Running a Kit Build
From HacDC Wiki
Step-by-Step
- Pick a kit that people are interested in.
- Check out Kit Building for some ideas.
- If you're uncertain, poll some of your friends or post to the blabber list.
- If you haven't built this kit before, now would be a good time to order one and try it out.
- Price out the kit, including shipping and payment processing (usually around $1-1.50) costs. It's best if everyone can walk out with a working gadget for less than $30 total. Note what tools are needed. HacDC may already have what's needed.
- Spare parts?
- Batteries?
- Pick a date and time.
- Weekend afternoons are nice because people aren't under pressure to rush from work or get home.
- Try to pick a date 4-6 weeks in the future.
- Create a page for your event, including registration.
- Eventbrite is a classic option.
- The main HacDC site is equipped with CiviCRM. You can use the template to speed things up, but make sure you check the various settings.
- If you want to avoid fronting money that you may or may not get back, have registration close with enough lead time for you to order the materials.
- Ask people to bring needed tools if they have them. Even if HacDC has some, it may not have enough to go around.
- Add the event to the event calendar
- E-mail the blabber list
- Post to the HacDC site/blog
- Print directions for everyone. Some ways to save paper:
- Ask people to share
- Use the projector in the space as a supplement. Don't rely on people "staying together", though.
- Print on both sides of the paper
- Shorten existing directions in some way, or write your own
Additional Pitfalls
- Don't trust things to work. Test it all in advance. That includes:
- Parts lists
- Firmware
- Directions