REI Meet-Up Enhancements

[Jared Hottle]

Hello! We have been running a meetup for a couple of months in a row and have had a good turnout of 15-20 people each time. We are trying to keep it low-key without speakers or "pitches" just because everyone is in a different place so the information given by a speaker may be relevant to one person but not another based on where they are in their journey. 

Because it has been so casual we have been reserving a few tables at a local bar people come in and sit down at an open seat and tend to get "locked-in" to one group for the whole meeting. The feedback we received is they wish there was a way to interact with more people then the people you are sitting by. Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this without the it being structured and feeling forced or like a speed dating event? Thanks!