A guide to starting your own Property Tribes event ....

[Vanessa]

As many of you know, Rob Hubband and Rich Greenland have started their own events in the North and South West respectively.  These events are now gaining traction and Rob recently had 60 people at his most recent event. 

We would like to encourage other members to start their own PT events.

These will be YOUR events under the PT brand, and we will do whatever we can to support you, including leveraging our significant social streams and followings on-line to help promote your event.

You can earn all the income from your event, as we believe that in helping you to becoming more successful, we will become more successful by default.  See our philosophy >> here.



Here are my tips to running a successful event:

 

1.  Choose a hotel in a central location that is easy to get to, has the right meeting room accommodation, and has lots of free parking.

2.  Negotiate strongly for the room hire as it is a buyer's market and the hotel will make money off the sale of refreshments to your group.

3.  Line up interesting speakers, many of whom you will find on PT.  Make sure that they agree to publicise your event into their networks.

4.  Make it easy to book and pay in advance by using a system like Eventbrite.

5.  Add your event to the "Events" section of PT and we will aggregate it out into the social streams and networks.

6.  Ensure your events deliver great value and allow time for networking.  Focus on quality not quantity.  20 to 30 people is a great number and allows everyone to network and meet in a friendly environment that is not over-whelming.

7.  Please do not charge more than £10.00 per head, if at all possible.   If you get the room for free, you will still get a drink out of it.

8.  Write a report of your event on PT and be sure to take some photos or video to share, as this will help build your event.

9.  Once a month might be a bit too frequent, so consider an event every other month or once a quarter.

10.  Believe in the wisdom of crowds and allow everyone in the room to have some input as we are not keen on the "guru at the front of the room" approach, although obviously your speaker will attract new people in.

All that we ask is that your event upholds the values and ethics of Property Tribes i.e. great value, great networking, and a non-sales agenda.  Please also mention PT at your events to attract in new members.  N.B.   We would prefer that you do not invite any speakers associated with "wealth creation" to speak and this is not really about property and more about selling seminars etc.  :)

Your event could just be a social gathering in a pub through to a more formal gathering with speaker.

Allow a minimum of 6 weeks to promote your event.

Have a registration table at your event to tick people off as they enter, and give them a name badge.  Make it more expensive to pay on the door to encourage them to commit/register in advance.  Be careful of people trying to slip in for free, as some people do try unfortunately!!!

Ensure you have an agenda for the evening and stick to it.  People hate things running late.  We recommend that your event runs from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

Do not hold your event when something important is on the TV!!!

Allow coffee and networking breaks and do not go for more than an hour without one of these as people's attention starts to wander!

If you can tweet from your event, create your own hashtag.

Advantages to you of running your own event:

1.  Grow your own local network for business.

2.  Demonstrate leadership.

3.  Earn a few pennies from the entrance fee while increasing your own property knowledge and contacts.

4.  Have fun and makes friends.

I am sure that Rob and Rich will add some further inputs from their experiences.

If more than one person wants to start an event in the same area, then we recommend that you collaborate together rather than compete.  :)

Please contact us or add to this thread if you are interested in starting your own PT event and we can help you move this forwards.

[Rob Hubbard]

Brilliant V, thanks for starting this thread.

IMHO this advice us a solid plan and just needs to be followed, I started NPT because I didn't fancy ra ra networking and didn't know where else to go.

My first event had only six people, three of which were Nick Tadd, his Dad and me! this illustrates the commitment of Nick and Vanessa as Nick knew how many people were booked (<10) yet was prepared, and did drive from Surrey to Yorkshire to speak.

All my speakers so far have been members of PT,

Nick Tadd, Stephen Fay, Lisa Orme, Glen Ackroyd and next up, Mark Alexander.

Btw, I had no former experience in event organising so don't let that become a barrier, start small and aim to grow organically. There is a genuine Market for non sales property meets and these attract some serious property people who have a wealth of knowledge.

I'm happy to discuss any aspects offline with people, should you wish to take things forward.

