Starting REI meetup in charlotte backyard

[Darius Howell]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for advice on how to startup, coordinate, run a successful meet up group in a small marketplace called Shelby, Nc. The town is about an hour outside of Charlotte, Nc. My wife and I are local investors looking to expand and share our knowledge about the local market. While simultaneously networking and building relationships. My wife Kelly loves rehabbing and I'm furthering my comperhension in apartment syndication. We're looking for ways to advance ourselves in our respective fields. While we know it's going to be a challenge (as everything in life worth having is) to start this new path in our journey we are really excited for the challenges ahead. So if there is any advice or feedback that would be greatly appreciated. This group is for people to learn the business, give input, share their experiences, and encourage people to be better than they were yesterday. Looking to start this group in the beginning of the new year the location TBD I will give more information later this week

[Chris T.]

@Darius Howell - I have been hosting a monthly local networking meetup here in Charlotte for the past few months.  It is a very informal meet up with no set agenda or speaker, but focuses more on networking and individual interactions.   We have been getting good turn outs (average of about 20 people I guess) and I have received lots of good feedback.

Here are a few things that I have learned both from going to other meetups and now hosting:

• Be consistent. As soon as meetings miss a month it is hard for them to gather a following again.
• Have it at a central location for your target area. For whatever reason half of the meetings here in Charlotte seemed to be in the same southwest part of Charlotte, which is not that convenient for those on the opposite side of town.
• If you are going to have speakers, try to have them be local and not there for just a sales pitch. I understand that speakers often are there to get business, but have them speak on a topic they are knowledge about, not their specific business or product.
• Beer seems to help :)  We have been hosting ours at a local brewery and it seems to be a good draw.
• Post and respond to others posts here on BP.  There are lots of people interested in meetups, they just often don't know about them.

Just my 2 cents so take it for its worth.  Help this helps and best of luck!

Here is a link to our next meetup for reference:

Charlotte, NC REI Networking Meetup - Tues. Dec. 4th