Audio Engineering

We playtest all sorts of games - strategic, silly, creative, or whatever. Some games are almost done. Some are very early ideas. We test anything that will fit into 90 minutes. You don't need to bring a game - we always love to have new playtesters! Please let us know in the comments when you plan to arrive/leave and whether you are bringing a game or not. This helps us to plan the day better. The schedule is: 10am onwards - gathering, chatting 11am sharp - playing for 90 min ('slot 1') 12:30ish - break for food/chat 1pm sharp - playing for 90 min ('slot 2') 2:30ish - break for food/chat 3pm sharp - playing for 90 min ('slot 3') 4:30ish - finish up Often, we might hang around afterwards, to play some already-published games. We are strict on timings, so please try to arrive a few minutes before the session to limit disruption. You can just come for part of the day if you wish. The reason we have fixed timings for the 3 'slots' is to make it easier for folk to do so. Designers of all levels of experience are welcome! But if it's your first time, we ask that you don't bring a game and just spend some time learning how the group works. The group works based on reciprocation. If you expect to test your own game, make sure stay for long enough to play other games. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to play one of your own games every third 90-minute session. So if you stay a whole day (3 sessions), you can expect to have one session to play your game(s). A good rule of thumb is that if you come all day, you will have one 90 minute session with two other playtesters in which to test your own games. It is sometimes possible to test games with more players. If your game requires 4 or more, please note that as standard you will be allocated half of a session (45 minutes). Pre-covid, we were getting unmanageable. As a result, we may have to limit attendees. This is a free-to-use venue, and we have to be mindful that other folk want to use the same space. Please note: This is an adults only event. We look forward to seeing you!

Every last Tuesday of the month, we take over a few tables at the Leyton Engineer for an easygoing board game night. Expect casual games, friendly faces, and a relaxed pub atmosphere. Got a favourite game? Bring it along. Don’t have one? No problem - we’ll have plenty to choose from. All experience levels welcome, from total beginners to seasoned players. Come unwind, meet some locals, and enjoy a pint and some games in a welcoming atmosphere.

**Tickets** 👉👉👉 https://dice.fm/event/537r5d-closeup-festival-2026-w-home-counties-22nd-may-colours-hoxton-london-tickets **The Lineup** The opening party of CloseUp Festival 2026 is headlined by the brilliant indie-dance-punk sextet **Home Counties**. Having recently collaborated with Al Doyle (LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip) on their acclaimed second album, *Humdrum*, the band is renowned for trading traditional guitars for restless synth-pop grooves and sardonic, hook-laden social commentary. Their electrifying live sets combine post-punk energy with an irresistible, synth-driven bounce that feels reminiscent of CHVRCHES with a splash of art rock and danceable electronics! The night also features incredible support from rising alt-pop band **Girl Group** and the infectious, club-soaked energy of **This Is A Fever**. **Why You Should Go** This is your chance to catch the opening night of the 11th edition of the beloved, independent CloseUp Festival in an intimate setting before these bands blow up on the main stage. With its highly danceable, electroclash-meets-pop sound, this lineup guarantees an electric atmosphere from the very first track. **Watch & Listen** * **Home Counties** – YouTube: [Watch "New Best Thing" on YouTube](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DF3z3z8WwZ4w) \| Instagram: [@homecountiesband](https://www.instagram.com/homecountiesband/) * **Girl Group** – YouTube: [Watch "She Goes (Live)" on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wh99dV90b0) \| Instagram: [@girlgroupband](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/girlgroupband/) * **This Is A Fever** – Instagram: [@thisisafever](https://www.instagram.com/thisisafever/) **Tickets** 👉👉👉 https://dice.fm/event/537r5d-closeup-festival-2026-w-home-counties-22nd-may-colours-hoxton-london-tickets

