Toronto Photography Meetup Group

As a newbie to the group, going to my first event was a little intimidating, but I had no problems finding the event. My first event was to a social gathering, and I simply asked the waitress where the group with camera's were and she pointed me in the right direction. I then recognized Dan from his avatar and knew I found the right table. Since then, I've gone to a few shooting events and luckily I met up with Alex before going, so it was easier to find the group that way. Now that I'm familiar with a few more faces, I find it a lot more easier to spot the group. My only problem now is thinking I possibly might know someone just because they're carrying a nice fancy camera.

I still think it would be nice to have some way of recognizing the group and/or promoting the group by wearing something that people can see. But as a newbie, I dont think it's completely necessary in order to attend these groups.

As for alias, I've been online for 10+ years, and am known as Pebbz by many people on and offline This is the first online group I've met that actually refer to me by my name instead of my alias. It's kinda weird

I've been to 3 or 4 events. I've never had any trouble finding the group. The camera bags are a dead giveaway!
IMO, the tags, etc are not really necessary. If members need to wear a small tag or button, the camera bags will still be the first thing I notice.

Ahhh, one of our favourite topics for debate here at TPMG!

It's not too bad at pubs -- but at public events where many people have cameras -- Kensington Festival of Llights, Canada Day, etc. -- it may be of some help.

(Carrie has been invetigating buttons. I think Alex has been researching luggage tags.)

I like the luggage tag suggestion. Everyone probably already has one (if not they're cheap enough) and it's easy to print off the ID tag.

So, how do you create a picture that is the right size and dimension? I tried downsizing my old picutre, but it was awful! I used to have my picture along with my name - both real, by the way - but somewhere in the transition to the new site, it disappeared. (And what is an avatar, anyway?)

I'd vote for a pin and/or luggage tag. But I think the organizers should get to wear those java-style T-Shirts so we can separate you from all the other camera-carrying members of the public - assuming, of course, that you want to be found!

For an avatar, anything 96x96 is fine. YOu can probably go to meetup.com and your avatar is probably still there, just right click on it and save it and then upload it here via your profile setup.

Sue70 has an awesome one that she made herself. She printed off a tpmg image with label and slipped it into a Canadian flag luggage tag.

Thanks, JLam! Actually, it's just one of the TPMG cards stuck into a luggage tag.

I like a pin idea. It is discrete enough, but also allows promoting TPMG even if I don't wear a camera bag at that particular moment. Pin gets my vote (which I have no clue how to cast)

Having been to my first TPMG (albeit ad-hoc) event yesterday, and having done my first online meet-up of a group 20 years ago (when online was just text), here's my thoughts.

From my experience the best one for first timers, ESPECIALLY since we all have cameras and access to the internet, is to send a current image of yourself to the organizer/leader of the group. It's little or no cost (a little more expensive with a film camera), but then the organizer can have a thumbnail sheet of the new people and know who to look for. Many of us already have avatars with our own picture, but as I found out yesterday some look slightly different and aren't recognizable at first since the avatar might not be a current image (rather it's one of our better likenesses), so a recent image is better (maybe even in what you'll be wearing).

And as a quick aside to say why photos are the way to go, my first online meet-up was back in high school, we had a mainframe computer system connecting all the schools through the TBofE (Toronto Board of Education)...they had set up a system where we can send PM's to students within the school, but then we asked if we can have a forum set up, and when that was successful we asked how about allowing other schools to join it...they were nervous at first, but relented and after chatting with our fellow students we decided to get together in the computer room of a rival school which was literally down the street from us (this was actually a dicey issue because technically we would be trespassing, not to mention risking being beaten up).

(Here's where the idea of images of us comes to play) We had basically went through every thing, what room number, the overall location of the computer room in the building, but what we had forgot to do was describe what we look like, and our real names (hey, this was our first time)...after a few awkward moments standing in the rival school's computer room wondering which one of the students sitting at the more than 20 terminals we were supposed to meet (all we knew was she had the nickname "Animal"...would you walk in to the computer room of a rival school asking each student, "Are you Animal?" Someone eventually walked up to us and asked what we were doing here (thank goodness it wasn't the teacher/supervisor, because she never liked the idea of this even when it was a success), and luckily it was the person we were supposed to meet.

Of course we learned from that day and when we had our next meet at another school we gave our real names in advance, and described what we would be wearing (since we had no picture/graphics abilities in those days). It was one of the few activities that actually brought students from rival schools together in friendship, rather than in competition/battle.


Another quick idea (based on what TCC does) would be to mandate that EVERYONE at a TPMG event wear a badge around the neck...the leader(s) of the group would wear a coloured badge to signify they're the leader of the meet-up, and everyone else wears a white coloured badge. That way you have the names that you can see at a glance (as well it should have the TPMG user name), and as well it gives an air of officialism at events (ya, right). This badge would be sent online by TPMG when you join to be printed by the user if they want to go to an event. Have four check boxes on them (for each TPMG event they go to) so at a glance other members can see who is new and who is more experienced with the outings.

Quite honestly mfellh, your idea, while ideally it sounds good, also sounds like a lot of work. I have led quite a few events (both official and ad-hoc) and have not had any problems locating new members (or at least new to me) or having people locate me. I often give out my cell # so that people can call if they're running late or can't find me. I do have a luggage tag on my camera bag with a TPMG business card inside as an added key as to who I am, but I think that if you're specific enough about the meeting spot, and have the courtesy to approach potentially timid people, getting your group together should be fairly easy.

There's also the potential that people who sign up may not, at the last minute, be able to attend and can't notify the leader. In addition, there's also the potential that members may not be able to print out a badge at their leisure, may not have access to a colour printer, or may decide at the last minute to attend an open-ended event. I don't think we want to make anyone feel left out or unwelcome if they don't have a badge.

I do, however, like your idea of sending a little image of yourself to the organizer. (Although if it's Dan, he may not check his email that regularly....

Sugguestion:

All tpmg participants should have an name/address label around 1"x 3" in size with his/her real first name and tpmg id . Stick that onto the outerjacket.

For some latecomer or for people who do not have it, the organiser should charge say $1 - $3 . Depends.


Daniel

We are in the process of getting tags for the group. Hopefully they'll be ready sometime soon at the beginning of the new year. As for the labels, while it would be nice to have tags with people's real names and screen names, I don't think most people would want to wear a name tag at events (I know I wouldn't!) and I would not feel comfortable charging for a name tag. Especially for someone who arrives late or forgot their name tag.