I set up a public game night for a non profit organization. The event space has a bar on one side and Pizza and snacks are available. All ages are welcome as the bar side is segregated from where the gaming area is. We posted it in some FB local groups and I found some local subreddits and discord servers. I even made an Instagram account but it flagged my flyer as spam. It’s a smallish town with about 14k people but near a much bigger college town by about 30 minutes. I’m at a loss as what to do since I’m going to give it a go this week too. We discussed having a vintage video game competition such as an old arcade game. Am I missing something or are game nights just not that popular?
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- ViatorOmnium@piefed.socialEnglish9 days
At least the first few times, you need a core group that you are sure will show up, and everyone needs to try to bring at least a friend. If you manage to pick up momentum then the core group becomes less critical.
9 daysTo be blunt, you advertised it instead of organizing it
Very few people are going to show up to a game night where they don’t know anyone. Especially if they don’t have a vibe check from hearing about it from someone they know directly
And if there’s only one person there when they show up, most people are going to feel very awkward. It’s likely they’d peek through the window and bail out
You need people to buy in. You need at least a core group that will be there before the start time so people will see a game night going on if they do show up, and to spread word that its a good time. It’ll grow organically from there if everyone has fun, and that’s the point where you can advertise if you want to keep growing
How you find that group I can’t help with, but it can’t just be like an RSVP on Facebook or something. You need to communicate with people directly what you’re trying to do and organize with them
- 9 days
Real people organizing is very tough. I would find some folks who you could give you a firm “yes”, even if it’s supporting you while you try to stand something up. You can try draws, like “Free Pizza” if it wasn’t clear the food was free (best draw I know in America is free food). You can try signage around the campus physically, since a lot of younger folks ignore social media / FB. Tabling in person can work really well too. You need permission, a pop up table, signage, & a positive attitude.
Don’t beat yourself up over it. Organizing irl people is one of the harder things to do in this present moment.
30 minute drive is a big ask for college kids when they can easily hold something on campus.