**MONTY ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP** [https://montyenglish.co.uk/english-conversation-group-classes-in-london](https://montyenglish.co.uk/english-conversation-group-classes-in-london) **How to find us** When you arrive at the Royal George we go down into the basement and you will find us there. Just ask a staff member if you cannot find us! Here is the location of the Royal George on google maps: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/HpkySsu2rEqUUub1A](https://maps.app.goo.gl/HpkySsu2rEqUUub1A) * Food or drink at the pub is not included (please make at least one purchase - they have a good range of drinks and great food if you feel hungry) **How are the lessons?** The lesson is a General English lesson focused on speaking and error correction - every lesson we usually cover 3 different topics. This will encourage you to use new vocabulary and practise grammatical structures. The group has a limit of 25 people but I usually accept people if you are on the waiting list. You will be divided into groups of 3-6 with others of a similar speaking level so you'll have plenty of opportunity to talk and ask questions to your qualified, native teacher Jon. The lesson takes place in the relaxed environment of the Royal George basement which is a pleasant pub, a two-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station. The lesson is ideal for pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper-intermediate students wishing to get to the next level. If you have any questions about the English lesson then please call me or send me a message. **Payment** Payments can be made in cash or by card (free of charge) when you come to the class. If it is your first time it is only £2! After your first time it is £6 for a single class or you can buy a ticket that makes each class cheaper; 5 classes for £20, 10 classes for £25 (you can use these tickets whenever you like and do not need to come in a set period of time) or 20 classes for £40 which has a limited use to within a six-month period. You can also pay via our website: [https://montyenglish.co.uk/english-conversation-group-classes-in-london](https://montyenglish.co.uk/english-conversation-group-classes-in-london) I hope to see you soon - if you have any questions please message me (via WhatsApp) on 07771 561 576 All the best, Jon (event organiser)

‼️ **GET A QR CODE ON LUMA TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT‼️** -> [https://luma.com/bhfumnou](https://luma.com/bhfumnou) **Creative Vibe Coding at the Science Museum with ElevenLabs** ​Artists have spent the last few years hearing that AI will change everything. This event is about putting those tools back into creative hands. We’re taking over the Science Museum’s Smith Centre and teaming up with ElevenLabs for a relaxed night of music, art, experimentation, and social vibe coding. ​Whether you want to make an AI-powered instrument, a storytelling experiment, a poetic web page, or a generative artwork, this is your playground. Use any tools you like (ChatGPT, Claude, Lovable, v0, Cursor, Replit, and more) and get free access to ElevenLabs’ music and audio tools for the night. 🍻 ​**Format 🛠️** ​We’ll be teaming up in small groups of 3–4 people. We’ll provide a creative prompt to get you started, and then it’s heads-down building. The goal is to vibe, experiment with AI as a tool for expression, and make new things together. ​**New to vibe coding? ✨** ​No worries. We’ll provide simple starter ideas, example prompts, and tool suggestions so even complete beginners can get building quickly and without stress. ​**Schedule 🕒** ​(Please arrive between **6:45 and 6:50 PM** so we can begin on time. An earlier arrival is not possible!) ​**7:00** – Welcome **7:05** – Keynote Speaker & Educational Intro **7:15** – Challenge Brief & Team Formation 🤝 **7:35** – Round 1: Build 💻 **8:15** – Break (Snacks, drinks, swap ideas) 🍕 **8:30** – Round 2: Keep Building 🏗️ **9:00** – Optional Demos (Show what you made!) 📺 **9:15** – Hang out, network, make friends ✌️ **9:30** – Close ​**Who is it for?** ​Artists, musicians, designers, creative coders, and total beginners. If you want to understand AI better and like the idea of building in a friendly room (museum), you belong here. ​**What to bring** ​Laptop 💻 Headphones 🎧 A valid photo ID Curiosity & good vibes ⚡ ​**Important info** ​This event is **18+ only**. Please bring a valid photo ID for entry. Please enter via the **Group Entrance** at the Science Museum. We want to keep the evening welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, and reserve the right to remove attendees for disruptive or inappropriate behavior. ​**Accessibility ♿** ​The venue is very accessible, including for wheelchair users, and the museum has step-free access and accessible facilities throughout. ​**Location 📍** ​Science Museum (Smith Centre) **Group Entrance** Exhibition Road, South Kensington London SW7 2DD ​‼️ 👉 Limited capacity. RSVP ON [LUMA](https://luma.com/bhfumnou) required. ​By signing up, you consent to the collection and sharing of your name, email address, photos, videos, and software, unless you explicitly opt out by informing the organizers.

