Basingstoke Tweetup
The next event will be Thursday 12th November, 8pm at the Red Lion Hotel, London Street, Basingstoke. Please RSVP via the official invite. You can keep up to date by following @bsktweetup.
The first meet took place on Thursday 9th April 2009 and was considered a big success.
You may like to read my review and gallery, the newspaper article, or the review from The Escape.
What is Basingstoke Tweetup?
Basingstoke Tweetup is purely a social event – a chance to meet some people, put some faces to names, have a drink, have some laughs etc. Consider it our attempt at bringing “social networking” back into the Real World™.
Are there any requirements to come?
The general requirements are that you live in or around Basingstoke, and that you use Twitter. However, that’s not a strict guideline, so if you just work in (or are visiting) Basingstoke, or you’re interested in Twitter but don’t use it, then feel free to come along – the emphasis is on being social, not being recruited into a select group.
Does it cost anything?
It’s free to attend – we just meet in a pub, so as there’s no hiring fees or anything, there’s no cost to the organiser. The only cost to you is your time and a smile.
For our first meet in April 2009, the event was sponsored by The Escape who were kind enough to pick up the bar tab for the whole evening, so in this case, it didn’t cost the attendees anything for drink or snacks either! Kudos to The Escape (as they also created the Basingstoke Tweetup logo too).
I’d like to come! How do I let you know?
If you’re on Twitter already, then follow @bsktweetup. Once it gets closer to the date of the next meet, a link to an invite will be posted on there, at which point you can follow the instructions and tweet a Yes reply (or No or Maybe), and the invite will then track who’s coming and who can’t make it.
If you’re not on Twitter, then please leave a comment on this page, so we still get an idea of numbers.
How often are the events?
We’ve only had one so far, but we’re aiming to have them monthly. This keeps it all fresh so people have lots of time to think of new stuff to talk about.
I’m on Twitter – do you have a hashtag for these events I can look out for?
Yes! #bsktweetup is the hashtag we use – first used by Jamie.
What happens at the events?
You arrive, grab yourself a drink, then introduce yourself and get stuck in! Chances are you’ll know a few people, by Twitter username if not in person, so you’re not alone. You stay until you want or have to leave.
Aren’t you all geeks chatting about techy stuff though?
Far from it! Sure, we have a few web developers in the group, and as a common bond of the group is Twitter, then chat can glance in the techy direction, but other topics covered at the first meet involved waxing, American’s in wars, writing, fashion, current news events, saving money, holidays, local Basingstoke stuff, and other things you’d expect from a general social event.
Summary
Give us a go – come for an hour and if you like the atmosphere, then stay a little longer! We’re an easy-going group of local people who just want to have an enjoyable evening. Did I mention the emphasis was on being social? 
The original content of this page can be found in the first comment
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
(Original post content, to give context to the many comments below.)
1) Either is fine with me (the advantages of working for yourself)
2) Lunchtime or evening during the week, or an afternoon if it’s a weekend.
3) Depends on popularity – some people feel once a week is too much, but others may feel once a month is too little. I’d personally probably edge towards once a month.
4) I’m happy with just a general chat social, but would be interested if people want to give a small presentation about any of their interests – diversity is good.
5) Almost certainly, if it goes over more than a handful of people attending (and 50 people were sent a link to this page), then it needs a few people to organise it (or at least a couple). (Disclaimer: I’ve just set this page up to get the ball rolling – if others really want to lead it, then by all means let me know).
6) Stuck for ideas here, otherwise it would already have the catchy name on this page!
Twitter: GaryJ
1) Either is good.
2) Weekdays, definitely evenings. Weekends, anything but mornings.
3) Once a month, I feel.
4) I think a general social meet-up is best, with the option of a special event if anyone wants to do something in particular.
5) A few people. I don’t think anyone on their own would have the time or stamina to keep on organising this.
6) Nothing springs to mind, so I guess “Basingstoke Twitter Meetup”
Twitter: dkplewis
Gary, more than happy to get involved. The Escape may even sponsor a little cash behind the bar!
1/2. Weekday evening best for me. Thursday is always best as I can drag any hangover through the day
3. I would suggest no more than once every month. Preferably every 2-3 months to keep it relatively fresh. These things can sometimes turn into a chore.
4. I reckon a drinks and general chat with people wearing badges so we can get to know each other.
5. More than happy to get involved at some level.
6. I would suggest the generic Basingstoke “Tweetup” brand. If you want a logo, let me know!
Nice work Gary.
Awsome sounds like a good plan! I’m well up for helping in any way you need.
1/2. Weekday if it’s evening or Weekend if it’s daytime. I’d prefer weekday.
3. See how it goes? Once per month would be cool.
4. A “free-for-all talk-a-thon with drinks” sounds like a good plan to start with? Until you build up some momentum
5. More people who organise, the more people they can get involved!
6. Could go with the “Tweetup” style like the Reading one, or perhaps some kind of Barcamp name? (http://barcamp.org/)
@SimonJGreen
Weeknights, once a month,free for all with drinks, let everyone get to know eachother, very informal is a must! Few organised individuals to organise…. How about Basing tweets!
Sounds like a great idea!
