Hosting, on one page
Free things happening near you today that anyone can walk into. This is everything a host needs to know. Stick it on the fridge.
Only post something you would happily do on your own.
Reading on a bench. Walking the dog. Knitting at the pergola. A slow run. If it only works with other people, it isn't a good first thing to host.
Assume it is just you the first few times. That is normal, not failure.
Most new notices have nobody the first two or three times. The people who come later come because you kept turning up. Parkrun started with thirteen runners and a friend holding a stopwatch.
Your notice
- An exact spot. "The pergola near the playground", not "Kangaroo Bay".
- An end time. It tells a nervous person that leaving is built in.
- How to spot you. "Red jumper, big bag of wool."
- The first five minutes. Say whether watching from a bench is fine, and how someone leaves without a fuss.
- Same time each week. Things that repeat get found.
Before the first one
Send the notice to one person you know with "Come with me." Then the first time is never truly solo.
When someone new turns up
- Say hello and give your name. Don't ask why they came.
- Give them one easy thing to do, or make it clear that doing nothing is fine.
- Say out loud that they can leave whenever they want.
- If they came alone, you don't need to mention it.
Afterwards
Nobody will ever ask you whether anyone came. The only thing you can tell the board is a good thing: tap "we had a first-timer today" on your notice. When a one-off ends, your notices page asks one question: same time next week?
What protects you, and them
- Only your first name and how to spot you are visible. Nothing else about you is.
- Nobody can see how many people looked at your notice, and neither can you. There is no zero to stare at.
- Nobody can message anyone. Everything happens at the place, in public, with other people around.
- Notices are only at listed public places, in daylight or lit hours outdoors.
- Take your notice down in one tap if anything feels wrong. Anyone can report a notice, and a person reads every report.
- If someone is in danger, call 000. Lifeline is 13 11 14, any time.