18:00-18:30 - Doors Open/ Registration 18:30-20:00 - Free English Classes in small groups 20:00-21:00 - Meal for £5 Further details: www.freeenglishclasses.org

**Hostess: Layla** \*This event is a collaboration with other groups and social networks and it will be well attended \*To attend this event you need to buy a ticket from [https://www.fatsoma.com/e/lsi5bu2u/speed-dating-22-39-and-party-in-soho-zebrano-complimentary-glass-of-prosecco-happy-hour-karaoke-access-and-djs](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/lsi5bu2u/speed-dating-22-39-and-party-in-soho-zebrano-complimentary-glass-of-prosecco-happy-hour-karaoke-access-and-djs) Age range: 22-39 ( as a general guide) Join us for a fun of speed dating and party in the heart of soho! Speak with 15-20 people of the opposite sex for 5 mins each then select who you like and leave with the contact details of some potential lovers! After the speed dating we stay for socialising and partying! The next day you will receive the contact details\* of your mutual matches (people you have selected and they have selected you back) at your e-mail! We don't send you to date in a online platform...We send you to date in real life with confidence! We run speed and slow dating events for more than a decade now and we are proud to say that they actually work! People that meet in our dating events date after, some make long term relationships, and some move together and we even had some marriages ! If this is your first time attending a speed dating there is nothing to worry about , we will be there to welcome you, put you at ease and explain you the process. Happy Hour till 8pm! Karaoke access after 11pm Complimentary Glass of Prosecco served after the speed dating in order to get you ready for the party The program of the night is 7:00-7:15 Registration 7:15pm-7:45pm First session of the Speed Dating 7:45pm-8:00pm Break-Socialising 8:00pm-8:45 pm Second session of Speed Dating 8:45pm Speed Dating finishes and Socialising starts- Complimentary glass of prosecco is served Dress code is smart/ elegant/ Smart Casual (smart dark jeans are fine but ripped jeans, sportswear, trainers/sportshoes and hats are not allowed). Zebrano Soho is a vibrant cocktail bar, restaurant, and nightclub in the beating heart of London’s most iconic entertainment district. Zebrano is more than just a venue – it’s a celebration of fun, flavour, and feel-good vibes. It offers amazing cocktails , great cuisine, multiple rooms and an outdoor rooftop terrace At Zebrano, we serve up delicious food, killer cocktails, and the best tunes in town – all in a space designed to make great nights unforgettable. Come for the vibe. Stay for the party. Leave with a story. For security reasons every guest must carry photographic ID with them (Driver’s License, European ID or Passport) independently of the age. Tickets are valid for entry till 11pm How to find us: Just come inside and ask for Marianna's Speed Dating / Layla. Any issue on the night feel free to call Layla: 07377544606 For general inquires or difficulties with your ticket booking feel free to e-mail us at benetoupromotions@gmail.com or call Marianna on: 07949526733 \* By participating to the event you agree to have your details that you submitted to us passed to your mutual matches ( people that you will select on the form that will be given to you during the event and they will select you back). \*Our company is registered with ICO. so you contact details are safe with us Please Note: -Tickets need to be bought online and are not available at the door -Dress code: Elegant/Smart/Office Attire/Smart Casual ( Smart jeans are alright but ripped jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, sportwear, sportshoes or trainers are not allowed) -A valid proof of ID (Passport, Driving License, or National ID) is required upon arrival independently of the age for security reasons

**What is the Listening Hour?** **1-hour connection and empathy space currently hosted by people who have experience in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for people who want to increase social connection, improve listening skills and be welcomed in a strong and caring community.** **We recommend participants learn about Nonviolent Communication [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wNjqVR6-C4s30P7T-GPOxm_8JemKl1B78GN__7z8I7Q/edit?usp=sharing).** ### **1\. Key Benefits of Improving Listening Skills** **✅ Better Relationships – Strengthens personal and professional relationships through understanding.** **✅ Conflict Resolution – Turns arguments into conversations where both sides feel heard.** **✅ Emotional Clarity – Helps you express your feelings and needs without blame.** **✅ Empathy & Connection – Encourages deep listening and compassion.** **✅ Self-Awareness – Helps you understand your own triggers and needs.** **By improving listening to ourselves and to others, we shift from reacting to responding with awareness, creating more meaningful and peaceful interactions.** For more information and registration, please see the link below. [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/listening-hour-with-coffee-and-cake-tickets-622960340147](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/listening-hour-with-coffee-and-cake-tickets-622960340147)

