kevman3d
Krazy Kiwi
This is a cut-paste from another post - I think information that's useful shouldn't be hidden within a thread that makes it hard to find, so I've posted it here with its own 'topic' to make it easier to spot for new users... Please feel free to add more advice to this thread!
Starting a Usergroup is a good idea - Its a great way to socialise, make friends, learn tips and tricks and network with people to find out what the 3D scene is like locally...
Here's some tips from me - I started mine back in 1998 by collecting details about people who used LightWave in New Zealand - Just out of curiosity! Now we have almost 80 people on the mailing list and about 15-20 people per meeting, albeit mostly newbies!
* Find a location
That I think is the most important part - Once you have this sorted, you're pretty much set and ready to go. Also, while you're at that, try and see if you can find a location with equipment (Computer, Video, TV, projector, etc if you can)
We run ours up at the local University - In a computer lab with large projector screen, DVD, VCR and 20 workstations with LightWave on them - Perfect! But not everyone can get that Lucky to start with...
If you can, at least have a computer available - You really need at least that since LightWave afterall is a computer program and well, meetings wouldn't feel right if you couldn't use it at a meeting to show/demo/etc...
With location sorted, and as long as you have something to demo lightwave tips, models, etc on then you'll be fine!
* Contact and advertise
Start a small web site - Create a mailing list - Send out Emails - Post messages at your local community center... Let people know you're there, or your meetings will be SMALL!
For instance, I set up a mailing list at Egroups (which later became Yahoo! Groups) so that I could offer a way of getting the whole country involved in talking about LightWave (Since meetings are only in Auckland). It also gives me a communications resource to keep everyone up to date with the latest news, meetings details, etc.
The web site I use to post up details of meetings, and to try start a gallery and other things for my users. However maintaining a website (specially a static HTML based one like on Geocities (Eck!)) is a lot of work, and I often let it go un-updated for months at a time before I find time to refresh it...
If you can get a scripted web site hosting service (http://www.hostned.com is a good one) then get someone to build you an easily managed site...
Better still, if you find a user at your first meeting who has the time to build and maintain a website for you, then get other people to help you cause LWUG's are a lot of work for a one-man team! (I love hard work, really!)
* Spend time, prepare well...
Be prepared to spend some time to organise stuff, read news sites, find topics you can discuss at UG meetings... I collect 3D animation - This gives me material to show users (eye candy) about what 3D animation is about worldwide... All on my little 56k modem too!
Also, meetings tend to work almost like presentations - A few times we get discussion, however other times so many newbies are there that unless there's something to see, the meetings run roughly - Or become dead-pan events!
So what I do once a month is ask users is there anything that they want to know about, then read up, play with the idea and create a tutorial or little workshop about it. Its also an awesome way to build your own knowledge, and you'll find it gets you a great reputation with the local community as well...
I had the nickname 'Mister LightWave' at one stage, and I've been invited to media colleges to review student work, teach at the university and help out small local studios! The benefits of running the LWUG have been great!
I'll also try out any free plugins I find that look cool, and if I can use them adequately enough to not make too many mistakes before the meeting, I'll create a demo...
Worst thing you can do is do something 'on the fly' without any preparation - Sometimes I do things without preparing, but sometimes its also been a small disaster!
* Just do it!
Basically, once you have location, prepare something to talk about in case nobody has any ideas, grab a few small munchies and drinks and tell people about it - Go for it! Its pretty much as simple as that!
Good luck!
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