Room for More · hosting guide
Hosting checklist, the short version
Just the list, for a quick check before or during an event. The full reasoning behind each of these lives in the complete hosting guide, and the deep version, research included, is the extended handbook.
1 Before you publish
- Address, or meeting point, confirmed
- How people will spot you decided (table, sign, what you're wearing)
- Cost stated plainly (usually "buy your own", or free)
- Age rule stated, if there is one
- Headcount you can actually host, capped
- Weather backup plan, if any part is outdoors
- Paid event? Two hosts named before tickets open, and calling off goes through Martin, two days out minimum
2 Day before & day of
- Kit asked for in #finished-work (team Slack) days ahead: stands, cards, whatever the format needs
- Reminder message sent the day before
- Arrive a little early, settled before the first person shows up
- Stand on every table, layout arranged
- "I'm here" posted once you've arrived (Meetup + the community WhatsApp group)
- Weather checked the morning of, for outdoor formats
3 When people arrive
- Stand up, say hello, say you're the host
- Say it out loud early: "most people come alone," "no pressure to stay"
- One easy opening question ready, so you're not improvising cold
4 During
- Follow-ups beat new topics, go one layer deeper on what someone just said
- Look around every so often, anyone standing alone gets a nudge or an introduction
- Circle too big? Split it, say so plainly
- Same faces together every time? Mix it up next round
- Use names once you have them, welcome returners by name
- Group drifts into Norwegian and someone doesn't share it? Switch back to English
- Pace your own drinking and energy, you're carrying the room
- Hike or workout: group stays together, whoever's ahead waits
- Dance, workshop, teaching: small sub-groups instead of one big spotlight moment
5 Photos
- Shoot mid-event, not only at the very end
- One group photo if you can get it
- Say out loud you're taking photos, opt-out is always fine, no explanation needed
- For any photo where somebody is recognisable, ask that person directly as well
- Nothing with under 18s in it, and only send photos you took yourself
6 If anything feels off
Trust your gut over the schedule. Step in or get help, then message or call Martin, day or night: +47 984 41 663. The detail: incident guide.
| 112 | Police / life, property, or safety at risk |
| 113 | Ambulance |
| 110 | Fire / gas leak |
| 116 117 | Out-of-hours doctor (legevakt) |
| 116 123 | Emotional crisis support line |
7 Wrapping up
- Thank people individually as they leave
- Mention the next one lightly, no pressure to review, share, or return
- Say once where it all lives: roomformore.no + the community WhatsApp group
- Check everyone's got a way home if it's late
8 After
- Recap to the team Slack (#finished-work), preferably within 24 hours: the mood, how many showed up roughly, what they bought or did, how much of a success you'd call it, any notes or thoughts, a few photos with consent asked
- The full shape: handing things over
Nobody expects a perfect host. Showing up is enough, and that goes for hosting too.