T10 Are you a member of local MeetUP groups?

Robert Young · March 30th, 2017, 11:27 AM

Here in San Antonio we have a few groups available. Meet once a month either at someone's home/ shop/ or another local establishment. Most are home embroiderers or even hand embroiderers. Have not found one for local digitizers as they tend to be less conducive to sharing ideas, IMO.

What about where you are? Any meetup groups around that you enjoy going to?

I also belong to a Pug meetup here and in Austin. Olive is now 20 years old and Sambuca is 18. both deaf and one blind. ( the blind one finally likes my embroidered projects!! Lol)

SunEmbroidery · April 6th, 2017, 02:36 PM

A few years ago I belonged to a local BNI chapter. At first I liked it because it gave me the chance to meet other business people but I received bad jobs (onsie, last-minute jobs with poor artwork), it was very expensive and time-consuming. Some members liked it because it motivated them (those representing companies) but if you're self-employed you really have to be motivated on your own or you won't make it.

When I first started I belonged to three different chambers of commerce at different times. I belonged to one group almost five years and really tried to network with people at meetings but didn't receive jobs because people already had established connections with long-time friends in the decoration business. That type of clicky social environment led me to doing business online which has worked for me.