[Coworking] Re: Ning versus Wetpaint?
I like ning a lot. You can see how we're using it as the virtual face of our space at uptimechico.ning.com --Ax On Dec 16, 10:19 am, maiki ma...@cogmotive.com wrote: Heya folks, Has anyone used Ning or Wetpaint? A friend of a friend is looking to use it for a project that would have members from different schools. I have used neither, so I can't really comment to their level of usefulness. If anyone has any experience with one, the other, or both, I would love to hear it. ^_^ maiki --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Quick question from a newbie...video co-working?
Uptime has a fully-equipped multimedia production suite. Our hope is to attract new media producers who will use this resource collaboratively, and ultimately establish an industry cluster here in Chico. We're planning to webcast video live from our upcoming execdev event this coming Thursday. The pilot will likely be hosted on ustream, although going forward we may find carriage services we can embed/brand on our web properties. For more about our upcoming program, please visit, http://uptimechico.ning.com/events/forging-your-business-forward --Ax On Dec 12, 10:29 am, Tara Hunt horsepig...@gmail.com wrote: The original one we were part of setting up, The Hat Factory, definitely is. And I believe Blankspaces in LA has quite of few people in this area. Good on you btw! T On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 8:35 AM, Knite20 d...@knite20.com wrote: Hello All! I just wanted to introduce myself, and ask a quick question. My name is Drew and I am finishing up Graduate school here in Utah. I hope to develop a coworking space in the near future. I have been exploring this idea for several months. Most all the coworking spaces I've researched online are Web and writing based. Does anyone know of a coworking space that is focused on video production, podcasting and digital creation? I'd be most interested in seeing it in action. Thanks! -- -- tara 'missrogue' hunt Book: The Whuffie Factor (http://twurl.nl/qhe1l0) Company: Citizen Agency (http://citizenagency.com) Blog: HorsePigCow: Marketing Uncommon (http://horsepigcow.com) Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/missrogue phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Having someone on duty?
At Uptime, we have a Den Mother, if the form of Shandi Murdoch. Her profile is at http://uptimechico.ning.com/xn/detail/u_1qr1p1rzoo72x She's also my assistant, so I keep her busy doing other stuff. But her desk is the reception desk at Uptime. She's definitely a people person, and anticipates needs as well as being able to meet them. She can install blinds (is that a *girl* operating a power drill?), fix the copier, turn a conversation pit into a presentation theater and back again, and add a user account to the router. Pretty close to an indispensable resource. If you don't have the budget for someone like this, reconsider your business plan. At the end of the day, this is a 2.0 operation; selling the users to each other. Someone has to be there to stir the soup without needing the title of chef. --Ax On Nov 25, 12:17 pm, Matthew Wettergreen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Caroline Collective has a full time Operations Manager, Danielle, who takes an active role in running the space far beyond office management tasks. Danielle recently received her undergraduate and is trying to figure out her next steps, she currently has the time and financial freedom to accept what little we can compensate her. For a space as large as Caroline with so many different things going on it's been an absolute necessity to have her in every day. It allows Ned and I the freedom to take off-site meetings or for Ned, go into school for the day/night. Her responsibilities are not limited to: 1. Upon arrival in the morning (Ned and I open every morning), empty the trash cans, check the coffee amount and walk the space and exterior for debris and misplaced items. 2. Greet people when they come in, have them sign in, tweet from the Caroline account about their arrival, give them a tour or explain coworking if need be. 3. Event booking including giving tours to people looking to rent the space for their own events, managing Caroline events including posts to the website, facebook/upcoming invites. 4. Schedule meetings for Ned and myself, pay bills, organize, errands, research, assist coworkers on small projects. 5. Develop her own project at Caroline that will give her related experience for her next job or graduate school in Japanese studies. If you're thinking about whether to get office help, a receptionist, assistant or the like, an incomplete list of considerations are 1) size 2) culture, 3) financial cost. 1) Size Caroline Collective has two buildings with no less than four entrances and exits. It's possible for people to walk onsite and offsite without anyone seeing them. We feel that we need someone around who is willing and available to greet and give tours or explain what's going on. Smaller spaces may not even have this consideration if the coworking space is in one room or a series of rooms. 2) Culture The work culture will vary at every space and a protocol should be in place to handle new visitors to the space, even if it's just to say hello. If the principals have heavy travel schedules or the full- timers are uninterested in showing around every new person who comes in, an office manager could fill this position. Places like Citizen Space that have a welcoming culture don't have to worry about this sort of thing because everyone that comes in is either greeted or looked at to see if they need anything. 3) Financials Many of the systems set up in coworking minimize expenditures by addressing actual need vs. desires. A full-time person on duty is not always necessity for a fully functioning office or coworking space. While someone on duty can increase efficiency and/or reduce work for the full-timers and principals of the space, it is still an extra expenditure. Based on size, culture or the presence of the principals, this member of the coworking space may not be needed. Matthew On Nov 25, 7:06 am, Rosie Sherry [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It's a challenge that we have faced at The Werks. In the early days we tried our best to be around. There's 5 of us all together, but we are all part time. One is part time student helping out with finances, other is part time admin/customer service, then there are 3 of us who 'own' the space but we all have other things to attend to. I, for example, can only be around during school hours. Or when my son decides to go and break his leg I can't be around at all (!). The Werks is fairly large and a mix of studio space, desk space and coworking - quite intentionally evenly split to create a flow. We are determined not to be an office space to cater for everyone's needs this means we spend less on admin which also means we charge less. It's not just about reducing costs though it's also about getting everyone involved. We have part time cowerker deal where people don't get a set of keys. Also, drop ins are welcome, but they obviously don't get keys. Full time-ish cowerkers get keys as
[Coworking] Re: What are the differences between coworking, exec suites, shared desks, etc.