Rob

[Vanessa]

Thanks Rob.

 

Let's keep the discussion on-line and then this thread can build up into a great compendium of information of how to create and run a successful event.  :)

[nick tadd]

I'll knock up some "branding" if you want - for anyone starting PT events.

 

Rob has one - Richard would you like one for SWPT?

 

N

[Vanessa]

Rob,

What are the benefits to you of running your own event?  Can you elaborate on that a bit?  Has it been worthwhile for you?

BTW, I agree that you do not need to know about property or events to run a successful one.  Be a great host, make people feel welcome, and introduce people to one another, and ensure the event runs smoothly and on time, and you will make it a success, no matter what your experience or background.  :)

[Rob Hubbard]

The main benefit for me has been to broaden my horizons. Its very easy to 'network' within your own comfort zone and circle of friends/colleagues. Being the host has encourage me to speak to everyone in the room, something I confess I hadn't used to do.

 

 

I've met some great people and some new friends.

 

It's a real buzz when people get in touch asking when the next event is and quite humbling when they thank me for making it happen.

 

Its very rewarding when people commit to travelling a long way to come to my meetings, the last one people came from all four corners of the UK and one particular couple want to try and come to as many future NPT meets as possible and they live in the Isle of Man!!

 

Also, there is a financial reward as well however, I see this as a 'bonus' rather than an income. I would rather focus on providing a decent atmosphere and an engaging speaker that people want to hear and to engage with afterwards, hopefully I'm succeeding with this.

 

Rob

Commercial Management & Property Consultant,
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Please visit my website, read the property blog & leave a comment;
www.walkerfox.co.uk/blog
E: [e-mail] M: 07960 753550 T: @walkerfox S: Walkerfox

 

[Louis Meredith]

Thanks Vanessa for starting this discussion it has already answered many questions I had when you suggested holding an event, something I will admit I wasnt overly keen on when first mentioned. But I am warming to the idea as I really want to meet and listen to so many people on here.

 

Thanks Louis Meredith

[Richard Greenland]

nick tadd said:

I'll knock up some "branding" if you want - for anyone starting PT events.

 

Rob has one - Richard would you like one for SWPT?

 

N

Yes please!

Vanessa I echo Rob's sentiments, good call for starting the discussion. I started a similar one a few months back, but I think it was too early then and we hadn't had enough successful events for the idea to really gain traction. After Rob's sell-out event, and the great feedback from the latest SWPT, it's easier for other people to see value in the idea. 

I started it for similar reasons to Rob. I'd been to PIN Bristol and felt frankly alienated by all the motivational ra-ra, and I left early when the upselling started in earnest. I know some people get value from these meets, but they seem to be more about show-business than property and they aren't for me. (Simon Zutchi was a magician previously). Bizarrely many seem star-struck by Showbiz-Landlords like John Lee! Yes really, I could hardly believe my eyes. 

Anyway, enough of that. The other really striking difference between the PT events and these is the types of people who attend. They are mostly experienced investors, some with portfolios numbering in hundreds of units. The 'newbies' are different too, they are in a room with thoughtful people so they are thoughtful too (altho there's always a real buzz to these meets). There's no one wetting their knickers over Mark Alexander, tho he's done far more in property than John Lee is ever likely to. There's always a real buzz at SWPT, but it’s a buzz of knowledge shared, not adulation.

Anyway, onto Vanessa's list... I start at 7.15 not 6.30 because a sizeable contingent come from South Wales, London, and even further a field (Newcastle, Durham and Cornwall!) This gives people time to finish work and grab something to eat. 

I provide sandwiches, tea and coffee, as I think it's civilised especially as folks travel from so far. The room is free so I can afford this. It's free because it's attached to a bar and cafe, so they make their money on my refreshments, plus drinks (alcohol and others) and mains which anyone buys. 