Discover the World at International Cafe! We are a group of Christian volunteers set out to create a friendly community that welcomes everyone! Come and practice speaking English with our English speaking volunteers. You will learn more about British culture and discuss life with NEW topics each week. We also include a Bible story at the end of our sessions. At International Cafe, we start our meet up with Tea & Coffee and continue in engaging conversations. Each week, we'll look at NEW topics about British culture and history, so you can learn and socialize. Best of all, it's a free event and open to everyone! So mark your calendars: 🕕 Time: **Sunday at 2:30 PM** 📍 Address: ECIR OEA, Inspire at St James Questions? Text Organiser at 07708228436.

Come and get the chance to speak in a supportive and friendly environment. Public Speaking will boost your confidence and give you more power to speak and to be listened to in both your personal and professional life. **What makes this public speaking session different from others you ask?** There is a strong emphasis on self-expression, creativity, trial and error, and most importantly, speaking practice! **What will you gain from this event?** * Gain confidence by overcoming your fear of public speaking * Learn to think on your feet with our Impromptu speaking format * Get feedback and improve your public speaking with a real audience * Tips and opportunities to practice: body language, voice, tone, pitch, uses of stories, use of pauses, humour, etc... **Here's how it works:** \*I may choose to change the format from time to time based on numbers, and to practice different aspects of public speaking in order to keep it challenging\* You will put your name in a hat/bowl and when your name is chosen, you will be asked to perform. You will speak for 2 minutes on a random topic given by the audience. This is called an impromptu speech. We will do 2-3 rounds of speaking followed by a feedback session at the end of the workshop. **Public Speaking suggestions:** TIP: Give your impromptu speech the following 3 sections below. 1. Introduction ("Today, I'm going to talk about....") 2. Body ("Here is my personal experience....") 3. Conclusion ("So, my key message is ....") Each speech is to be 2 minutes long. Audience size 10-15 people. You're not obligated to speak, although I may strongly encourage you to do so. **What to bring:** Yourself only- There are no mandatory necessities which you must bring. **Dress Code:** There is no dress code. It is best practice however, that you wear the attire for the occasion which you are practicing for. **Where to find us:** **Closest underground stations:** Bank, Monument, Liverpool Street, Aldgate - All 5 minutes walk away **Theatre Delicatessen** **107 Leadenhall Street** **EC3A 4AF** Should you have any problems locating the venue, please feel free to contact me before the start of the event. The event is wheelchair accessible. **\*Please note we start and end strictly on time\*** \*You will be refused entry beyond 7:10pm, so please reschedule if you should not make it\* **EVENT DURATION:** 3:45pm - Registration :: 4:00pm - Event start - 6:00pm - End **\*This event is FREE - for first timers only\* -** **FIRST TIMERS PLEASE NOTE:** You MUST book a free "First timer" ticket through Eventbrite and present this on attendance. Failure to do so means that you will need to pay £15. This is a measure intended to keep control of the number of students attending the event. **Cost: £15 per session** **First-timers only discount: £35 for 5 sessions**. Please speak to the organiser for registration. (These can be used within 60 days and you can attend any of our public speaking practice sessions on any day.) **Payment methods:** Cash in hand, Card reader, Pay on www.veespeak.co.uk ***Marketing and email subscription disclaimer:*** *We value your privacy, and would never we will never share or sell your details to a 3rd Party.* ***Email Subscription:*** *By signing up and attending our events you explicitly agree to be contacted by email from Veespeak's marketing team regarding our newest courses, discounts, and upcoming events. You can always opt-out if you feel the information shared is no longer relevant to you.* We may take pictures or record sections of the workshops for training and quality purposes. We will never use this information without your prior consent. **Website & Social Media:** *Website: [www.veespeak.co.uk](http://www.veespeak.co.uk/)* *Instagram: @veespeak - [https://www.instagram.com/veespeakps/](https://www.instagram.com/veespeak/)* *Facebook: @veespeak - [https://www.facebook.com/veespeakps/](https://www.facebook.com/veespeak/)* *Linkedin: @veespeak - [https://www.linkedin.com/company/veespeakps](https://www.linkedin.com/company/veespeak)* *Meetup Group: [https://www.meetup.com/veespeak](https://www.meetup.com/veespeak)* **Contact Information:** Email: hello@veespeak.co.uk Contact No: 07713 123321 Valentin Todorov - Organiser

