Free workshops for members

Thanks Anita. This issue has a lot of attentionand has drawn some ire among paying members. I think people need the opportunity to see how great the workshops are-attend a few as a sampler and then become a paying member.

I won't even go into the people who turn up over and over again.....I really learn a great deal at the workshops and look forward to them. I patronize the people putting them on or try to lend a helping hand. Lately, I have not been able to get in a few I wanted to attend.

That goes right along with not purchasing even a drink at a restaurant meeting. If it is a lunch and you don't want to order anything, please give that a thought. Lunch might not be the perfect venue for you.

Hi, Anita; You make a point that probably resonates with many. However, I'd like to approach the solution from the opposite direction: rather than limit access, why not create more access?

I am a new-ish member of Biznik, and I have been profoundly impressed by the supportive, effective and genuinely caring contributions that our members make, both online and in person. It isn't hard to imagine a workshop with multiple runs, particularly one so popular that it fills up completely. I would be happy to contribute time and a warm body to assist a presenter with a second or third showing. Perhaps there are other Bizniks out there who are willing to help too.

This would give added exposure to the presenter, greater workshop access to the multitudes, and additional opportunities for us to pave the road to success for our fellow Bizniks! What could be a better win?

I haven't noticed it being a big problem. Just counted only 2 "full" workshops of available 42, and one was yours Anita, so you should have a guaranteed place!

One trick - there are almost always last minute cancellations the night before or day of, so check back... (thought it's hard to "plan" that way.)

That being said, Biznik provides a LOT of value to members for little to nothing. When I see what we offer here in Seattle, it seems the membership should START at $24 a month, but I know that is not a model that would work in most markets with less members and events. It would be nice if there were some way to give paying members "first shot" at events. (Thought that sounds a logistical nightmare.)

It's also an option to charge for events. (Then it's not a time "giveaway" for the leader.) I'm glad to see Jabez with sign-ups for a (very inexpensive) paid workshop. Great workshop leaders can put on more quality events (and have more choices of venues) for members (free or paid) who support such events.

What an interesting topic!

Here's a thought. I have had some (very few) attendees of my free workshops seem to expect me to give them a free workshop, provide them free refreshments, and yet have had an attitude that they would never spend a penny on any services at any cost. Albeit, it is very few who behave this way...but it can certainly feel like an unbalanced exchange.

I would actually prefer to do what it takes to create a Biznik culture that encourages reciprocity among attendees toward presenters. I don't know what that could look like. Obviously, it cannot be forced, but sometimes, it is simple courtesy I am talking about.

I do know that our presenters of events put out a lot of time and energy, and effort...and there are times when some attitudes can feel disheartening.

Peace, Love, and Happiness, Just an old hippie at heart! Suzi

Hi Anita, thanks for bringing up this very interesting and important topic. I was amazed when I joined Biznik last October at the quality and quantity of free offerings.

As time goes on, however, and I experience more high-quality workshops, I'm actually discouraged by the fact that free events fill up (and I honestly don't look to see who's a paying member and who's not) and anyone who tries to charge a fee gets a lukewarm to cold response.

If part of the objective is to build our business while sharing and collaborating, wouldn't it be nice to do it in a way that honors the value that each of us brings? Suzi and Kate make great points about this. It's a significant investment of time and energy (and sometimes, tangible resources) to create a memorable and informative Biznik event.

In the spirit of respecting and valuing the expertise shared, I think event hosts consistently ought to start charging something - anything - for participating in an event (perhaps masterminds can be the exception). $10, $15, $20, free-will offerings, whatever. Something that acknowledges the value given and received.

I'd like to see Biznik do more to enhance visibility/site resources for paying members, rather than draw the line between us through event access.

You raise a good point, Anita. There must be a solution, since some members do charge for their events.

There are logistical and philosophical considerations. I believe the time is right for that philosophical discussion: what are the expectations of Biznik members re: events? What are the host's expectations? Are those being met? In what way does the current model support and/or undermine our journey as entrepreneurs? What is the overall vision for events in the Biznik community?

I am guessing the current model is based on the assumption that someone who attends a free workshop and gets something of value will sooner or later hire that event host for a paying contract. How much is that really happening? I'm very curious about that!!!

My entire response is probably getting off track from your original discussion thread... I'll let it go at that and look to see that part of the debate continued in another forum.

Yes, I'd love to see a community that was "warmer" to paid events. I'm going to posting some of my own, and have no doubt as to their value.

I also think it's important for us to keep in mind the value that Biznik already provides - a calendar to easily advertise events to indie biz people eager to learn (and a cool RSVP and messaging system, too) - and keep in mind how to strategize our own events to maximize them.

