Come along and have a drink with your favourite NPC's!
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Q: I'm a little nervous, what exactly should I expect?
A: I usually book a table or two depending on estimated numbers.
Everyone just grabs a space and starts chatting, usually about geeky stuff as we all have that in common, but can be whatever.
There are no talks or anything fancy, this is just an excuse to hang out with like minded people.
Most people have come to multiple events now, which should motivate you to come along, but there are always a few newbies that people make an effort to welcome in.
Q: Will I be stuck at the same spot the whole night?
Only if you want to be, mixing is strongly encouraged as your new best friend could be a few seats away.
A good trick is to go for a drink at the bar, then come back to a different spot.
Sometimes there will be some space near a group that can fit the one I'm talking to and I'll just say "hey let's join up with them", it always works.
Q: Will people be eating?
A: I'd say a couple of people order food to the tables, so if you don't want to be in the minority, then grab something to eat beforehand.
Q: There are no mentions of cost, but I've been to other events that expect a fee. How much to attend one of these?
A: No fee.
I don't mind paying Meetup's subscription if it means meeting cool people. It's surprising how often this one gets asked at events.
Q: I'm not much of a gamer, is this group for me?
If geeky people are the sort of crowd you see yourself making friends from, or you're just curious, then come along.
I had to pick a theme for this group to differentiate it from the many general social meetup groups, and gaming is my "expertise" so I picked that.
But really this group could have been called "cool introverted people who want to make cool introverted people friends meetup group".
Q: This FAQ has been really useful, best one I've read all day, but I'm still nervous. Any tips for making this easier for my first event?
A: Yep, I'm super socially anxious too, I've got better at hiding it over the years, but I can completely relate.
My pro tip is come on time where it's usually just myself and 1-4 people, which will be much less overwhelming for you.
Then after about 15-20 minutes, everyone is warmed up and chatting while more people arrive a little later, then you'll get that "I'm so glad I came" high.