As Tara notes, it's more of an intangible quality of intentional community. In a typical exec suite or office sharing arrangement, you may or may not get to know other people using the site, and you may or may not be encouraged (or even welcome) to bounce ideas off the other tenants. This is the core distinction between a coworking space and an exec suite. It's a central tenet of our message in our recruiting efforts. Sure, we talk about the conference room, the high-quality network and the high-speed color copier, because these are minimum infrastructure requirements. But out emphasis is on the opportunity to join and grow a network of colleagues, to make strategic and professional relationships with similar creative class workers that can endure for your career. Our pitch to people working at home is to take back your spare bedroom, and that you can still wear your pajamas if you want, but that's tongue in cheek. The chief complaint of home-based workers is isolation, not that the garage makes a lousy conference room. We offer a solution to the primary pain; alienation. And while anyone can wear anything they want, we actually reserve Pajama Fridays for jammies, and all the staff are in modest sleepwear. We also play old Grateful Dead tapes on Friday afternoons, because most people are ready to make the migration from task mode to social mode. --Ax On Nov 9, 3:53 pm, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Good question! And one we have outlined in the past...but rather than a pro/con, I decided to talk about the unique features of Coworking. I outlined them here:http://citizenspace.us/about/our-philosophy/ Although not all spaces will share all of the philosophical underpinnings outlined in that post, the focus of most all coworking spaces is on at least a couple of those philosophies...namely community and collaboration. Whether you are for profit or not for profit, a coworking space is quite distinguishable from an executive suite because it puts community at the center of it. But some may disagree. Which is why we tread lightly on defining coworking. ;) Tara On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 3:46 PM, kappaluppa [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The introduction to this group states: but there is a distinct difference between a coworking space and executive suites or shared desks. What are the distinct differences? What are the pros/cons etc.? Has anyone outlined those at all? I have been reading about the different coworking spaces, and specifically the one in Denver. It offers the feature of using the conference room for those big meetings rather than holding them in your parents' garage. But from a lot of the descriptions and benefits that I've read the atmosphere is so informal and casual - working in pj's at the coworking location, just hanging out, etc., it seems that unless your client is totally laid back, rather than a corporate executive, then a coworking space may not be appropriate. I like to kick back and work in my pj's just as much as the next guy. But I realize that sometimes I need to do business in a world where professionalism is governed my corporate norms. -- -- tara 'missrogue' hunt Book: The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business (http://www.amazon.com/Whuffie-Factor-Capital-Winning-Communities/dp/0... ) Company: Citizen Agency (http://www.citizenagency.com) Blog: HorsePigCow: Marketing Uncommon (http://www.horsepigcow.com) Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/missrogue phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Starfish in the Sky?
I like the metaphor of flocks. I've enjoyed watching flocks of starlings. Somehow or another they operate as with one will, swooping, diving, circling, etc. Now, what's really interesting is when two or more independent flocks are occupying the same sky. This flock goes this way, the other, that. What is amazing is when two independent flocks merge.There's a distinct moment when they stop being two entities and become one synchronized flock.Very cool. Neither co-opts or dominates the other. They just become one flock. Kind of like the Democratic Party last week. :-) I kind of wonder if something like that can occur with coworking. There are as many different models for coworking as there are iterations of it, and I think at some point there will be a point in time when the models sync up and no one will be trying to define coworking and just start being it. I think as a movement, we're still a ways from that evolutionary inflection point. Right now we're long on vision and values, and short on structure and strategy. I think those will emerge as we all experiment with our own spaces and communities. No blame. That said, the real challenge will be for a unified purpose and methodology to coalesce without any central authority or steering group. If any social movement can do this, though, I think this is it. This is not to say that it can happen without leadership, of course, but a different kind of leadership than conventional command- and-control hierarchies. --Ax On Nov 10, 10:47 am, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is so awesome. After a few too many drinks at the opening of New Work City, I started ranting along with Alex and Tony something about superheroes and how superheroes find one another naturally and come together to produce amazing heroic things like Coworking, etc. I ended up sending messages to many of my friends who I think are superheroes, but that's a whole other embarrassing thread. So, I'm reading this article and thinking, That's exactly what I was trying to get at! Phil Zimbardo talks about the lone hero being able to get offed, but groups of heroes being powerful. That's the same thing as these birds and fish - coming together in these ways to ward off predators. Maybe if we can figure out how we gravitate towards one another, we can solve the bird/fish flocking thing. :) T On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM, Dave Troy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yeah, I was reading a book about programming flocking simulations last night, and it occurred to me that coworking was nearly perfectly described by flock theory... Coworking when done right is simple, just as flocking can be described by just three simple rules about movement. Anyway, really excited to be advancing things here in Baltimore and would love to brainstorm about ways to better tell the coworking story, in all its starfishy, flocky goodness. Dave On Nov 10, 12:42 pm, Tony Bacigalupo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yeah, the flock metaphor has legs. I also enjoy Dave's distinction of spread-like-starfish, but implemented-like-flock. Provides some nice perspective in light of recent threads. I'm starting to think that we might very well benefit from some sort of salon discussion on the state of the movement and where we think it's going, and what we can do to help it grow in a healthy, positive way. -- -- tara 'missrogue' hunt Book: The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business (http://www.amazon.com/Whuffie-Factor-Capital-Winning-Communities/dp/0... ) Company: Citizen Agency (http://www.citizenagency.com) Blog: HorsePigCow: Marketing Uncommon (http://www.horsepigcow.com) Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/missrogue phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Coworking website that isn't a wiki?
