Meetup etiquette

If you have never been to a tech meetup, here is the whole thing: show up, be kind, be curious. That is most of it. This page is the rest.

What to expect

People drift in, someone says a few words, there is usually a topic or a show-and-tell, and then it is a room full of conversations. Dress how you like. Skill levels range from brand new to twenty years in, and all of them are welcome.

Good habits

• No selling. This is a community, not a lead-gen funnel. If you run a business, say what you do when asked, not as a pitch.
• Ask, do not quiz. People love explaining what they know when the question is genuine.
• Include the quiet person. The best thing anyone ever did for you at a meetup was probably to say hello first.
• Do not camp. Move around; meet three people rather than talk to one for two hours.
• Follow up. A short message the next day turns a chat into a relationship.

If you are nervous

Come early, when it is quieter and easier to talk to whoever is setting up. Bring one question you actually want answered. And remember that almost everyone in the room remembers being the new person.

Take the next step

Reading is cheap; showing up once and talking to someone is what actually moves it ahead. Come to a meetup and bring whatever you are working on or stuck on. No pitch, no sign-up, no sales — peers over beers.