[hackerspaces] Hackerspace crisis plan

[Arclight]

Looks like a nice space. What are your monthly expenses like? Because if
they aren't that high, you may only need a few more core members. Is the
problem that a lot of people in your town are unemployed? Can you get help
from the town/government/companies if you do classes, startup business
space/help, or offer other services?

Arclight
23b Shop
shop.23b.org
On Jan 23, 2013 2:51 AM, "David Francos" <me at davidfrancos.net> wrote:

> We've got (not-so-cheap) many coworking spaces here...
> But you're right, it might be a good idea, a reduced quota for using just
> a chair and not having the rest of rights + obligations of the actual
> members? (Not the same involvement I mean)
>
>
> 2013/1/23 Ricky Ng-Adam <rngadam at xinchejian.com>
>
>> More ideas from one of our member (Paul) who's not on the list:
>>
>>
>>>    - Going towards coworking spaces is working for Bangkok, Thailand as
>>>    their Hackerspace failed after just 6 months.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Offering rent a desks for small businesses / startups and
>>>    facilities usage.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Also checkout schoolfactory.org as they have some good discussions
>>>    going on.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 9:38 AM, Ricky Ng-Adam <rngadam at xinchejian.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Hello David!
>>>
>>> You already got a lots of good suggestions in this thread to help future
>>> your Hackerspace.
>>>
>>> I'd add that if you want to have members, you need a lot of people
>>> walking in.
>>>
>>> We (Shanghai XinCheJian Hackerspace) have a free open house with guest
>>> talks every Wednesday and although we typically get 30 to 40 guests of
>>> which maybe 10 are new...  At most one or two of those new visitors show
>>> interest in membership.
>>>
>>> We hit a homerun (meaning someone really active long term) maybe once a
>>> month. So you have to find a way to play the numbers to get that one or two
>>> percent...
>>>
>>> The same numbers apply to the workshops. It actually takes a lot of work
>>> to make someone see the value of a community; we spend a lots of time
>>> explaining it one on one. And realistically, not everyone is in a situation
>>> where they can commit to such a community. But I've seen people join after
>>> months/years of the initial contact (!)
>>>
>>> A positive: I'm still astounded at the numbers of visitors that have
>>> never heard of Hackerspaces given the coverage we've got in the expat and
>>> Chinese press. So that's always lots of headroom!
>>>
>>> Another: people become more committed when something needs to get done
>>> and they do it. Helpful for a nascent community.
>>>
>>> good luck!
>>>
>>> Ricky
>>> On Jan 22, 2013 7:08 PM, "David Francos" <me at davidfrancos.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi there.
>>>> I'm from DegeneratedLabs, Zaragoza (Spain) Hackerspace.
>>>> It's probably the first time I write here, tought I've been lurking for
>>>> a while.
>>>>
>>>> We've got a 2-year old hackerspace here, with a nice-as-hell space, but
>>>> we've recently lost almost all of our members (three remaining, not much
>>>> money)
>>>>
>>>> We're thinking on alternative economic support stuff, we've got a few
>>>> nice things (a 3d printer, two floors (one of them mostly used as a
>>>> workshop and the other a a source for talks etc), lots of hardware, tools,
>>>> fridges coffe machines, a huge library...)
>>>>
>>>> Aside from that, we've got very poor access to people (We are currently
>>>> FOUR people!).
>>>>
>>>> We don't have a very good online image, but we're constantly moving it
>>>> IRL, trought talks and so on.
>>>>
>>>> Could you give us any guidance on how to proceed to avoid the
>>>> hackerspace's death? Is there any crisis plan developed that can be a
>>>> little generic to them?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 伍思力 | Ricky Ng-Adam | http://xinchejian.com | (+86) 186-2126-2521
>>
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>>
>
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