Events are "free publicity", and if the publicity is strategic and the class offers enough value (without solving all problems for free), we can walk away with leads, clients, requests to be on our mailing list, strategic partners, etc...

Yes, event venues are a whole 'nuther question - I suspect there are other businesses with private rooms like Mosaic who would love to trade their space for customers and exposure (and perhaps a small fee, though I like what Jabez did with his event, collecting money then buying lunch for participants).

Maybe I'll start a Biztalk on VENUES - been thinking about it forever! (I also wonder if a savvy event planner with web skills couldn't make matchmaking venues and people looking for venues into a business.)

Places like The Village in Bellevue, Thinkspace in Redmond, and Office Nomads are good resources, too.

Kate, I so appreciate your perspective! You provide a nice reminder about the multiple returns that come from hosting a Biznik event. Perhaps I'm assuming too much about the philosophical tension around free-vs-fee events; I've simply picked up some energy around it over the past few months.

That's a great idea to start a Venue discussion thread. I'm sure there will be tremendous benefit to the Biznik community!!!

Okay, I guess I will chime in here as I have done both free and paid events.

First, as far as free, I enjoy doing the ones I do and wouldn't want limitations on who attends. Yes, sometimes you find the same people over and over, and yes, free events will have a higher rate of no shows and cancellations, but heck, that's life. More times than not I have walked away from most events I've given with a wonderful feeling and great connections.

So that brings me to the point of where to have the events. Unfortunately Anita, I have found in my endless research that in order to get a good venue with unlimited wifi and the opportunity to charge and other amenities, you will need to pay. I have had the challenge of trying to find a place for my WordPress workshop, that would allow me to charge a fee, the power to get 30+ people online, etc....

I know that if you search Biznik, you will find numerous threads on this matter, and a call out for venues. Maybe something organized would help.

So, with that all said, I guess it's like every freakin' thing in the world of biz. You get what you pay for, especially when it comes to venues. But at the same time there is a wealth of free and informative workshops on Biznik, which gives the presenters the opportunity to make connections, build credibility and have a great time.

So onward we go...

Hey, Bob, you said, "So, with that all said, I guess it's like every freakin' thing in the world of biz. You get what you pay for, especially when it comes to venues."

My first thought was.....but we don't think that way about the high quality of the free content!!!

I would prefer if it were not SO DISCOURAGED at Biznik to have a fee event....kinda like leprosy!

One of the things I have done at Mosaic is to bring a "Contribution Jar" and pass it around at the beginning and again at the end (when everyone is excited) and ask that people contribute to Mosaic for the use of the room. It's fun and it feels more like a fair exchange....and it's a lot of fun to stuff all those bills into Mosaic's contribution box....makes me feel rich and like a "big spender".

LOL, Suzi

Jack Fecker used to do the same thing at the Stonehouse bookstore to cover their fee for his roundtables (ask for small donations) it worked pretty well.

And I see that Jabez's event filled up at $25 a head (including lunch, quite a deal!). He's offering value, has an effective description, and some compelling bonuses. (Though he's probably giving that $25 to Chandler's, he had a number of people sign up prior to lunch being thrown in.) Way to go Jabez!

Joe Shirley started a "best practices for hosting events" group awhile back, I believe there are some discussions there (though probably older) that people might want to check out. Joe and I also talked about hosting a roundtable on the question of how to charge for biznik events successfully, pooling the wisdom of people already leading successful events (and perhaps charging, either in Biznik or elsewhere).

I have had success charging for events elsewhere, but the only event I offered for a fee on Biznik ended up getting cancelled. (Though I'm strategizing how to make the next more successful.)

I'll get back to Joe to see if he still wants to do this. If not, I'll host an event through the Coaches' Coop. I'll post something here when it's scheduled.

ps Suzi, you ARE rich!

Hi Suzi, I think you may have taken this the wrong way. First, I love free events, especially giving them. If you look at my profile you will see that I have givens tons. I am far from discouraged with them. In fact, I thrive on them.

The point I made about the "you get what you pay for" is basically saying just that- and mostly about venues, not the event or content of the event. Through the thread, several comments were made on the frustration of finding "free" or "affordable" places to do events, with all the amenities. Well, a lot of these venues are in the biz to make money, like the rest of us, and finding the perfect one at no or little cost is of course, challenging.

What thing we seem to all be overlooking here is that Biznik gives us the platform to "promote" to a large group of diverse business people. If you have ever promoted an event yourself, you know how invaluable that alone is!