I was running it on a week-night, but have gone over to Friday by special request from Steve Griffiths, and a consensus amongst the rest. This is because the mingling (I don't like 'networking' it sounds too mercenary) is easily as important as the speaker. People wanted the chance to make a night of it, stay late, without having an early start the following day. It does mean I have to book the room further in advance however. 

Don't expect to make much money out of it. If you cover your time + expenses, you are doing well. After the hours of DD I had to do on my previous speaker, the one who had to be cancelled, I probably earned about 50P an hour. 

Which leads me to my next point. Do your DD first before inviting a speaker. Last time I made the mistake of regarding it as a social event so inviting without doing much DD. Treat it like a business venture, not a social one. Meet the speaker first F2F, ask friends and associates about them, and do a google search on their name and any aliases as the bare minimum. Fortunately I won't have to spend any time on this next time as I'm having V talk on Holiday Lets so it's already done!!!

Send a message to everyone on your FRIEND list 2-3 weeks beforehand with a link to the event page.

Post a discussion 2-3 weeks beforehand with a link as well. Be enthusiastic!

Make it easy for speakers if they are travelling from afar. They might appreciate local knowledge about hotels or the offer of a spare bed if you have one. You also need to find out if speaker is OK with questions during the talk (most are). And make sure the projector works for a Powerpoint projection. Re-arrange furniture to suit.

Have a helper to collect the money and contact details. Mine didn't show up on Friday! I could possibly have co-opted someone else but with only 21 of us decided not to bother. 

At the start welcome everyone and explain about fire escapes, toilets, refreshments etc. Outline the agenda. Introduce the speaker, and maybe some attendees who are well-known or have travelled from afar. Thank them all. 

During the talk you'll need to monitor things like the attention of the audience - do they need a break soon? You should pre-agree timings for this with the speaker but you'll still need to monitor it. I got this really wrong at the last meet but one - my only excuse is that a tenant called me out as she had locked herself into the flat and I arrived back late and very ill-prepared. Nightmare!

Perhaps do a bit of jargon-busting for the benefit of newer people. Keep refreshments topped up. Take photos. 

After the talk thank everyone especially the speaker. 

Now you can relax a bit, have a beer, but you are still 'on duty' and should make sure everyone feels included and welcome. Hosting events really isn't my MO at all, I do find it stressful at times as it's a big responsibility when you have got people travelling from so far, but so far the feedback has been great so I'm going to carry on. 

Do a write-up ASAP as this pays back your speaker with some free publicity and imprints the meeting onto the minds of readers for next time. 

[Richard Greenland]

Also I like to sit near the speaker to jargon-bust and monitor the audience's facial expressions for signs of fatigue, but I sometimes move about too for refreshments photos etc.

[John Paul]

And me Rob :(
Rob Hubbard said:

Brilliant V, thanks for starting this thread.

IMHO this advice us a solid plan and just needs to be followed, I started NPT because I didn't fancy ra ra networking and didn't know where else to go.

My first event had only six people, three of which were Nick Tadd, his Dad and me! this illustrates the commitment of Nick and Vanessa as Nick knew how many people were booked (<10) yet was prepared, and did drive from Surrey to Yorkshire to speak.

All my speakers so far have been members of PT,

Nick Tadd, Stephen Fay, Lisa Orme, Glen Ackroyd and next up, Mark Alexander.

Btw, I had no former experience in event organising so don't let that become a barrier, start small and aim to grow organically. There is a genuine Market for non sales property meets and these attract some serious property people who have a wealth of knowledge.

I'm happy to discuss any aspects offline with people, should you wish to take things forward.

Rob

[Charlie Burnett]

Hoping to start PT Central Scotland meetings - first meeting September - any help or advice would be welcome

[JOANNA CAROLINE]

Suggest you contact Charlie Archibald - he has the same idea.

[Charlie Burnett]

was he going to do a PT meeting - I know he had a thread going - if he's going to do it I'm happy just to let him go ahead and help if need be




JOANNA CAROLINE said:

Suggest you contact Charlie Archibald - he has the same idea.