Frequently Asked Questions

How many people do we need to start?

You probably want to start by including at least 5 to 6 people in the initial group chat and more may be better. By the first Wednesday, you probably want at least 20 people in the group chat, so that if only half show up, you still have a good turnout. Over time, more people will include their friends and others will drop out, but you want people to be able to see its potential from the first week. However, groups can certainly work with fewer people, particularly if several people are committed to coming the first week.

What if I don’t know people from different social circles?

That’s okay! If you start by texting a five-person friend group and everyone else brings one person you don’t know, that’s already a start! But you might know more people than you think. Most people enjoy being invited to things, so feel free to include people you don’t know well or haven’t seen in a while. And if they are truly stuck and looking to build community, this could be exactly what they’ve been hoping for.

What type of venue should we choose?

Different groups will have different preferences over restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. But you probably want someplace that is convenient for most people to get to, where you don’t need to make reservations, and where people can easily come and go if they come late or leave early.

How can I ask my friends to invite their friends?

We’re still working on the best way to do this. But most people have experienced how tough it is to meet new people after college, so your friends’ friends are probably looking for this too. Your friends may also feel this disconnection and want to help build a more connected world. So, if you have a friend or two that want to partner with you to build this community, even better.

Also, don’t feel like you have to vouch for this. Feel free to explain to your friends that you are trying this out.

What if people don’t invite their friends?

While we hope that doesn’t happen, that’s useful data! Sometimes your friends might think they have no one to invite and just need to be reminded about their coworkers or college friends. If adding people to the group chat feels weird, they can always just bring someone along or invite someone in person — even a coworker or roommate as they head out the door. But make sure to add these people to the group chat later, so they can come in future weeks!

What if people don’t show up?

That’s also helpful to know! The most important thing is that the people who show up feel included and valued and have a good time. If that happens, they will want to come back even if it’s a smaller group than they expected.

If I start this, am I committed to showing up every Wednesday forever?

No — if that was the case, no one would ever try this! We are hoping for a four-week commitment upfront to get the group started and build continuity. But after that, the community should be going on its own. For Wednesdays to grow, it needs to be easy to implement and a key part of that is that people can come in and out as their schedules allow.

What if this fizzles out after a couple of months?

If people attend for a few months, they will likely make friends. That’s a success. We know that people are transient and their lives change. But research shows that four weeks is enough to build lasting friendships. As long as people show up, feel valued, and form lasting friendships, we’ll consider this a success regardless of how long it lasts.