Co-hosting a night

What it actually is

You are the second friendly person in the room. You are not running the evening and you are not responsible for whether it goes well, that sits with whoever is hosting it. Your job is to notice the people the host has not got to yet.

In practice it is two things: say hello to people as they arrive and stay near anybody who came on their own. If the host has specifically given you a tested event-photo folder, you may also take one or two photos if you are comfortable. That really is the whole list, and it is meant to be that small.

Before the night

There is nothing to prepare and nothing else to read. Turn up about fifteen minutes before the start time, because people arrive alone in the first half hour and that part decides the evening.

Before the day you should have been told four things: the time, the address, what the evening is, and who else is on it with you. If you have not been told those things, ask me. And if you had to ask, that is my mistake rather than yours, so ask without feeling awkward about it.

On the night

Stand where you can see the door. Say hi to everyone who comes in and walk them over to a group rather than pointing at one. Nobody should be standing on their own for more than a minute or two, and noticing that is the actual skill in this.

If somebody asks you something you do not know the answer to, it is completely fine to say so and go and find the host. Guessing on our behalf is the only version of that which causes a problem.

If photos were specifically assigned, ask people before photographing them and tell the host who agreed. Originals go to the exact shared Drive event folder you were given; Slack gets only the folder link and context, never the files. We ask again before anything gets posted. If you were not given a tested folder, skip the photos. Some people cannot be visible online for reasons they should not have to explain to you.

If you cannot make it

Tell somebody as soon as you know, and do not feel bad about it. Plans change. This ordinary co-host task is unpaid unless separate terms were agreed in writing before the event, and nobody is going to be annoyed with you for stepping back. What causes a real problem is silence, because then an evening we have told people is hosted turns out not to be, and somebody who came on their own walks into a room with nobody to meet them.

As early as you can, message the host you are on with, and message me. If it is the same day, call me instead of sending a message. If you want to ask in the hosting channel whether anybody can swap in, that is welcome, but it is genuinely optional. Finding cover is my job, not yours.

The one rule

Money is never yours to handle, on any night. If somebody wants to pay for something, it goes through the website or through me, and never through your own account or Vipps, ever.

If something goes wrong

Look after the person in front of you first and worry about the rest afterwards. You never need permission to step in when somebody may be unsafe or uncomfortable. Do what seems reasonable in the moment, then tell the host, or tell me, whatever the hour it is.

If you like it

After one completed night, you can choose another with less setup if you want. Every date is still a separate yes, not a standing duty. If you ever want to run a night yourself rather than co-host one, tell me and we will find you an evening.

Trying it once commits you to nothing, and telling me it is not for you costs nothing either. I would much rather hear that than have somebody go quiet.

What you do not have to read

There are other guides on the site and none of them are homework. The community code is two minutes and worth it, because it is what we promise our guests and you are the person carrying it on the night.

Everything else, including what we stand for and the longer hosting guides, is there for when you want it or when a job actually needs it. Nobody is going to quiz you on any of it.