Exploring Interest in a New Zealand Meetup?

It sounds like you’re considering organizing a meetup, likely for a technical or programming community, and you want to gauge interest. While I can’t speak for everyone’s excitement, here are some ideas to help you assess the community’s appetite and drive engagement:

1. Use Surveys or Polls

Create a short survey or poll asking about:

• Preferred topics or themes
• Ideal timing and location in New Zealand
• Preferred format (talks, workshops, lightning talks, networking, etc.)

For example, you could use a tool like Google Forms or Typeform to quickly collect responses.

2. Leverage Your Community Platforms

If your community uses channels like Slack, Discord, or a mailing list, consider:

• Posting an announcement describing your vision for the meetup
• Inviting feedback, suggestions, or even volunteer organizers
• Sharing a poll directly on those channels to quickly see the interest level

Here’s a simple example using Markdown to create a poll template you might share on your community’s forum:

MARKDOWNCopied
**New Zealand Meetup Interest Poll**

We’re exploring the idea of hosting a meetup in New Zealand! Please let us know if you’d be excited to join and share any thoughts on topics or formats you’d like to see.

1. [ ] Yes, I’m interested!
2. [ ] Maybe – I’d like more details.
3. [ ] No, not at this time.

Feel free to comment below with suggestions or topics you’re passionate about!

3. Engage with Key Community Members

Identify community advocates or influencers who can help spread the word. Their support might encourage others to participate and can provide feedback on the initiative’s feasibility.

4. Organize an Initial Virtual Session

Sometimes starting with an online event can help build momentum and interest for an in-person meetup later on. This also helps you gather feedback and familiarize potential attendees with the format.

Final Thoughts

The level of excitement will largely depend on how well the event resonates with the community’s interests and how effectively you communicate your plans. Testing the waters with a poll or survey will provide concrete data on whether there’s enough interest to move forward.

Would you like more detailed advice on any of these steps or help with drafting a specific announcement or poll?