All-- I threw up a ning for Uptime so I'd have a place for people to go to learn more about it. Over time, folks have joined the site, not just members of Uptime, but other people interested in it (like Ken, from Tampa, who posts here as well). Whenever anyone has a suggestion for the site, I just give them admin privileges, and let them hack away. Could something like that work for the galactic coworking community? --Ax On Nov 7, 2:31 pm, Tony Bacigalupo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: For what it's worth, if we would be happy building a simple landing page to introduce people to coworking and how to learn more and how to get involved, then we don't need it to be centralized-- just visible. That's what I had in mind when I bought whatiscoworking.com (which currently just sports an inside joke as a placeholder). It can exist separate from the central movement, but loosely joined, and perhaps referred to at the top of the wiki and blog (new to coworking? click here) Very simple: 1. What is coworking? (Recommendation: don't define it, describe it. Sidestep that landmine.) 2. How do I get started? 3. How do I help organize? We already have these resources started on the wiki, so I think it's more a matter of presentation. Properly holding people's hands through understanding what coworking is about. Wouldn't be half bad to have something like wtfistwitter.com too, and have multiple perspectives. T On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 5:19 PM, Alex Hillman [EMAIL PROTECTED]wrote: I'm concerned this is a severe overcomplication of the needs for producing the simple site that is needed as a landing for coworking newbs. An 8 person team to build 1 or two page site is not something I'm comfortable getting involved with. I know how those projects go, and it's not a productive environment. -Alex -- - -- - Alex Hillman im always developing something digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visual:www.dangerouslyawesome.com local:www.indyhall.org On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 5:11 PM, nickf [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Nov 7, 9:54 am, Jacob Sayles [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Once we've figured out WHAT we are building then we can try and work on WHO is going to build it, and HOW it will be maintained over time. We are awash in amazing, talented people so I'm confident we can make this happen. I agree. We do need to define who will be doing what, etc. To keep things simple here are the roles I see we need*: - Project Lead to manage the overall project - Information Architect to define the structure of the site and pages - Copywriter to write the content for the site if needed - Web Designer to create the visual design of the site - Front-End Web Developer to build the XHTML/CSS pages and perhaps some of JavaScript/AJAX (if needed) - Back-End Web Developer to code the pages if needed, API integration, setup the CMS (if we need one), etc - Server/Host Admin to manage and maintain the server - Web Curator to maintain the site long term, delete any spam, address bugs found later on, etc * Note: these rolls could be combined depending on the skills of the individual volunteering to take on these rolls, I often find designers who can do front-end dev, or backend-devs who like to do front-end dev as well, etc. Certainly we don't need to have one person per roll, in fact I would like to see the team be as small as possible but effective. That said, any takers? :) I'd put my name in the hat for IA unless someone else also wants to do it. I'd put my name in for project lead but I feel there are probably others out there with more experience and understanding of coworking than I have. P.S. Your space looks great and thank you for inviting me to the news interview. No problem, I am hoping this local news coverage brings more exposure to all of coworking in Seattle and beyond. It was great to have you there with your experience answering the questions I couldn't as a newbie coworking space owner. - Nick --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Uptime Update
Well, it's been a busy week for Uptime. We got some ink in the local daily on Wednesday (see at http://www.chicoer.com/business/ci_10904823). We hosted the board of directors meeting for the Chico Economic Planning Corporation yesterday morning, and last night was our grand opening. Pretty great launch party, I must say. We had a lot of VIPs; an assemblyman, a county supervisor, two city council members, and two candidates (one of whom was elected), the city manager and the county CAO. Lots of brass from CSU-Chico, including the dean of the engineering school and the faculty coordinator of the entrepreneurship major. Must have been 100 people come through the door, and more than one person observed that this was the best ribbon cutting seen in this town in years. So we're chilling today, basking in the glow, so to speak. Next week we do the serious membership drive (goal: 25 net new members by 12/31, which is cash-positive). --Ax On Oct 2, 5:45 am, axon [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The local alternative weekly published a nice feature story aboutUptimetoday, including a quote from Tara. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=865597 --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: TV and Conference Room Advice
We just started up, and we haven't seen much in the way of demand, although our Grand Opening is this Thursday evening, so I expect we'll be hearing from people wanting to use our space in various ways. Our closed conference room is 12 x 16, and can comfortably hold 12. We got a very nice old heirloom walnut parquet table at a garage sale for $50 (they needed to clear out all their old stuff, as the house had sold). You can see pictures of our place at uptimechico.ning.com Our space is all ad hoc; no desk residents as such. More like a health club than shared office space. For a basic business membership ($99/month), members can have up to five hours of reserved conference room time. Additional hours are $10 per hour. If no one is using it, members can convene meetings without reserving it, and without deducting from their 5 hour allowance. Hours are not carried over to the next month. We also can configure our main open area into a presentation theater capable of seating 50 or so. I can also be configured as a hollow square (think board of directors meeting). In fact, we're hosting the BoD meeting of the local economic development planning organization the morning of our grand opening. We do have four resident desks in our main offices (across the courtyard from Uptime), as well, and one of those members teaches a class in the Uptime presentation theater on Saturday mornings. Our priority will always be our members and their comfort and convenience. They understand, though, that we will be presenting content on some evenings, and to plan on that. Even so, we have a couple of small (6'x6') privacy rooms for phone calls or 1-on-1 meetings, and a member could use one of those when there is an event going on. We wondered whether those would even be used, but took a chance and built them in. Turns out they are very popular. People like to make calls without disturbing others (and without being overheard). We bought two