View source for How to Run an Event

Note: non-public events are strongly discouraged at HacDC.

# Have an idea for an event. :)
# Plan where and how to present your content.
## The lab space (capacity: ''x'' people)
### Is there a working projector in the space?
### There are a couple of whiteboards you can use.
## The auditorium (capacity: ''y'' people)
## The sanctuary (capacity: ''z'' people)
# Assemble any necessary parts.
# Use [http://www.saintstephensdc.org/calendars.html the church's calendar] if you want to use the church's auditorium, dining room, or sanctuary.
# Use [http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=sb8mh1d332pbvnb2g4iob2p728@group.calendar.google.com the HacDC Event Calendar] to schedule a date and time.  Please try not to overlap with other HacDC events.  Also, please try to give potential participants at least a week's notice.
# Add the event description, including date and time and anything participants should bring, to [[:Category:Classes]].
# Publicize!  
## Send an e-mail to HacDC's announce@ (public) and members-announce@ (members-only) mailing lists and possibly to [[:Category:Friends | Friends of HacDC]].  
## [http://hacdc.org/ Blog] it.
### Always include the what/where/when/FREE in your blog post.  People think our events are for members only, and this isn't the case.  We need to break this myth.
### Never "sign" your content, but feel free to talk in the first person.  (Timball did a great job with this.)
### Write one or two grade levels below where you normally write.  This is for those people from .de, .nl, and .cn that are reading our posts.  
### Find a picture.  If the only ones you have suck, use a Creative Commons picture from Flickr.  (This helps drive more traffic to our page.  Google DorkbotDC and laser if you don't believe me.)
### Find a video (to put at the end) that is mildly relevant to what you're doing.  This also helps drive traffic.
#### Please exercise some diligence!  As illustrated in [http://hacdc.org/2008/12/15/tuesday-seminar-series-with-laser-jon-dec-16th-830pm/comment-page-1/#comment-122 this example], a layperson's idea of "mildly relevant" can turn out to be be downright misleading. - [[User:Katie|Katie]] 15:50, 18 December 2008 (UTC)
### Send a tweet reminder.  You can do this through Wordpress.
## Consider notifying other groups whose members might be interested.  One place to check is [http://barcamp.pbwiki.com/DC-Area-Geeky-Groups this list of DC-area geeky groups].
## Get it listed on [http://dctechevents.com/ DC Tech Events].  (If our event calendar isn't automatically pulled in by that site...)
# Post signs (e.g., on the red door) directing attendees who've never been to HacDC before.
# Run the event.  Share your knowledge.  Have fun.  [http://www.flickr.com/groups/hacdc/ Take some pictures.]
# How did it go?  [http://hacdc.org/ Blog] it!  Have suggestions for next time?  Add them here!

[[Category:Event Planning]]
[[Category:Classes]]