Tips on events for "Experts" and/or "newbies"

[Fenix999]

Hi All,

I would like to ask help for all you Mayors out there.

I have promoted the 1st 3DPrinting Event and now I’m facing a dilemma. I need 3DP “Experts” to keep the community alive and well but I also need the 3DP “newbies” to keep it growing. This two sub-groups are normally interested in different themes.

I don’t know what are the best techniques to keep this sub-groups interested to have the community alive and growing.

Do you guys have some tips? Should I promote separate events for each or in the same event have both, do you guys have any idea on what works best?

[Brian]

Sounds like a discussion where @Deeeep, @Filemon and @Robert should have a say in with having organised so many events already.

[JulieSillam]

Hey Ricardo @Fenix999, I’m super glad you ask because I also wonder : maybe an event where experts can teach newbies ? Like a workshop? What do you think of that ? It would be profitable for both sides : experts might like to share their know-how and meet other experts, and newbies would feel involved and helped.

This, of course, can’t be the topic of each event, but could be a start!

[Fenix999]

That already crossed my mind, and I’m sure that “experts” will like to pass knowledge, but to keep them interested I also believe that they would need to gain some knowledge.

My doubt is, would it work better to have knowledge transfer expert -> newbie, expert <-> expert in the same event or in separated.

My first feeling was to have a “have it all” event, but has I mature the idea it seems more and more to have separated event specialized on “expert->newbie” (perhaps workshops) and expert<->expert (round table seem to be the best) knowledge transfer, the way forward.

[Filemon]

Hi all @Robert, @Deeeep, @Fenix999

Yes, this problem sounds familiar

I solved it by organising alternating events between experts and noobs. So basically 2 event types for different target groups.

For the experts I kept the events rather small (25 - 40 people) and focussed the meetings on tweaking, expert presentations, or discussing new tech. Really Hub community focussed.

For large events I focus mostly on PR. Making sure the (local) press writes about it. Also I aim for ±100 people in this case. Subjects here are mostly about the possibilities and the future of 3D printing, showcasing 3D printers, etc. It’s also a nice opporuntiy for Hubs to sell their services.

I’m working on future template events (will discuss with Mayors also) to have standardised events for different target groups. It will need some weeks though before we can really use them.

Does this help a bit?

Cheers,

Filemon

[Fenix999]

Yes, it helps!

So for general public you use more Facebook, media… etc… for more geek stuff you use maker channel…

I wanted to have it all in one go so that the transition between groups is easily made, but I’m more and more convinced that 2 events are the right way to go.

Thanks!

[ozkancil]

Hi,
I am a newbie and the biggest two troubleshooting my brain goes through is whether I can really use a 3D printer, will it benefit me? And secondly, how effective will my work be? What I mean by the latter is that I am not a artist, I can’t draw or design, so how can 3D printing make my life easier as a biology teacher…
I know I can print models of cells, proteins, organs etc, but how do I get my hands on these? So questions like these that can be answered and shown to newbies that 3D printing is not actually as scary as people make it would bring in new customers and keep the community growing. @Fenix999
Thanks,
~Ozkan