\*\*Please note, spaces are limited - Please book via Eventbrite page below\*\* [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-public-speaking-class-in-london-tickets-151793471359](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-public-speaking-class-in-london-tickets-151793471359) **Location** Old Diorama Arts Centre, 201 Drummond Street Regent's Place, NW1 3FE **FREE PUBLIC SPEAKING TASTER WORKSHOP** (Limited number of places available, please note that to guarantee a place in this event you have to book a place) **Workshop overview:** This session is a free taster for our full Public Speaking Course. You’ll get to experience the style, exercises and atmosphere firsthand before deciding whether deeper training is right for you. The workshop stands alone - you’ll still leave with practical tools, insights and the option to practice doing some speaking (if you wish) - and if you feel drawn to continue, attendees receive an exclusive discount towards the full programme (normally £498). We always with fun, ice breaker warm-up games to ease you into the session, followed by learning some simple public speaking technique exercises and finishing with some (optional) opportunities to practice doing some impromptu speaking in front of the group. The class will also include some group discussions to learn more about why we struggle with public speaking, and what solutions we can use to help us. Our principles are grounded in authenticity. Our approach to helping people overcome their fears is done through encouraging participants to drop the personas they wear in their day-to-day lives in order to express themselves with honesty, and discover their natural speaking style. We’re big fans of embracing vulnerability and strongly believe it’s a strength, not a weakness. Only through vulnerability do we drop our guard and communicate in a way that truly connects to others. **The Session will include:** \- Why we struggle with nervousness when speaking in public \- Our approach for embracing and overcoming these feelings \- Practical techniques to help you come out of your head and speak using your intuition \- A chance to practice delivering a short impromptu speech \- And much more\! \*\*Secure tickets HERE by [signing up on our Eventbrite page](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-public-speaking-class-in-london-tickets-151793471359)\*\* **About our teachers:** We have been running workshops since 2014. We have trained 10,000+ people. Our teachers compete in public speaking tournaments, have a mixture of traditional and improv acting training, studied various meditation and mindfulness techniques and are passionate about human psychology and behaviour. **Testimonials from past students:** "Definitely the best public speaking workshop I have been on! It’s much more than just improving your public speaking skills, it takes a deeper look into the subject, in terms of fears, and humanity. Mike’s approach and techniques is really about to gain a deep understanding to unlock your authentic self. It was transformative! Highly recommended!" - Kristīne Šica "Highly recommend this ! The teaching and approach is incredible and it works! I come so far in so many ways during the course of these workshops and been an incredible investment. Cheers Mike & Team" - Jez Williams Check out our [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/search?q=School+of+Connection&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAA_-NgU1I1qDCxMDczMDUxNU5JNTBLs0izMqgwTTUxNwaiJONEUwMjC4tFrCLByRn5-TkK-WkKzvl5eanJJZn5eQCGm1T4QAAAAA&hl=en&mat=CeauyV6l-fEkElYBpsFAC8HrnCPUPL5X21SFnV76ZHgJT6CYryblg9XcRxlZIopmomk7pa9VjBtQnKp2gHTa0ojvHwwS4or4aELTqJYZw7I0KHBSgX9ijR0oYgBFylK3ow&authuser=1#lrd=0x487605453de06f8f:0x5e473473b3a50288,1,,,,1 "https://www.google.com/search?q=School+of+Connection&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAA_-NgU1I1qDCxMDczMDUxNU5JNTBLs0izMqgwTTUxNwaiJONEUwMjC4tFrCLByRn5-TkK-WkKzvl5eanJJZn5eQCGm1T4QAAAAA&hl=en&mat=CeauyV6l-fEkElYBpsFAC8HrnCPUPL5X21SFnV76ZHgJT6CYryblg9XcRxlZIopmomk7pa9VjBtQnKp2gHTa0ojvHwwS4or4aELTqJYZw7I0KHBSgX9ijR0oYgBFylK3ow&authuser=1#lrd=0x487605453de06f8f:0x5e473473b3a50288,1,,,,1") for more. **More on Our Philosophy:** Our mission is bigger than just helping people become better at public speaking, our mission is to help create a more transparent and connected society. Our society celebrates extrinsic success; confidence is presented to be smooth, slick, suave and charismatic. Because of this we neglect parts of our personality, our feelings, our idiosyncrasies, our uniqueness, our quirkiness and ultimately our vulnerability in pursuit of becoming confident, according to what society deems as confidence. However, we risk becoming ‘well-rehearsed robots’ and not sincere individuals, who aren’t afraid of expressing their humanness. Our approach offers a very non-conventional way of become an empowering and inspiring communicator. **Our Previous Brand (Public Speaking London):** **[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl7dAKFp1qs&t=98s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl7dAKFp1qs&t=98s "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl7dAKFp1qs&t=98s")** **Contact details:** **[https://schoolofconnection.org/](https://schoolofconnection.org/ "https://schoolofconnection.org/")** Email: hello@schoolofconnection.org Phone: 020 3151 9908