big flat panel displays. They're 42 1080p LCDs, and we have them standing on a couple of very large speaker cabinets on wheels, so moving them around is pretty easy. We have one set up in the conference room, and the other in position for presentation theater use. We can also wheel the conf room screen around so that the presenters can see their slides/content. We also have a projector and screen for when we go mobile. That said, we just produced a big conference a couple weeks ago and took the flat panels to use as confidence monitors, as well. The LCDs are pretty light, and look great. We got them at Costco for $700 each. We're going to use the Calendar tool on Google Apps so people can see when the conference and privacy rooms are available, and they'll reserve them via phone or email (or in person, of course) with the reception staff. --Ax On Nov 4, 11:49 am, Matthew Wettergreen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Paul, Tony makes some great points about noise reduction which depending on the materials of your walls and floor can be a problem. Situations which require discussion aloud are perfect for a conference room setting but some spaces just don't have that ability. We were able to secure a donated conference table from a company called Icestone (http://www.icestone.biz/) and a local metal working shop in Houston created legs for us (http://mergestudios.com). IceStone is extremely happy with the table and it's great marketing for them to have a functional showroom of sorts in a coworking space. In case anyone else would like to contact them, their rep is Guthrie Jones ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). We have been getting a large number of requests for use of the conference room from our tenants and the community. The model that we're currently trying out is that Tenants and Coworkers may use the space as long as needed, reserved in advance with a google calendar specific to the conference room. Non-paying community members may rent out the conference room for $25/hour. Flat screens are nice but you might want to focus on portability and finances by instead having a projector and a portable screen for events that may not need to take place in the conference room. Matthew On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 11:45 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]wrote: All, Looking for some feedback. Since we opened we have been flooded with requests for use of our conference room. As we are a small space, the conference room is one of the primary gathering areas. Yes we have a few private offices and 1 office with multiple desks, and the lounge, but the conference room is the big area. I have no problems renting out the space on weekends/evening as member useage will be low thenbut I'm looking for feedback from those of you with only 1 conference room like we have. How have you managed it? I'm guessing that this is a good problem to have, that being more interest then space. There is space available behind us, and we're considering
[Coworking] Re: CoLab Orlando Opens Today!
Yep, this is the week for coworking. Uptime has been open for about a month, but we're having our grand opening launch party this Thursday. We've got a great RSVP response, nearly 80, and anticipating 100 by Thursday. Lots of dignitaries; a state assemblyman, a county supervisor, three city councilmembers (and two candidates that are very likely to be members-elect by tomorrow), and the city manager. Also some bigwigs from CSU-Chico, including the deans of the Engineering and Business colleges, the head of the Communications Design department, and various faculty. We think we might even get the President of the University. Lots of other influential people as well. We're doing about an hour of structured content, followed by demos of some of the work our members are doing. Wahoo. --Ax On Nov 4, 11:04 am, Tony Bacigalupo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hooray CS! Wow, what a great time for coworking! On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 1:14 PM, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Congrats Ryan! And, yes, this has been a very good weekend for coworking! BTW...it's Citizen Space's 2 year anniversary as well. I think I'll have a belated birthday party sometime mid-month. Tara On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 10:05 AM, Raines Cohen, Coworking Coach [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hmmm, White Space doesn't officially open 'til next Monday, according to this event: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1318066/ Yum, I just may make it to their opening party on Friday the 14th (I'm in Seattle that weekend for a national cohousing board meeting and local gatherings, but my currently-booked flight gets in too late Friday night). Which priestly figurine do you bury upside-down to go standby on a booked-up earlier flight? ;-) Raines P.S. Whitespace's Seattle coworking website:http://rentwhitespace.com/ On Nov 3, 11:12 pm, Jacob Sayles [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: And Seattle gainedWhitespacetoday too. I guess it's the time to open new spaces. :) On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 7:38 PM, Darrell Silver [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What an excellent weekend for Coworking! D --- http://darrellsilver.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] (917) 841-4079 New York, NY On Nov 3, 2008, at 6:04 PM, Alex Hillman wrote: Ryan, Excellent news glad to hear that the space is now officially open! Looking forward to coming down to see it in action soon. Cheers, Alex -- - -- - Alex Hillman im always developing something digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visual:www.dangerouslyawesome.com local:www.indyhall.org On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 5:51 PM, Tony Bacigalupo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Wow, a big welcome to you from New Work City, which is just winding down our own first day open for business today as well! Handshakes and pats on the back all around; hooray coworking! -Tony On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 3:33 PM, Ryan Price [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Greetings Coworkers! CoLab Orlando is our first Coworking space in Central Florida, and I believe the second one in Florida, after Brikolodge in Miami. I am sitting in the space right now as I write this post. CoLab is laid out with a general admission area as well as some private suites for rent. I believe the anchor rate will be $250 once this gets swinging, but for November, they have announced a monthly rate of $49, which I was happy to pay. A full list of rates and amenities should be available over at http://colaborlando.com They are also offering a 3-day-a-week price for $175, and a day-rate of $15 once you pay your $25 for the first day. Both the full-time and 3-day prices get you first class access to the conference room. It's been a long journey - it was just over 2 years ago that I first met Alex Rudloff and he made his first post to this list. Now we have John Hussey, the owner of the historic Angebilt Building here downtown to thank for providing this space to being Orlando's past and future together. The space is at: 37 N Orange Ave Suite 600 (most of the 6th floor) Orlando, FL 32801 http://is.gd/6esS John and his marketing staff, Fredda and Jane, have set up a Facebook account for CoLab: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1504391614 As well as a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/colaborlando CoLab is already on the Coworking Map on Google, so that's always good times. The Wiki page also has some info about CoLab: http://wiki.coworking.info/CoworkingOrlando That's all for today, I am excited to be here, and we hope to see you soon! Peace, Ryan Price Orlando, FL ryanpricemedia.com @liberatr -- Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolationhttp://www.officenomads.com- (206) 323-6500 -- -- tara 'missrogue' hunt Book: The Whuffie Factor:
[Coworking] Re: Cowork Network
I'd be up for occasional concalls. I have a WebEx account we can use if that's of interest. --Ax On Oct 27, 11:12 am, Jacob Sayles [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'd be down for a regular conference call. Even if it was just to shoot the shit, it would be great to talk with folks and see how things are going. Jacob On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 9:05 PM, felicity at cubes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Just to add my two cents... I have been part of this coworking group for about 8 months ago. The best part as far as I can tell is that we have the wiki, the blog, this group and a general pool of resources that everyone shares. Does it need more organization? Maybe. I think a lot gets repeated and certain questions that are universal to coworking space owners like liability agreements have come up quite a bit. Still the organic nature of it all works well. One thought...kind of along the lines of a salon, would be to do a periodic (we determine) in person or conference call type session where we focus on a topic within coworking spaces or ownership. It is up to each person who participates to decide how or if to take away anything from the salon to apply to their own space. It maybe the best of both worlds. We keep the starfish in that it stays an organic movement with each space existing with its own personality and knowledge, but it allows us to vocalize ideas, resources, etc. It connects coworking spaces without placing them in a spiderweb so to speak. Just a thought... Felicity CubesCrayons Space:www.cubesandcrayons.com Blog: cubes.typepad.com/blog Personal thoughts: cubes.typepad.com/cake On Oct 9, 9:26 am, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I guess I don't understand the benefits of making coworking an organization. Or, at the very least, I see a few benefits that are eclipsed by the costs of it. On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 9:24 AM, Jacob Sayles [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm excited by the idea and share many of the same concerns. It's a pattern we've seen before in the open source world. There are a lot of open source projects that developed organically, and then some entity decides they wanted to kick it up a notch. Sometimes this works out well, sometimes it is disastrous. The trick is going to be keeping a tuned eye on the process to make sure it's not a spiderifying the starfish. We've identified that concern, but how do we navigate around it? Jacob -- Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolation http://www.officenomads.com- (206) 323-6500 On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 9:02 AM, Tony Bacigalupo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I do think that external organizations can/will/should exist to service different segments; for instance, I think there's a ton of potential for an organization that aims to service cafes that host (co)working folks. Many cafes are struggling with the onslaught of laptops, as their business models count on people getting their coffee and leaving quick to make room for the next guy. If an organization came along that helped cafes tweak their business models to take advantage of this shift, everyone would benefit. (More on that another time.) The Cowork Network, as envisioned above, looks to be leaning towards helping people establish and run dedicated workspaces. Providing a knowledge base, access to technology, and potentially even seed funding, could all be very useful services for folks to partake in. Karen, it sounds like your game plan is a good one-- gather together the people interested in this concept and start to identify the market and its needs. That'll provide a framework for ensuing discussions. Tony -- -- tara 'missrogue' hunt Book: The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business (http://www.amazon.com/Whuffie-Factor-Capital-Winning-Communities/dp/0... ) Company: Citizen Agency (http://www.citizenagency.com) Blog: HorsePigCow: Marketing Uncommon (http://www.horsepigcow.com) Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/missrogue phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 -- Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolationhttp://www.officenomads.com- (206) 323-6500 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Impact of Financial Crisis on Coworking
Steve wrote: investors tend to want quantitative studies True that. At the VC conference I produced yesterday, I had a chance to run coworking (and particularly the Uptime model) past a few investors in our network. While they were interested and even excited about its potential, they were all agreed that this is probably a debt- financing model rather than an equity play. Assuming the cashflow is there, it makes more sense to finance startup and expansion costs with short-term debt. This is relevant to this discussion because the potential increase in demand for coworking combined with the soft market for serviced premises offers an opportunity (howbeit temporary) to rapidly proliferate this new workplace model. A multimedia production contractor I know at Google informs me that they are asking contractors to work fewer hours, and he's looking for some outside assignments, working on them at Uptime. Just anecdotal, I know, but encouraging, anyway. --Ax On Oct 21, 10:29 pm, Mike Schinkel [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Steve: Thanks for the reply and the links. If you do come back with some more quantitative work and wouldn't mind sharing it, it will be greatly appreciated! -Mike -Original Message- From: coworking@googlegroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 2:41 PM To: Coworking Subject: [Coworking] Re: Impact of Financial Crisis on Coworking We've done general trend work on coworking, but investors tend to want quantitative studies and we haven't done anything in that area. I also haven't seen anything quantitative on coworking - it is a bit early in the trend cycle for quant work. We have a research report that briefly mentions coworking called the Changing Face of Entrepreneurship (you can find it onwww.emergentresearch.com), but it won't help much with investors. There are a number of academic studies showing that self-employment and micro-business formation increases during economic downturns. One of the more relevant ones is called Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley During the Boom and Bust. It is on the SBA site and can be found