818: CJ × Hosting Meetups - Lunch and Learn

In this episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott talk with CJ Reynolds about the resurgence of meetups in a post-COVID world. They discuss the benefits of attending and speaking at meetups, and the logistics of organizing them. CJ also shares his experiences running the DenverScript meetup, including sourcing speakers, finding venues, and ensuring a welcoming community.

Show Notes

• 00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
• 01:35 Brought to you by Sentry.io
• 01:49 CJ’s history hosting meetups
  • DenverScript
  • Code Talent
• 06:35 How do you structure a meetup?
• 09:50 How do you raise awareness for a meetup and get people to attend?
  • Meetup.com
  • Guild
• 13:27 How to pay for a meetup
• 15:22 How to get speakers at meetups
• 16:50 The length of these talks
• 17:03 Does live-streaming hurt attendance?
  • Syntax 806 - The King of Drag and Drop: Alex Reardon
• 19:32 Is there a vetting process for finding speakers?
  • Syntax 019 - How to Get Into Speaking at Conferences
• 24:26 A meetup doesn’t have to be talks
  • Develop Happy Hour
• 27:48 What’s the worst part about hosting a meetup?
• 29:37 What was your first meetup like?
• 33:27 What’s the best meetup you’ve been to and why?
• 37:10 How to be a good attendee
• 40:45 Are meetups back?
• 44:00 Tips for organizing a great meetup
• 45:29 How to find a meetup
• 47:37 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

• CJ: Fillo’s Walking Tamales

Shameless Plugs

• CJ:
  • DenverScript
  • You Should Use Hono in your Next Project

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