the couch-to-5k of hosting

This is the very beginning of Warmup, a set of guides, practices, and simple instructions on how to reduce the logistical and emotional complexity of hosting until it becomes a no-brainer, and then helping people take that practice wherever they want to. The goal is to make it easier for people to host hangouts by providing a clear path from "I've never hosted a hangout" to "I'm a regular host and I love it."

Eventually, the site will be home to a variety of playbooks: easy, to-the-point guides on how to host a specific kind of hangout, with suggestions on how to reduce complexity and work through emotional blockers. The first playbook will be a general guide to hosting a hangout, and it's a great place to start if you're feeling like a fish out of water. Soon, you will be a fish who is positively swimming in water.

It's the author's belief that many people wrongly thing it would be bad or not worth it to host a group of their friends, or create connections between their friends. If you don't like your friends, that's a separate problem. If you do, then they should be given the opportunity and blessing of meeting each other!

Hosting is about two things: connection and serendipity. Connection happens when people can relax around each other and participate in activities together. Serendipity happens when you gather people who haven't met. Every event you host, you accumulate microserendipities: small chances that people's lives will be deeply changed for the better by meeting each other or doing something together.

It is also the author's belief that hosting is a nearly egoless activity. Your goal is to cultivate a garden of people. You do that by providing fertile soil (a sanctuary where people can be comfortable) and good conditions (activities that promote bonding). You don't need to make toasts. You don't need to be the most interesting person there. All you need to do is provide a setting for people to have a good time, which they will naturally do if they are in a good headspace. If they're not, that's not your fault, and you are still providing a useful container for them to rest in!

To add:

  1. A beginner track addressing:
    • The lowest possible effort hangout
    • Common concerns for first hangouts
    • The joy of regular hosting
    • Overcoming fear by descoping
    • How to slowly ramp up the effort if/when you want to
  2. A short of how we gather
  3. A book and website recommendation section
  4. Guest spotlights
  1. How to plan your first hangout Easy actionable steps for the frightened