at:http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs296tot.pdf It has footnotes pointing to a bunch of other academic studies that show that self employment and small business formation tends to move up in down economic periods. Sorry I can't be of more help. Steve On Oct 19, 3:09 am, Mike Schinkel [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Steve: Your comments are interesting. Do you have any of your research you can share with those of us who need to convince financial backers to support our efforts to launch co-working in our respective cities? Thanks in advance. -Mike Schinkel Organizer: Atlanta Web Entrepreneurshttp://atlanta-web.org -Original Message- From: coworking@googlegroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 12:38 PM To: Coworking Subject: [Coworking] Impact of Financial Crisis on Coworking Hi: My name is Steve King and I'm a long time lurker on this site:). I'm a researcher focused on small business and I'm curious how the current economic turbulence is impacting coworking. I'm also interested in how the you think the recession is going to impact coworking and the coworking movement over the next year. In past recessions, small business formation increased due to declines in traditional employment opportunities. And during and after the 2001 recession the number of single person businesses grew much faster than before. The growth rate also slowed as the economy improved. So what do you think?? Will recession increase the demand for coworking space? Will more people choose or be forced to go out on their own?? Will you get more corporate traction as companies reduce their office spaces?? Other impacts?? Thanks for the help. Stevewww.emergentresearch.com-Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Large Vacant Factories
Julie-- Well, I'm looking at this from a somewhat different perspective than some others here. I'm in economic development and urban planning. I'm looking at coworking as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and job creation in markets that need that. My thesis is that the demand for this sort of thing is going to be explosive. The nomadic worker is an emerging trend, and the isolation, alienation and disconnection many independent workers feel is a compelling pain that coworking addresses. I've done no marketing and very little PR, and I get inquiries every single day. There's a hunger for this, and if done properly, I think a lucrative market, as well. I think coworking is still evolving. While some spaces are coalescing around existing relationships and networks, I believe that an intentional community can be created by deploying the right resources (in the right markets, as I suggest in an earlier post) and communicating the right brand promise. When I first developed my business plan, I discussed it with one of the venture investors in our network. I showed him the financial projections generating about a quarter million a year in free cash flow. He said oh, too bad it doesn't scale. To which I replied Starbucks doesn't scale? I believe there will be a lot of variations on the coworking theme. While we offer a few resident desks in our existing offices, Uptime is designed entirely for nomadic, ad hoc, random access members, like a health club. And, like a health club, usage patterns will vary widely from daily visits to hardly ever. Because we are presenting value- added program content (speakers, panels, workshops, deal flow, etc.), we expect many people will become members just for the content, networking, and access to our investor network. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a crucible where innovators can start up new enterprises, create high quality sustainable career-grade employment opportunities for knowledge workers, from which they graduate to their own premises, while remaining part of the family network. Along with that comes an environment that is nurturing for free-lancers, sole proprietors, and remote field workforce to work together, share ideas, and form the kinds of enduring professional relationships that corporate workers have always taken for granted. That where the real community-building happens. I don't know that I have the perfect formula, but I think I've got a pretty good template to refine. Once I have more formal proof of concept, I don't see why I can't leverage the template and the brand equity to replicate the model in other qualified markets. If I was only doing this to make money, I think I would surely fail. But I think it can serve my community-building and economic development goals and still deliver a handsome pretax net in the process. And, just like Starbucks, the likelihood is that the introduction of Uptime in a market will stimulate the formation of other variations of coworking by local mom'n'pop operators. Competition is *healthy*. As with the cafe business, there will be a segment of the market that will want the consistent, predictable user experience that Uptime promises, and there will be other segments that want something funkier, more specialized (around a particular worker type, say, such as web developers or graphic designers), more affinity focused (there's a small group of three people who share an office downtown, who have in common that they are spouses of faculty who moved here, and whose employers permit them to telecommute), etc. I frankly believe there is way more demand than I can fulfill with Uptime, and way more varieties of coworking than Uptime can offer, so I look forward to other spaces forming. I believe we (all of us here) are catching the first swell of an enormous tsunami of disruptive energy. I think if we stay true to the values that coworking is built on, what is now a movement can become an industry, *and* a positive force for social integration and economic development, and that will catalyze the transformation from a production-based economy to a knowledge-based one. Let a thousand flowers bloom. --Ax On Oct 16, 9:35 am, Julie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Axon, Would you be willing to share your thoughts on expansion plans and the justification behind them? Scale seems about the only way to make real money with coworking. The successful spaces I've visited are very mom and pop. What are your thoughts on opening in a community with a product that wasn't born from the community (e.g. My Day Office)? Thoughts on expansion vs. beefing up coworking visa? Julie Duryea owner, souk 322 nw 6th avenue, suite 200 portland, oregon 97209 p | 503.517.6900 f | 503.517.6901 skype julieduryeahttp://www.soukllc.com tweet soukportland On Oct 16, 7:39 am, axon [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Urban planner Jane Jacobs famously wrote New ideas need old buildings. I agree. That said, unless
[Coworking] Re: Uptime Update
Some new photos up at http://uptimechico.ning.com/photo --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Uptime Update
And we're having our launch party/grand opening/jelly day on Thursday, November 6. Free jelly coworking all day, with a reception starting at 4PM, and program at 4:30. We'll have speakers (funding agency, local and regional entrepreneurs, venture fund partners, etc.), and more refreshment. And of course, everyone from the list is invited as well. --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: New Work City has a home!
