Events - a third option please?

[EDIT: March 17 - I just want to be clear that I am not setting any Biznik policy here, or anything. Just proposing ways that the existing functionality might serve your immediate needs.]

I don't know that posting the eWN events as Biznik Events is the right solution then, if they need to go to another site to register as well.

It might make more sense to create a Discussion Topic that was "eWN Events", and each reply to the topic would be the date for the next event. This way, the latest event would always be at the top of the list. Within that post you could provide a direct link to the eWN registration form.

Alternately, each eWN event could be a separate Discussion post. "March 14th eWN RSVP List" could be the title, and each comment on the topic would be considered an RSVP.

Or, it could be that members of eWN understand that their events are not actually Free, but the Biznik RSVP tool says free anyway.

It is an interesting question, and - as you can see - we are still learning how best to use these new tools.

Actually, I agree with you Zita, you should be able to use the group event tool to post whatever kind of events you want. Our intention with Biznik Groups is to create a tool that accommodates YOUR priorities, not ours, so we'll see if there's a way we can make that work for you. And thanks for the idea.

I also like your idea, Zita, though I'm not sure that people would be confused (right now as a workaround, while they are working on a solution) if the "free" event was noted in your event summary and description that it is a fee-based non-Biznik event.

I like the suggestion of a third type of event; a "meet me at .....".

Thanks Zita. ...Howard

I agree that there needs to be a third option. I have wanted to do events at Office Nomads that would be "free" as in no biznik fee, but people who have been to ON before would pay the ON fee (first timers are exempt from a fee at ON).

I do not want to collect the drop-in fee for ON via biznik, but want to make sure people are not put off when they arrive for what was listed as a free event, only to find that indeed, it's $25 to use the Office Nomads space for the day.

In my case, this WOULD be a biznik event, but like biznik events that often meet at restaurants where you have to pay something to be in that space, there would be a fee to use the ON space. I say this because I don't want to have to list this only on a group page--it's indeed a BIZNIK event.

There must be a clever way to build in these things to the event set up so it's streamlined and no one is discouraged from posting an event because it might not fit neatly into the old biznik event structure. I am sure a very smart solution will emerge from the brains at headquarters.

Thoughts?

In a wacky but related event idea, I considered posting an ice skating or roller skating networking event but was not sure how to call it free when you have to pay for entry or to rent skates, etc.

Same problem as the Office Nomads events: It's biznik in nature and I am not collecting a fee for hosting, but you will have to pay something to a third party to attend.

I would agree with the idea of a third type of event "Meet me at...".

Another way to get around this until this feature is implemented is to announce the fact that even though it's a free Biznik event there will be a fee at the location in the event description (and make it very visible).

I have a couple of activity events in mind. They are free but not really. :) So this third type of event will make it so much easier to host and plan events.

Good job identifying this need guys!

This could also cover "Tip Jar" events, where the host accepted a donation to help cover costs, etc, but did not have a set amount.

A Tip Jar would also allow people to toss a couple bucks toward the Event Host for a particularly brilliant free event. A gratuity, in the dictionary definition of the word... "a showing of gratitude".

I like where these ideas are going...

I wonder how often "Tip Jar" events are simply a dis-empowered plea for money from a host who is afraid to ask a fee to defray costs. If it costs a host something to host and they don't want to take on that cost, then why not just put a small fee on the event? The tip jar idea feels muddy and fraught with potential problems.

I am not fond of this at all and think it should not be encouraged--it has people cop out from hosting a fee-based event and it has members feel awkward about how much to give, if to give, etc.

I don't think it's good for biznik either, because as biznik grows, and let me tell you I am getting QUITE the education down here on my trip to Texas, as biznik grows, you are going to have people abuse the "tip jar" events by posting as a free event and then hitting people up for the real fee at the event, without sending anything to biznik.

By adding the Groups feature, you've opened up biznik to non-biznik events and some of those might cost money. So we need a way to account for that.

Before the Groups launch, we already had the unresolved issue of how to host an event that IS a biznik event that costs money to participate but that the host is not taking a cut of that money.

Before you name this new sort of event or add a third option to free and fee, I would love to see some additional discussion about this. I am wondering if there might be some other variations that should be considered.

So far, we have:

• fee (biznik event--this is very clear)

• free (biznik event)

• tip jar (mucho problems, see note above)

• meet me at (biznik event and free--basically the same as a free biznik event but people could confuse some "free" events for a "meet me at" event, is my point.)

• meet me at (non-biznik event and free)

• meet me at (biznik event, fee once you get there, but not to the host--like bowling, Office Nomads, etc.)

• meet me at (non-biznik event, fee once you get there to a third party or to host)

Of course, I am not advocating for this many categories. Instead, it would be great to see...

A. More discussion about all the possible events there could be so that when you decide on a third option, it captures exactly what you want to capture and makes sense without leaving a bunch of loose ends elsewhere and without lumping a bunch of stuff together that will lead to confusion.

B. Consideration that "meet me at" is referring to a hell of a lot of possible options and some are free and some are fee and some are biznik and some are not and some have a fee to a host and some a fee to a third party. It's worth breaking all of this out and getting clear on what really needs to be added to the options, if anything.