1. I like Craig’s Thursday evening suggestion, but I’m reasonably flexible.
2. Evening for weekdays, afternoon or evening for weekends.
3. No more than once a month, I can’t be offline for that long.
4. I’d like to just have a drink and a chat, get to know some locals, etc. Nothing too heavy.
5. However many it takes…
6. I’m happy with Basingstoke Tweetup.
@surferbill
Sounds good to me:-
1 Weekday evening, Thursday best for me
2 See above
3 Once a month sounds good
4 Drinks and a chat, nothing too heavy
5 Group organised, who ever turns up.
6 Basingstoke tweetup (does what it says on the tin!!)
Also suggest meeting where free wifi avaliable.
Mike
@sheddriver
Thanks for your feedback guys and gals – this may be easier to organise than I first imagined
See the update above to keep track of what the current decisions are, but currently we need ideas for venues. In no particular order:
a) The Red Lion – quiet and I know it’s practically empty on a Friday night, so probably totally empty on a Thursday night too. Town Centre, with parking nearby.
b) The Queens Arms – Busy but not loud, by the station (easy-ish to find and park), does food.
c) Lloyd’s, Wetherspoons etc – more lively, noisier with music, by the cinema. Close to other establishments.
——–
As a side thought, thinking aloud – would anyone be interested in meeting for food before a “main” drinks/chat meet?
Lloyds would be great, thursday night brill drik.. great get it done who ever needs to bring it together!
Sorry, another point
, food would be great also!
Sorry for the late reply, had a very rough day. I am very interested in the Tweetup.
1. Weekday would be preferable, Thursday evening perfect.
2.Definitely evening, 6/7pm, anywhere in the Town Center would be ideal
3.Once a month good, but like Craig said, once 2-3 months would keep it relatively fresh. If we gt into a routine it could get tedious
4. No need for a structured meeting, lets keep it fresh like twitter. I guess once we get to know each other, things would take their course. Name badges would be ideal.
5. I’m okay if its led by Gary and Craig who came up with the idea, but I’m willing to lend a hand if needed.
6. I like the name tweetup.
N.B Lets see how the first one goes, we could spice it up in subsequent months by doing an event together i.e. going to see a movie or even organizing a run(lol).
Gary, being a ’slightly’ older 37, I like the idea of The Red Lion, or, you can hire the upstairs of Bakers (Bakers Arms) and they can put on a buffet. I guess you would then need a sub from everyone which is where it changes things.
Obviously still awaiting feedback from more people, but how about having it once a month, but we can cycle the venues? So one month could be, for example, Red Lion (quieter), the next, Lloyds (not so quiet), the next a pub quiz somewhere etc – if people aren’t interested in one, then they can just come every two/three months, and that keeps it fresh for them. Others can come every month, and it is kept fresh by being in different locations.
I’m not keen on anything that involves getting subs – if people just pay on the night, then the cost will vary depending on the number of people, and if we ask people to pay regardless, then they feel obliged to come out, when they might otherwise not want to – not the way to have a social.
I’ve got a suggestion for the time/date/place of the first meet, but I’ll wait for a few more people offering their thoughts first.
Hi Gary, cheers for the heads up (I’m astonished that I’m 24 on the list of 50 tbh, though I’d be way down).
1 & 2. If it’s a weekday then a swift half and a tweetup would be good, but may not be long enough to get to know that many people. Weekday evenings would mean a good 2 to 3 hours to properly socialise. I always find it difficult to shoehorn social stuff in at the weekends.
3. I’m inclined to think that once a month is plenty.
4. A simple, unstructured social gathering is fine by me.
5. Set a date and venue and see who rolls in?
6. twestival place? (permission to groan, granted)
I worked at the Maidenhead Inn a while back and will not go drinking in there for love nor money. I certainly wouldn’t want to eat there. Lloyds on the other hand is a fair choice, as is the Red Lion.
Depending on how big a turn out there is, the Bounty Inn is a damn fine pub, but small, and they do food… Just another suggestion.
1) Weekday
*OR* I quite like the hashtag’s ‘bsktweet’ (reminds me of ‘biscuit’, why that’s relevant I don’t know..)
2) Evening (anything to liven up a weekday night in BSK!) *OR* Morning/afternoon for a Tuttle-ish type meetup in one of the many fine coffee establishments?
3) Fortnightly. Perhaps alternating between afternoon and evening?
4) Whatever works
5) Again, whatever works (I can’t even organised matching socks)
6) +1 for ‘Twestival Place’
1. I like the Thursday idea
2. Evenings for me
3. No more than once a month.
4. Initially I guess we should just get to know each other and then work it out from there. It’ll soon become apparent where we are heading.
5. Team efforts are my preferred style.
6. Not sure about this yet.
Another 51 invites sent out – some are re-sends to the original 50 who didn’t reply before (If they had, and said No, then they wouldn’t have got it again!), and a few to some others who had tweeted recently.
I’m hoping we’ll have a few cameras there to record the event – we’ll find a way to send the best ones to me, and I’ll throw a post up, at least until we decide that we’ll give this entity a website of it’s own
I also mailed Basingstoke Gazette, but no-one got back to me. Maybe we can write a small article and send it in along with a pic afterwards.
Gaz, if you have a camera, I can craft the PR piece to go to the Gazette. I know a couple of people there.
1. Either
2. Evenings during the week, whenever at weekend
3. Once a month
4. Whatever it shapes itself into
5. I don’t mind either way
6. Gotta have a catchy name (how else will we get the funky t-shirt slogans if not? ;o) )
Apologies – am busy this week so am missing this one – however, would love to catch the next one !