[hackerspaces] Failing/failed hackerspaces

[Mark Henderson]

I define a failed space as one who's no longer in business.  Doors closed, memberships cancelled, 100% out of business.

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2014 12:50:39 -0400
From: 4phlebas at gmail.com
To: discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
Subject: Re: [hackerspaces] Failing/failed hackerspaces

Define failed hackerspace- if a nasty space keeps on chugging along through geographical/media clout despite severe issues, is it a successful space? 

-sung 



On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 12:45 PM, Jesse Krembs <jessekrembs at gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Matt
I would argue that neither the HHH or the L0pht are good examples of failed spaces.The HHH was a residence first in my view and just happened to be populated by hackertypes.

The L0pht predates the modern hackerspaces era, was private and was a unique beast, also it  didn't so much as get bought by corporate interests and sold out to (or bought in).
3rd Ward might be better example. (makerspace).




On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 12:35 PM, matt <matt at nycresistor.com> wrote:


> 1.  What are some well known failed spaces to the discussion group, and 
> what caused them to fail?


HHH ( all the things ), L0pht ( purchased by corporate interest ), Countless tiny unheard of spaces.


> 2.
  Are there any spaces that are "too big to fail", i.e. too much money 
is 
> invested in the space - so much so that it has become a disservice to
 the 
> community instead of an asset?  What are some of the common 
mistakes 
> that spaces make that keep them from growing or succeeding?

Noisebridge.  

I'd ask you this.  Is growth success?  Start with what your own metric for success is.  If you are just building a physical edifice to your own interest, you've probably already failed.  If you are trying to start a movement to support a crusade... again you've failed.  If you are just trying to find a group of people you want to hack with... then all you need is enough people to be happy and survive.  What keeps people from success generally, is failing to identify what their metric for success is.  Or trying to do too many things.  You can't be all things to all people.  The other big one is believing there is a community to support your goals when sometimes there just isn't.  And the last and worst... thinking you can turn running a hackerspace into a career.




> 3.  Has anyone taken failed models and used them as sort of a "this is what 
> not to do" list?  Where could I source that info?
http://hackerspaces.org/images/8/8e/Hacker-Space-Design-Patterns.pdf




> 4.
  For people new to this industry, what are some of the common 
> newcomer 
mistakes in starting up a makerspace/hackerspace that you would 
> have 
liked to been made aware of so you could have avoided them and 
> saved 
yourself a massive headache?
Trust every member of your space as if they had keys to your home.  If you can't do that, you've already failed.








On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 12:13 PM, Mark Henderson <mhenderson683 at live.com> wrote:








I have some questions about failed or failing hackerspaces and makerspaces.

1.  What are some well known failed spaces to the discussion group, and what caused them to fail?
2.  Are there any spaces that are "too big to fail", i.e. too much money is invested in the space - so much so that it has become a disservice to the community instead of an asset?  What are some of the common mistakes that spaces make that keep them from growing or succeeding?



3.  Has anyone taken failed models and used them as sort of a "this is what not to do" list?  Where could I source that info?
4.  For people new to this industry, what are some of the common newcomer mistakes in starting up a makerspace/hackerspace that you would have liked to been made aware of so you could have avoided them and saved yourself a massive headache?



Thanks!

Mark Henderson


 		 	   		  

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-- 
Jesse Krembs
802.233.7051


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