snZero is almost 2.

Last week “we” held the summer edition of snZero.

For those that don’t know what snZero is, it’s a bi-monthly event held in Leeds which aims at getting people away from their facebook and twitter accounts, and into rooms to talk to each other. There are many events of this type that are aimed at “geeks” and technical people, and probably a fair few that aim at other sectors of the digital landscape too – but snZero aims to bring all of these people together under one roof to express their joy, hatred and apathy on any subjects which take their fancy. Unlike other events there is no talk or presentation to hang the event on, and people honestly just come together to drink and chat. It’s because of this that people have taken to saying that snZero is “any excuse for a pissup” – this is not a description that I disagree with.

snZero was actually in its 23^rd month in August having had the inaugural event in September 2009, and it would be unfair to say that it’s been plain sailing; after a huge turnout for the first two events (the first one had a sponsored free bar), the membership fell off significantly over the next 6 months as we held it as a monthly event. As such we then has 5 months off to whet peoples appetite again, and at the end of 2010 snZero was reborn as bi-monthly and to date completely sold out in terms of tickets.

That was until this month. This moth was our summer edition, and we had an ideas of grandeur. We increased the ticket count to 150. We booked a new venue with an outside bit. We put on food. And we even booked a band!

It’s fair to say that in the days running up to last Thursday I was slightly nervous about how it would all go; we’d asked people to pay for food and we weren’t sure how good the food was; we’d put a band on and weren’t really exactly sure how good the band was. We were diverting away from the core of what snZero was born to be. And I worried, yes, I worried.

IT WENT BRILLIANTLY THO. Well, except for the band – who were amazing – but who everyone promptly really ignored. So learning number 1 – don’t put entertainment on. The food was satisfactory, with sausages being YUM and potato salad selling out way too quickly. Learning 2 – food isn’t necessarily a bad idea if people want it. And the chat and fun was at its usual level; which is to say high.

I love snZero because I get to talk to the people that otherwise I’d never meet. I met Dom Hodgson and Guy Redwood years ago at GeekUp, and from that group of people they’re pretty much the only ones I still talk to because they’re awesome people. That is what I wanted from snZero, to meet new people who were as frankly brilliant as the couple of connections I’d made at GeekUp.

At snZero I’ve met Sean Parker, I’ve met Matt Wildin, I’ve met Russ Poulter, I’ve met Andy Hey, I’ve met sooo many cool people that work in my industry, that do the same types of job as me, that have the same loves and frustrations with deadlines and last minute requirements. And for me that makes the worrying worthwhile.

Yes, worrying; Every month I sit in the venue and wait for people to start arriving and every month I worry that only 3 people will turn up.

And every month at least 60 people turn up and mingle, and I have a great time. So learning number 3, stop worrying.

The next snZero is October 6th, I hope you can make it.