Last year fellow blogger and social media expert Lloyd Davis came up with an idea for something called a “social media cafe” where people working in social media (bloggers, marketing people, technologists etc) could get together in the same space and work. Sort of ‘vertical co-working’. He’s been looking for potential venues – I’m talking physical space here – in London. But this requires cash investment. However, it strikes me that a mashup of co-working and a flash mob might work better – or at least be a way of starting the idea without investment. What you need is a cluster of about two or three cafes within walking distance of each other, all offering free WiFi. Then simply flash-mob (all turn up at the same time) those places on one particular day, with people who are signed-up to the project. At lunchtime, try to gather in one of them to meet your fellow “workers”. Then do whatever you need to do that day from your allotted cafe. Crazy?
About
Mike Butcher is a former editor of New Media Age magazine, speaker, consultant and currently editor of TechCrunch UK
Recent Posts
My Twitter updates
Recent Comments
Archives
- May 2009
- March 2009
- January 2009
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- April 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- April 2003
- March 2003
- February 2003
- January 2003
- December 2002
- November 2002
- October 2002
- September 2002
- July 2002
- May 2002
- March 2002
- January 2002
Like the idea but I’d like
Like the idea but I’d like to see it happen for real so everyone can feel properly at home somewhere. I’ve been chatting to Lloyd about the potential for one of our (Bite) clients to get on board. Am keeping my eye on Lloyd!
Mike, thanks, another great
Mike, thanks, another great idea!
I’m pressing on with the “get cash investment” route, but in the meantime I think we could do with as many attempts at prototyping as possible – let’s see what works.
I’m struggling immediately to find “a cluster of about two or three cafes within walking distance of each other, all offering free WiFi.” erm… Breakfast Club & McDonalds Oxford St??? but won’t let that stop me – suggestions anyone?
Breakfast Club, one opposite
Breakfast Club, one opposite Libertyes (forget name), and, er……..
I agree it’s a great idea,
I agree it’s a great idea, but I also think one location is best.
OK – let’s do
OK – let’s do it:
http://londonsocialmediacafe.pbwiki.com/Second-Prototyping-Meeting-080111
The 5th floor cafe on
The 5th floor cafe on Picadilly (above Waterstones) doubles as a satellite office for me whenever I’m in London…
…and the more friendlier meetings I have are in a place called The Couch, which is off Oxford St.
Both offer free Wi-Fi and come highly recommended.
Hey all,
Nice idea. One of
Hey all,
Nice idea. One of my clients is Office Nomads (officenomads.com), a coworking space in Seattle, WA, USA which is how I came across this post. Just wanted to let you know of a few coworking sites in London (since ours is probably a bit far for you to travel. You can find them at http://coworking.pbwiki.com/CoworkingLondon
cheers!
c
I’m not sure that
I’m not sure that flashmobbing other peoples business would be all that welcome. The mob word sums it up. Go careful because social media folk have a good reputation both off and online.
[URL=http://bdbzjdmp.com]vvb
[URL=http://bdbzjdmp.com]vvbfjclt[/URL] crmshzzf http://oqoxvyjn.com eozphuty otobglyc ebsrmcnp
yhxhognw
yhxhognw [URL=http://arhgjmtp.com]aemgfqtx[/URL] vmmbfhhj http://bdujuobr.com gvmsbscl friretvi
phuclokc owxjmted
phuclokc owxjmted http://umptuqgw.com xvcnjvcy qppeoone [URL=http://gzpjaerg.com]amogylju[/URL]
hbfgaaxt
hbfgaaxt http://epsixtql.com lecbdopx vknaihxj ggtdhgcp [URL=http://zpavdvcn.com]uerqpwmc[/URL]
ysevdkzy uxxakxur
ysevdkzy uxxakxur http://fskpdryw.com tbqzikpw teoslonq [URL=http://hinwhtpm.com]pnhqlhwf[/URL]
[...]resource here[...]
[...]resource here[...]
This sounds fantastic! I am
This sounds fantastic! I am hoping to move to London within the next few months and would welcome something like this. Most hot desk office space services cost over a hundred pounds a month which is expensive for most sole traders who can just as easily work from home.
What I suggest is using a service such as Meetup: http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/cities/gb/london/
However instead of meeting infrequently, perhaps it can be once a day for an hour or so when both we and the venues are least busy, of course nobody needs to arrive or leave at certain time, just so long as people aim to be there around a certain time. To avoid flashmobbing, meetups should be about ten people or less or unless it is a social event with a meal.
This way ,venues win through extra custom, we win through networking, and it doesn’t cost more than a drink or two each day. There are free alternatives to Meetup which itself costs about $20 per month and members can be charged to share the cost, but as with all things, you get what you pay for and Meetup.com is the best.
Note: I’m not affiliated with Meetup besides being a regular standard member.
btw 1 yr ago today @mbites kicked my arse into gear about Tuttle http://tinyurl.com/87ce7w thanks mike!
btw 1 yr ago today @mbites kicked my arse into gear about Tuttle http://tinyurl.com/87ce7w thanks mike!