Full for drums, bass, piano, lead instruments, vocals, 1 of 2 spots taken for guitar **Please use this link to sign up and pay** https://tickts.co.uk/events/novice-10-12pm-may-23-vortex-upstairs (Note you must already be accepted as a member of this group, otherwise your ticket will be cancelled) **Note the Vortex rehearsals will be starting at 10am and 12pm in the coming weeks.** full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex upstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. The tickts.co.uk page will have tickets available only for the instruments/vocals with spots remaining. **Tunes this week (Sat May 23)** * Autumn Leaves in Gm (warm up) (Adderley, Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpB7-8SGlJ0 Lead sheet https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2uzg5kowaah3vswd3zrsb/AGJM9FjuAr1BHdaMYDhxsPs?rlkey=i2xriyxxvio3zbk2yudwkpk9h&st=nsx003ud&dl=0 * Maiden Voyage in D (Herbie Hancock) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWC5x9G45yo * Too close for comfort in C (Bobby Hackett) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N0ZpcGrdAg * Nardis in Em (Chet Baker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziufEDFhlEA Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. (Note the recordings provide stylistic reference, but may not be in the key listed, with the latter based on common real books) **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat May 30)** * Chitlins Con Carne in C (warm up) (Kenny Burrell) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylGjvwXV3HA * Work Song in Fm (The Jazz Networks) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4sTguG5aV8 * Well you needn't in F (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JC1iqeoNQg * Satin Doll in C (as slow swing) (Johnny Hodges) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dS2Dod7CIY **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Playing well together** The rehearsal groups are often quite large for a jazz ensemble setting. Please follow the below arrangements, which are designed to help the group be mindful of each other's volumes, and to build good habits for playing as a group * Every tune should be played at least twice. Swap the bass, piano and guitar players between the two renditions (if there are two attending) * Only one guitarist should comp - i.e. play chords - for each rendition (both guitarists can solo, and comp without amplification) * After each rendition of the warm up tune, the whole group should take a moment together and help each other to check on volumes, including: \*\* Can everyone hear themselves? \*\* Are the drums too loud? \*\* Can everyone hear the bass? \*\* Is the guitar comping too loud? \*\* Is the piano loud enough? (staff at the office can turn this up) \*\* Feel free to revisit volumes after subsequent songs * For any song, if at least two people in the group feel it would be better, the guitar and piano should share the choruses for comping (instead of comping together) - e.g. guitar comps the first time through the head, then piano, then guitar, etc. **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Percussion** Percussionists are welcome to join with their instruments, alongside the drummer. Feel free to sign up to any session, even one that says "full for all instruments" at the top, unless it explicitly mentions "full for percussion". **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

