Thread
I have now launched 2 bitcoiner meetups (@bitdevsla and @boisebitcoiners). I picked up tons insight & want to share.
Here is what I will cover.
1. Why do I need a bitcoin meetup?
2. How do I attract people to my meetup?
3. What do we do at the meetup?
4. Tips
1/23
Here is what I will cover.
1. Why do I need a bitcoin meetup?
2. How do I attract people to my meetup?
3. What do we do at the meetup?
4. Tips
1/23
Let’s begin…
Why do I need a bitcoin meetup?
Ok, for this part I must go back in time. IIRC, it was late 2018/early 2019. Bitcoin has crashed from its 2017 highs. I was on the fence about buying more bitcoin. Everyone around me told me bitcoin was dead.
2/23
Why do I need a bitcoin meetup?
Ok, for this part I must go back in time. IIRC, it was late 2018/early 2019. Bitcoin has crashed from its 2017 highs. I was on the fence about buying more bitcoin. Everyone around me told me bitcoin was dead.
2/23
However, I hopped on Twitter and started connecting with people. Then I found a meetup in Santa Monica featuring @opennode founders as speakers.
3/23
3/23
At this meetup, even more important than the organized speaking portion, were the people I met. It was there where I met @sthenc and many other bitcoiners who held incredible conviction and were dedicating significant portions of their life to building bitcoin.
4/23
4/23
This was an incredible experience because it changed my perspective and made me realize bitcoin probably has more people working endlessly to make it happen than any company in the world. This experience during a bleak bear market was formative.
5/23
5/23
It helped me work up the courage to stack more sats and continue on my journey down the bitcoin rabbit hole.
Tl;dr bitcoin meetups helped me build conviction and understand how big bitcoin is.
Now… how do you start a bitcoin meetup?
6/23
Tl;dr bitcoin meetups helped me build conviction and understand how big bitcoin is.
Now… how do you start a bitcoin meetup?
6/23
This part is a combination of tools and putting in a little bit of up front time.
First off, sign up for an account on meetup dot com. Yes I know it costs a little money (I’ll give you a tip towards the end of the thread to save money on other parts of the meetup).
7/23
First off, sign up for an account on meetup dot com. Yes I know it costs a little money (I’ll give you a tip towards the end of the thread to save money on other parts of the meetup).
7/23
Meetup dot com does three things
1. It’s your link you share everywhere to get people to RSVP
2. Brings extra people to your meetup. @boisebitcoiners regularly gets 5 new people at each meetup who found us on meetup dot com
8/23
1. It’s your link you share everywhere to get people to RSVP
2. Brings extra people to your meetup. @boisebitcoiners regularly gets 5 new people at each meetup who found us on meetup dot com
8/23
3. Helps you handle logistics. You can outline parking for the meetup, mention rules for the meetup (eg: “we only focus on bitcoin no altcoins), and you get an idea on how many people are attending.
9/23
9/23

Second, create a Twitter handle.
Keep it really simple “city name + bitcoiners” is my preference. Fwiw I prefer “bitcoiners” over “bitcoin meetup” because you want to attract the type of ppl that call themselves a bitcoiner. They are your base.
10/23
Second, create a Twitter handle.
Keep it really simple “city name + bitcoiners” is my preference. Fwiw I prefer “bitcoiners” over “bitcoin meetup” because you want to attract the type of ppl that call themselves a bitcoiner. They are your base.
10/23
Lastly create a telegram group.
When people come to your meetup, you want to have a place to keep in touch with them besides the meetup.
11/23
When people come to your meetup, you want to have a place to keep in touch with them besides the meetup.
11/23
Telegram also allows you to discuss local news (eg: your state is adopting bitcoin as legal tender) and can even allow you to organize your bitcoiners to lobby local politicians and businesses. Please note the telegram group must have firm but polite moderation.
12/23
12/23
If someone posts stuff about that starts to advertise investing in NFTs, other coins, etc. delete the post and explain to the person privately via dm that you want the meetup to only focus on bitcoin (the biggest opportunity). We are focused on Fix the money fix the world.
13/23
13/23
Now, on to the actual event.
First off you are going to want to do your meetup on a weekday evening. Thursday evenings seem to be really good generally speaking.
14/23
First off you are going to want to do your meetup on a weekday evening. Thursday evenings seem to be really good generally speaking.
14/23
People typically don’t have commitments with family Thursday evening (vs weekends) and are getting ready for a laid back Friday work wise. It also helps if you are meeting in a bar because they won’t have weekend crowds.
15/23
15/23
Now, for conversation at meetups… I like to leave this open ended. At boise bitcoiners we work hard to attract like minded, freedom loving individuals so it’s pretty easy to grab a drink at the bar and bounce around between people and just talk.
16/23
16/23
For the people new to meetups, this is great also because it gives them an opportunity to chat with people and realize they are not the only people that have bitcoin constantly running through their mind. Be sure to do these two things with new people.
17/23
17/23
1. Ask “where did you find our meetup” - this will inform you on what marketing is working
2. Add them to your telegram group. This ends up helping them stay in the loop and greatly increases the chance they will be at your next meetup.
18/23
2. Add them to your telegram group. This ends up helping them stay in the loop and greatly increases the chance they will be at your next meetup.
18/23
Not only does keeping it open ended keep it simple, but it also allows your meetup to organically evolve as it grows. Your meetup members will start suggesting additional events with speakers, social outings, etc.
Regarding scheduling, try to be consistent.
19/23
Regarding scheduling, try to be consistent.
19/23
If you can identify a consistent location and time and frequency, it’s more likely people will get into the rhythm of attending.
Tips
Running a bitcoin meetup takes discipline. The saying “if you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together” applies.
20/23
Tips
Running a bitcoin meetup takes discipline. The saying “if you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together” applies.
20/23
Try to find someone to co-found your meetup with you. And if don’t have someone in mind, don’t fret. You can always find that co-founder at your meetup.
Budget wise, I spend very little.
I personally drop about $120 a year for meetup dot com membership and that’s it.
21/23
Budget wise, I spend very little.
I personally drop about $120 a year for meetup dot com membership and that’s it.
21/23
We meetup at bars. Which brings me to an important learning, I offered to pay for first round of drinks once and it didn’t significantly boost attendance. People aren’t coming to meetups for free drinks. They are coming to learn. Your money is better saved in sats ;)
22/23
22/23
Anyhow that’s all I have for now. Special thank yous to @brianharrington @sthenc @clay_space @ecurrencyhodler @notmandatory, you all helped me walk this path. I am a better bitcoiner because of you.
Feel free to reach out to me via DM or reply here and I will help you.
23/23
Feel free to reach out to me via DM or reply here and I will help you.
23/23
