A foosball table (or any amenity like it) is a band-aid on the bigger problem.
Your tenants aren't interested in each other. Fix the problem at its source instead: Work to recruit new members who are already interested in each other. If you're lucky, your "tenants" may pick up on the habits of your new "members". There's an awesome thread about renters vs. members (and the interactions of each) here: http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/browse_thread/thread/3229e7ffaaba2bd3/7ed8fde027589f3c?lnk=gst&q=renters#7ed8fde027589f3c Good luck! -Alex /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 2:21 PM, Rob Williams <[email protected]> wrote: > Good afternoon everyone! > > My name is Rob Williams. I work for the University of Northern Iowa in a > co-working space (Purple Cat Co-Work, http://purplecatcowork.com/). Our > incubator/co-work manager has tasked me to reach out to all of you and > gather some thoughts about how we can better pull tenants out of their > offices and hang with one another. > > Unfortunately, our space setup includes many traditional closed off > offices that surround an open networking area. What we have found is that > tenants are working in their offices, and not getting out and interacting > with one another. Past attempts to get people to network have included: > hosting regional networking events at our location, installing an X-Box > gaming system and large TV in the open area, and encouraging connections > between tenants to be formed through hosting lunch-time events, etc. We > have had limited success, and are now seeking other ideas. > > Other co-working facilities in Iowa have used pool/foosball tables, dart > boards, and beer fridges to get people up and interacting with good > results. Right now our incubator manager is leaning quite heavily toward > purchasing a foosball table as our next step. My question to you is > two-fold: which of you have something like a fooseball table (and what has > been your experience), and in what other ways do you get your tenants to > network with one another in the co-work space? > > Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions. It is much appreciated! > > -Rob Williams > > p.s. If you'd prefer, please feel free to send your thoughts to us > privately via [email protected]. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/coworking/-/rYQbCPtq048J. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
