therefore not recommended.
At your first meet-ups, attendance will likely be small, and you probably won't hold formal presentations. In that case, there's no need to introduce yourself to the owner or explain your objectives. However, once the meet-ups become regular and well-attended, it's worth doing so to show professionalism and express your wish to return monthly. This can lead to many discussions (automatic monthly reservations, free drinks and/or food boards, discounts, conversations about Bitcoin, acceptance of Bitcoin payments, etc.). Obviously, if you're specifically looking for a venue with a video projector to make presentations, it seems essential to ask for a meeting (face-to-face, or even by telephone) with the owner and/or manager to present your project and objectives.

lastly, some communities only want to hold their events in places that accept Bitcoin payments, which is understandable. In this case, it's a good idea to start by searching for Bitcoin-accepting businesses in your city (on btcmap.organd contact them to see if they meet your criteria. If nothing suitable is available, you can try onboarding new merchants, but expect many refusals, which can be discouraging. That's why it's often best not to set this as a goal from the start, and instead consider it once your community is well established and you have enough "firepower."

Also, when launching your meet-up, don't hesitate to change venues for the first few months. This will help you build relationships with different managers, explore various atmospheres, and gather information about potential future hosts.

Later, once your group has grown, you could even take an afternoon to visit several businesses and bars, asking if they have a space suitable for hosting your monthly events and meet-ups.