This series of pages is intended to help anyone interested in organizing a local VizThink community event. It contains recommendations, considerations and suggestions based on the experience that has been gathered running various events over the past few years.
Anyone is welcome & encouraged to pick up and run with a VizThink community and the VizThink team is here to support you.
There's three basic pieces of advice I give to anyone who asks me about getting a VizThink event going:
Just put it out there, really.
There is a lot of interest out there, and it's easier than ever to get the word out to people about what you're doing. I've seen a lot of people hum and hah about events, trying to build consensus, trying to make sure they've got a critical mass - basically trying to make sure it'll work before they stick their neck out. I'll let you in on a little secret:
The worst thing that can happen is no one shows up.
Really, that is the absolute worst thing that can happen. But there's a second secret too:
If no one shows up, no one will know it didn't work
So now that we've got that out of the way. Shake off the insecurities, the concern, the worry that you'll somehow look foolish. I can pretty much guarantee you that the only way no one shows up is if you don't tell anyone about it.
The reality is you know at least a couple of people, possibly a few, maybe more that are probably interested in the idea of Visual Thinking. Would you hesitate inviting them out for a drink or dinner? At the end of the day this isn't any different. Invite your friends, and while you're at it publicly extend the invite to anyone - you'll be amazed who shows up.
The organizers in Austin ran their first VizThink and didn't even put who was speaking/what the topic was on their page until the very last minute - and 40 people still signed up!
2. Speak/Facilitate at your first event - it's one less variable to worry about!
This one is a little harder for some people to stomach - but I highly recommend it. It's one less thing for you to worry about on the day. If you're speaking you don't need to worry about your speaker being late, not showing up, etc. - You don't have to be a Visual Thinking guru to get people excited about Visual Thinking . Pick something you know, come up with a way to present it, and make it interactive.
If you need some ideas feel free to get in touch with me I'm happy to share. We're working on building out a library of sessions/activities for our community organizers to use/reference and will update this page as it becomes available.
3. Keep it simple!
I can't stress this one enough. VizThink community events should really be casual, informal affairs - it's about connecting with a group of people with similar interests, not putting on a big show. All you really need is You, Participants, some name tags, and pens & paper. A "VizThink" can happen anywhere - A few of you in your company's boardroom, a quiet back room in a bar, under a shady tree on a summer day, it doesn't really matter. Have fun with it, don't make things so complicated you spend your entire time worrying about little details.