Congratulations. I know the feeling, and I can't wait to drop in and cowork. Keep on, --Ax On Oct 7, 5:01 pm, Tony Bacigalupo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks so much everybody! It's a scary and exciting time :-) @Darrell: Thanks man, you've been a big help. @Tessa @Tara @Brian @Annesta Thanks! Looking forward to having you there :-) @Noneck Thanks man! Looking forward to letting you :-) Cheers, Tony On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 5:47 PM, noel hidalgo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: congrats home boy... now i can return the favor and drink up your beer! On 7 Oct 2008, at 15:08, Tony Bacigalupo wrote: You guys have changed my life. Thanks so much for all your help and support and energy and enthusiasm! We're doing great things together :-) --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Uptime Update
We are open for business 10/08/08. W0_oT! --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Carrboro Coworking Opens Monday
Keep on. Keep us informed. Best, --Ax On Oct 4, 1:32 pm, Alex Hillman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Congrats Brian! -- - -- - Alex Hillman im always developing something digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visual:www.dangerouslyawesome.com local:www.indyhall.org On Sat, Oct 4, 2008 at 4:26 PM, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rawk Brian! So proud! I wish I could be there... T On Sat, Oct 4, 2008 at 12:18 PM, BrianR [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: After two years of hard work Carrboro Creative Coworking opens officially Monday October 6. I'll let you know when the grand opening party is. :) -BrianR www.carrborocoworking.com -- -- tara 'missrogue' hunt Book: The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business ( http://www.amazon.com/Whuffie-Factor-Capital-Winning-Communities/dp/0... ) Company: Citizen Agency (http://www.citizenagency.com) Blog: HorsePigCow: Marketing Uncommon (http://www.horsepigcow.com) Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/missrogue phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Understanding Free Access
I tend to think that free access for select drop-ins is not an expense; it's added value. Random, presumably creative and nomadic, independent workers appear to contribute perspective, new eyes, and zero politics to the collaborative process. And you don't have to pay them. Our plan is to price a day pass at $9.95. We plan to give away a lot of them. --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Uptime Update
The local alternative weekly published a nice feature story about Uptime today, including a quote from Tara. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=865597 --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: coworking vs. incubator
I posted the following on Alex's blog, and since this discussion seems to be taking place in two dimensions, I'm reposting it here. -- I think some incubators certainly are guilty as charged (re: exploitative). Others not so much, inasmuch as they are not-for-profit economic development efforts informed by good intentions (but little else). I’d like to step back from definitions for a moment, since none of us has any authority to state unequivocally what an incubator or coworking is. Coworking is a movement in its infancy, sezaxon. I think there may be as many different models for it as there are iterations of it. Some spaces are “resident desk” models, for example. Others are more ad hoc and cafe-styled. And pretty much everything in between. The one thing they seem to have in common is a shared set of values (that are still evolving, I might point out.) When I first started looking into it, I’d already created a model for my own iteration, even before I knew anyone else was doing something similar. By the time I’d written my business plan, I learned there were Four Value Pillars. Shortly thereafter, it was Five (add Accessibility). There seems to be a Sixth emerging (add Localism?) Who knows what may accrete to this. In my strategic planning practice, I start with Vision, *then* Values. And I’m not persuaded that we all share the same vision, even if we pledge adherence to the value set. For me, the important question is *Purpose*. Once you have a clear and compelling vision of what you could be, you boil it down to the core purpose. Vision should be aspirational; Purpose is cardinal. Principles (or Values), are ordinal. I know this is doctrine, but stay with me. My Purpose in creating a coworking space is to stimulate economic development through entrepreneurial initiative. I hope that early stage startups will see the value in coworking *as a community of interest*, not just the use of the internets and the copy machine. That’s my strategic imperative. Community for its own sake is a wonderful thing, but a community coalesced around a shared purpose has enormous potential to be a disruptive force for positive social change in the larger society it inhabits. A coworking scene that hosts a dozen independent workers who share risks and rewards, obligations and opportunities, can be a great springboard for those workers to achieve more, individually, and as a discrete community. No blame. But my vision is to create a multifaceted community that can be a crucible for emerging innovation enterprises with the potential to become very large companies creating career-grade employment opportunities for knowledge workers, who in turn will stimulate economic activity, establish themselves in the civic deliberation, and contribute positively to regional prosperity. It’s a lot to ask of a workplace, but I’m optimistic. Earlier, Alex bemoaned the lack of consistent message materials, and Blake suggested that marketing should emphasize the community aspects, rather than the transactional (and presumably the infrastructure assets). From my one-sheet (feel free to plagiar– er, repurpose to suit): “an ad hoc collaborative network of like minds, domain experts, private investors, coaches, and mentors available to help you achieve success; in person, on the phone, and on the web. It’s a professional social circle that shares your entrepreneurial passion and priorities. It’s regularly scheduled guest speakers, workshops, panel discussions, and networking events for executive development and strategic relationship building.” This doesn’t really address the feel-good aspects of community, but it does, I think, evoke a sense of communal intimacy. --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Coworking Research: Questions about the space.