Ecstatic Dance\, Live Percussion\, Delicious Cacao Ceremony\, Fruit Social\! MUSIC VIBE: Mystical \| World Dub \| Tribal Breaks & Global Bass **ECSTATIC DANCE LONDON presents:** **🌀SHAMANIC BASS TEMPLE** **An Ecstatic Shamanic Dance Journey + Live Percussion + Cacao Ceremony + Fruit Social** **For Booking & more info:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988862647718?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988862647718?aff=oddtdtcreator) **Saturday Night:** 7PM–10PM **Fruit Social:** 10PM–10:15PM **Tufnell Park, London** Part of our all-day transformational workshop: **THE RITUAL: Summer of Love.** More info here([https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987903571094?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987903571094?aff=oddtdtcreator)) Immerse yourself in an ecstatic dance journey infused with Deep Global Bass, World Dub, Tribal Breaks, and live percussion. Move freely, connect deeply, and let the music take you on a powerful journey of embodiment, release and ecstasy. We’ll open the evening with a dance movement warmup, then shift to a heart-opening raw vegan cacao ceremony and positive intention setting ritual, tuning in together before the main dance Wave begins. **Expect:** ✨ Uplifting Dub & Bass Heavy Breaks, Mystical Shamanic Soundscapes, Drum & Bass, and Organic World Rhythms 🥁 Live percussion bringing fire and soul to the dancefloor 🍫 Raw ceremonial cacao to open your heart and elevate your energy 💃 Freestyle, expressive movement & moving meditation 🍉 Optional fruit social afterwards to nourish and connect No alcohol, no drugs, just rhythm, breath, and community. This is one of London’s most loved sober Saturday night dance experiences, where you can shake off the week’s stress and celebrate life through movement. **MUSIC VIBE: Mystical \| World Dub \| Tribal Breaks & Global Bass** **WHY CACAO?** At Ecstatic Dance London([https://ecstaticdancelondon.com/](https://ecstaticdancelondon.com/)), we adore raw ceremonial cacao. It’s a natural heart-opener and gentle energiser that supports emotional flow, creativity, and embodied presence on the dancefloor. Your complimentary raw vegan cacao is lovingly prepared using ethically sourced, high-quality cacao from Guatemala. Free from gluten, dairy, nuts, and refined sugar, velvety, nourishing, and deeply delicious. Cacao + Ecstatic Dance is a potent combination for transformation, connection, and joyful expression. **ECSTATIC DANCE GUIDELINES** • No alcohol, no drugs • No shoes • No phones on the dancefloor • No talking while dancing • Move however you wish • Respect yourself, others, and the shared space This is a zero-tolerance sober space. Please arrive clear-headed; anyone arriving intoxicated will be refused entry or asked to leave. No refunds. Dancers participate at their own risk. Ecstatic Dance London accepts no responsibility for spontaneous joy, open hearts, or sore cheeks from excessive smiling (or for injury, loss, or damage). **THE PRACTICE** Arrival & Warm-up: Gentle stretching, movement, and intention-setting to ease into the body. The Journey: A full ecstatic dance soundwave guided by a live DJ set, with light facilitation to support flow and presence. Integration: The dance typically closes with a deep relaxation to land the experience. Late arrivals disrupt the shared container. Entry closes 30 minutes after the start, please arrive on time so we can journey together from beginning to end. **SCHEDULE** 7:00–7:30pm Doors open & warm-up (No entry after 7:30pm — please arrive early) 7:30–10pm Cacao Ceremony • Chakra Journey • Ecstatic Dance Soundwave (Complimentary raw vegan cacao provided) 10pm–10:30pm Optional fruit social to nourish and ground after the dance **✨ The Journey** **Shamanic Bass Temple Ecstatic Dance journey:** A guided movement warm-up → our heart-opening cacao ceremony & connection ritual → a slow build into a euphoric, high-energy dance peak → softening into spacious, grounded integration → closing together with a gentle landing and fruit social. The music moves across World Dub, Bass-heavy, Rhythm-Infused, Shamanic Soundscapes, designed to take you out of your head and into your body: with live percussion woven in to ignite rhythm and release. **✨ What to Expect** 🎶 Uplifting, immersive bass-heavy/percussion-driven/shamanic-inspired ecstatic dance journey 🥁 Live percussion to deepen rhythm and embodiment 🍫 Cacao ceremony & intention-setting to open the night 🔊 High-quality sound in a stunning, atmospheric venue 💃 A safe, playful, non-verbal space to dance freely, express, release & connect 🍉 Complimentary fruit social to ground and reconnect after the journey 💫 A Saturday night out that leaves you energised, not depleted

