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The Offline Club

(www.theoffline-club.com)
180 points esher | 2 comments | 25 Jun 25 19:42 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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apgwoz ◴[25 Jun 25 23:18 UTC] No.44382702[source]▶
This is [Meetup](https://www.meetup.com). Meetup has obviously not aged well, but this is mostly due to changes in ownership and leadership. It’s original mission of “a Meetup Everywhere about Most Everything” is pretty much exactly what The Offline Club seems to be seeking.

I think they’ll find a lot of the same challenges:

    1. Finding space to have events
    2. Ensuring that people who said “I’m going” actually end up going. 
    3. Bootstrapping groups such that when I stumble upon The Offline Club, I can signup for something relevant to me, happening a short time from now. 
    4. Keeping organizers willing to continue hosting events
    5. Keeping away organizers who see it as lead gen for their sales job
Basically, good luck!

Edit: On second look, this is different than Meetup in that it’s not centered around a specific topic … except for being “offline” together, which obviously could create other opportunities for hobbies, etc.

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1. al_borland ◴[25 Jun 25 23:23 UTC] No.44382728[source]▶
One thing I’ve noticed with Meetup is that a lot of events went virtual during Covid, then never went back. When I go there it seems like so many things near me are simply Zoom meetings, which I have no interest in.

I understand needing that during that period, but it seems like if they want to get back to the real purpose of the site, they need to do away with that option.

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2. calpaterson ◴[26 Jun 25 12:34 UTC] No.44386803[source]▶
RE: Meetup.

I think many groups effectively died during that period - but were just able to limp along a bit longer as a virtual meet rather than physical. Once your meetup is sub 30 attendees (attendees who actually attend - so ~45 RSVPs) you lose critical mass and everything from getting people to talk to finding a space to meet becomes very difficult.