All-- We're still in the buildout stage (new carpeting yesterday, yay!). Herewith our experience to date; 1) New carpeting, some walls and doors (conference/meeting rooms), new lighting (track instead of fluorescent tubes). 2) We're going with a high capacity WAP plus gigabit hardwire ethernet connections for those who want them; DSL backbone. 3) Between the buildout and the furnishings, we're budgeting $35K. 4) We're getting some stuff used/garage sale/craigslist. We're also partnering with a local independent office furniture company to furnish the rest of our needs on a lease-to-own basis, with the option to swap out stuff we don't need for stuff we do (the mix of desks to study carrels to cafe tables chairs, say). 5) We have a 36-month lease. 6) The biggest delay factor has been getting our funding approved by the local workforce investment board. They were totally supportive from the start, but bureaucracies run slow. But it's all green light now. Does your space represent a profit (by that, I mean your wage comes from the space) center, or do you run it as a break-even and have your own business or job on the side for primary income? Do you know what the norm is for space owners? Our model is designed to generate surplus cash to support our other programs. We're a private, non-profit organization promoting economic development through venture investment. We see coworking as being a new model for business incubation, and while our primary outcomes will be the development of growth stage technology companies, we also believe this has the potential to throw cash. We have a partnership with the Department of Management at the College of Business at the local California State University. They have an entrepreneurship major (an minor) with a 3-unit internship elective. The plan is to send their intern candidates to us for mentoring and coaching, while putting them to task staffing the studio and supporting other entrepreneurs. One thing I'd like to echo from Tara; don't buy anything until your members demand it (well, okay, I did just buy a great big microwave/ convection oven at a garage sale, but it was only $10 :-)). Rent, lease, borrow what you think you'll need until the real world validates it. As with any new enterprise, you need to work very intimately with your early adopters; they will help you design your program to meet their most urgent requirements, which your mainstream market customers will likely share, for the most part. We have nine members committed now, with no marketing or promotion (including one person who saw a post here and got in touch); it's all been word of net. They are providing the first level of design input for us. Since this is an extension of our existing operation, we already have the broadband backbone (which we will multiplex up to four DSL circuits if demand warrants), the high-speed color copier, etc. We also have a pro multimedia production studio, which we are moving into the space, and focusing on entrepreneurs in the New Media/ Web 2.0 space for membership, to leverage our existing investment in the tools, as well as synergizing the concentration of competencies around this market opportunity. Since we're colocated with a casual dining operator (the best pizza in the time zone, with an espresso bar cafe in the morning), we're only furnishing a fridge and a nuke. We expect most people will get get their refreshment needs fulfilled by Celestino's downstairs, which will also serve as overflow space should we get very crowded. Good luck with your program! --Ax Alan Chamberlain [EMAIL PROTECTED] goldencapital.net/go/uptime On Sep 7, 5:03 am, Kelly Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm doing some very early research for a coworking space, and I wanted to ask a few questions: 1) How much finishing did you require in order to get your space functional? We lucked out -- we found a place that was perfect that only needed some touch ups. I had budgeted $10k though 2) Did you go wireless exclusively, or did you provide ethernet connections? And if you did, did you spend the money to have these inset, or did you run cable and use switches/routers? We're primarily wireless. We have ethernet -- but that is mostly for VoIP telephones. 3) What percentage of your starting budget did you allocate to preparing the facility? Same as Tara - 80% -- but again - we got lucky. 4) Where did you get your office furniture? Did you involve the interested community in donating items, did you buy surplus, used, auction, new? We tried to do IKEA - but that was a BIG old pain for us. They have horrible customer service - don't allow for large orders either online or on the phone and the lead time for getting anything was like 4-6 weeks. We found somethings that worked at Kmart Target' - of all places - they were cheaper and shipped the same day. And they look great. I think the key for us was having an open mind with respect to
[Coworking] Re: West Coast Coworking Passport
Uptime certainly is in. An affiliate network is an important added value, not because members necessarily have need of it, but because of the inferred trustworthiness of the studio. Country clubs and limousine services have long understood the credibility value of guest privileges. The privilege of guest accommodation is valuable in itself, but the implication of an extended professional ambit is the cheese. Any friend of coworking is a friend of Uptime. --Ax On Aug 23, 3:50 pm, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Citizen Space is always free for drop-ins, but our issue is that the door is locked if the keyholders aren't in. The only thing that would solve it is a ZipCar like card key system. :( T On Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 2:59 PM, ruyoung [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: julie, i *love* this idea if it becomes a north american or global scale. and if so, when camaraderie is up and running in toronto, count us in! r. On Aug 22, 3:06 pm, Julie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Space Owners, Susan of Office Nomads in Seattle and I (in Portland) have been toying with the idea of letting our members work in the other's space if/when they travel between Portland Seattle (spurred by a few member requests + some frequent traffic between our two PNW cities). I know I've gotten many member requests about where to work when I'm in in fill-in-the-blank city. Example: Just last week, one of souk's repeat meeting room users was looking for a meeting room in San Francisco and called me saying, I need a souk in SF!. I hit the wiki list and checked for spaces with meeting rooms and referred her to a couple. If you are experiencing this and want to expand upon it, Office Nomads and I have come up with some simple terms to start communicating to our members that while we're not 24 hour fitness all-club, our mobile workers have options. SIMPLE. Repeat, SIMPLE. For simplicity's sake, and lack of real data, and taking into account how each space varies from drop-in and meeting room availability (O.N. and souk offer both) and tracking systems, we've decided to allow members of our spaces to do up to 3 daily drop-ins to each other's space. Again, to keep it simple, we'll leave it up to the space what they offer after 3 daily drop-ins, as well as leave it up to the space whether that drop-in may include meeting room usage and/or discounts on meetings - and certainly caveat to our respective members that spaces vary in terms of offerings (not cookie cutter). Can we agree though, that those first 3 drop-ins are free? At least Susan and I have ;) Side note: If there are any questions as to whether that person is actually a member of the space they claim, we believe we should all feel free to email each other to verify. Though, it's difficult to imagine this would be abused. Of course, we're certainly not looking to make this exclusive to the west coast by any means. At the same time, we recognize that Seattle and Portland are not a hotbed of cross-country and international city hoppers. Non-west coasters USA space owners though, please chime in. Please! At the very least we see this move and offer to our existing and future members as a message for how coworking spaces are connected, and that mobile workers (mavericks) can have home bases when they travel, not to mention a move to formalize some great cross marketing. If you want to be included, just holler here. If you're in, Susan and I will communicate that out to our members. We recognize that there may be many t's to cross and i's to dots here, but aim to get this simple move underway asap between the two of us. You too? Cheers, Julie Duryea -- tara 'missrogue' hunt coFounder Citizen Agency (www.citizenagency.com) blog:www.horsepigcow.com phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Self-introduction
Hello all-- I am Program Director for Golden Capital Venture Events, and I'm opening a coworking studio in Chico, CA. I look forward to learning from you all. I'm also reachable at [EMAIL PROTECTED] --Ax --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