Most people use AI like a search box: they type one sentence, hope for the best, and get frustrated when the answer is generic, wrong, or useless. But getting better results from tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI systems is not about memorizing magic prompts. It is about learning how to give the AI better context. In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll break down how to make AI dramatically more useful by improving the way you communicate with it. You’ll learn how to give clearer instructions, provide examples, set constraints, ask for better output formats, and use follow-up questions to turn a mediocre answer into a genuinely useful one. We’ll cover practical techniques you can use immediately for work, learning, writing, coding, planning, research, and everyday problem solving. We’ll also touch on why these same ideas show up in more advanced AI systems, including RAG, agents, evaluations, and AI workflows. No technical background required. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and maybe one real task you wish AI was better at helping you with. **What you’ll learn:** * Why “better prompting” is really about better context * How to structure requests so AI gives more useful answers * How to use examples, constraints, and output formats * How to iterate when the first answer is not good enough * How these skills connect to more advanced AI workflows This meetup is for anyone who wants to move beyond basic ChatGPT usage and start getting more practical value out of AI. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** TBD

PLEASE NOTE!!! This event will be In-Person for our very 1st Improving collab! If you know the [Columbus Unity group](https://www.meetup.com/columbus-unity-user-group/) location, we'll be at the same place. This is our 1st event and are doing a soft launch with limited attendance. 1st come 1st serve. If you want to be there and we fill up, please email me at [info@thecogg.com](mailto:info@thecogg.com) and I'll be in touch. All street parking is free on Sundays but you can also pay to park in any of the local garages. See image of [parking map here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mr9_LFIggbs-0_Zd3AJTGNqEhgMf2TzQ/view?usp=sharing). \-\-\- On the last Sunday of the month, we're having our usual end-of-the-month social gathering with our GameDev Meetup meeting. There will be announcements and presentations followed by some social networking Let's continue the conversations with good vibes and friends. All are welcomed from all ages and backgrounds to this public event. If we can, we'll be streaming or uploading the video later via our COGG YouTube channel here: [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams) (Also please do subscribe if you have not done so!) No game development experience required! If you are interested in doing a 20 minute game development related presentation, please fill out our form online here: [https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1](https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1) Or e-mail us at info@thecogg.com with the following: Your Name, Company/Affiliation, Name of Your Game/Topic, Description, Tech Needs, and Your Contact. Be sure to check out our Discord for real time news updates: [https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ](https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ)

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) has been on the mind of many developers since most of the search engines implemented AIs. The landscape of the internet is shifting beneath our feet. In 2026, users are increasingly bypassing traditional search results in favor of direct, conversational answers from platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. If your WordPress site is optimized only for "blue links," you’re missing out on a massive wave of traffic. This meetup will dive into Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), the strategic evolution of SEO. We’ll discuss why visibility in AI-generated summaries is becoming the new "Page 1" and how the "organic click" is being replaced by "brand citations" within AI responses. We can check on what solutions already exist, what can you do yourself by optimizing your Robot.txt. But, also does all this work worth it? I hope to see everyone for the discussion on June 3rd! P.S. We will not meet on May 6th. My friends having a wedding and i am surprisingly much more involved in it. But it gives us all more time to play with AEO!

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

TOPIC (TBD): Meeting Schedule: 1. 6:00 - Introduction, Meet New Members 2. 6:10 - Old Business 3. 6:20 - New Business 4. 6:30 - Pre-Shoot Briefing/Education 5. 7:15 - Break 6. 7:30 - Image Critique 7. 8:00 - Adjourn Pre-Shoot Brief/Education: NIK Collection 8 Image Critique: Previous Photoshoot Images (iPhone images and Christmas Cards). If anyone has images they would like critiqued, please provide them at the beginning of the meeting. Providing Images for Critique: For now, I will collect images at the beginning of the meeting on a USB memory stick. My computer has USB-C ports, so a USB-C memory stick or one with dual (USB-C / USB-A) ports will be needed. Images should follow these format rules: JPG - 80% quality or higher 132 dpi resolution 2048 pixels across the long edge Embedded colorspace - sRGB

Join Voice Over Pros Of Ohio for an exciting morning of networking, and exploring opportunities in the world of voice acting. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is perfect for expanding your network, learning how to start a VO business, and for honing your skills. Connect with fellow voice actors and VO experts, that will help you succeed in your voice over business. This event will feature discussions on professional development, entrepreneurship in the voice over industry, with tips for navigating the world of voice acting. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from others, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and take your voice over career to the next level. Join us Saturday, May 30, from 10am - 12pm and learn how to start or grow your voice over business. Let your voice be heard! The $10 fee covers refreshments and door prizes.