Bob, I did not misunderstand. It was strictly a comment...nothing else.

Suzi

This is a very useful discussion and I appreciate hearing all the diverse viewpoints. It's what makes Biznik such a great organization.

I think that we need to realize here that we all have different goals. For our business, we give workshops to: 1) introduce ourselves; 2) build credibility; and 3) begin to develop relationships that eventually will turn curious strangers into clients or people who will refer their friends and colleagues to us. It's just one step in the relationship-building process. We are not in the workshop business in the same way as the consultants who rely on speaking engagements and workshops as a substantial part of their income.

What Kate said is very important. We often do walk away with qualified leads , even new clients. For us, giving 2 hours of our time is a small price to pay for that. (Have you ever paid for an ad in a newspaper? Expensive, and often no new leads from it.) Even if we don't immediately get a new client, we have a group of people with which we can "continue the conversation" and, from my perspective, that's significant.

I am not saying that Bizniks should not charge for events. Bob and I will certainly do so when it is appropriate (longer workshops with time to produce/complete a project and takeaways, for instance). We all want to feel like our content is worth something. But to say that everyone should charge is not a place I'd like to go. It depends on your goal.

As far as finding a workshop-friendly venue with free WiFi and no charge for the facility? Good luck with that. If you are a nonprofit, maybe. But let's turn it around. If you were a business with a large conference room with projectors, WiFi, and seating for 30-40 people, would you let another for-profit business come in and use it for free and make $25-$50 per-person, and not give you anything?

The event host is not charging because he/she is making connections that will lead to business down the road. But the facility owner? Not so much.

Anita, I know we have gotten off-topic here and I am sorry. To address your original question, yes. From time to time, I see how much free members are getting and I can appreciate your frustration. But I'm not sure I would want to limit their event slots. The people who choose to sign up are the ones most in need of what we are offering, so they are our warmest prospects, whether they are free or paid members.

Didn't mean to go on so long, but these are complex issues.

Kate and Bob, I am so glad you recognized what Biznik is already doing for us. Where else can we promote an event and get such support in the process?

The "event calendar" goes out every Monday, and more events get filled on a Monday than any other time of week. If you simply went to the event calendar twice a week on say, Wed. and Sat. to look for newly posted events you wanted to take, you would rarely run into the problem of one filling up before you registered.

Chances are you're going to look after you and thousands of other people have gotten their Monday event calendar, and you're getting there 3 hours too late...

OK, NOW I'm bugged! I really don't mind free members coming to as many events as they want, but I'm bugged when they sign up then DON'T come!

This afternoon I had 23 signed up for an event that happened tonight. TEN came. I had sent a personal note and reminder both yesterday and about noon today, complete with a description of the neighborhood and parking hints.

Four of the 13 last-minute cancellations were kind enough to cancel their RSVP's and leave a note. NINE simply no-showed.

I checked, and ALL of the no-shows were free members. (6 of the 10 who came and 3 of 4 who politely cancelled RSVP's were free members).

I gladly give free events for the opportunity to connect with potential new clients, get feedback, build my mailing list and "practice" my skills, but it feels really disrespectful when people just don't show. I had the venue prepped for a crowd twice the size (they brought in two extra volunteers they probably didn't need), too many hand-outs printed, and because the event was full today, who knows if others couldn't get into what turned out to be a half-empty event?

Your manners are showing, people! I know that "things happen" and plans change, but to no-show with no prior explanation (or afterwards apology) is rude, and certainly unprofessional. Am I wrong to expect more from business owners?

How about a prospective from a free member (though I realize I SHOULD sign up for paid membership!)

I think Biznik is a great resource and it would hurt the site immensely if free members could only go to 2 events before they are cut off. I think a lot of workshops would end up getting cancelled due to lack of attendance.

At the same time, I can imagine it is incredibly frustrating for leaders that have the experience that Kate had, I would have been just as offended!

What I would suggest is limiting free members to 2-3 a month. So they would never be cut off, but there is incentive to pay for people who like to go to a lot of events. But there will also still be the free option for those of us who choose to continue free. This could also help free members care more about what they sign up for and think twice about not showing up.

And as for a venue, Anita check your local library. As far as I know, they all have free wifi and free meeting space. There might be a catch to the meeting space (such as no selling your services), but it may be OK to charge for an event, not sure.

Libraries are great places for free events. You can't "sell" (which can be problemmatic) and you can't charge a fee. They must be open to "walk-ins," though that works fine with Biznik policy.

The exception is the downtown Seattle library; you can rent a room there and charge a fee.