WordCamp Breakfast: Easing Anxiety and Building Friendships
Our Women Who WP meetup started because we thought it would be a fun way to break the ice and form friendships. We wanted to create a discussion focused on WordPress and how we could support one another while learning together. One goal of Women Who WP involves helping people feel confident about attending meetups — and even their first WordCamp. We are dedicated to building community AND individuals.
Friendships that emerge from WordPress-related events are amazing, but sometimes initiating that first conversation can be tough. How do you go from zero to lunch to dinner to after party? We, as a group, decided a social mixer needed to be planned and a before camp breakfast was a natural choice.
Why not have a pre-camp WordCamp breakfast?
It’s early. True. However, food breaks the ice. Scheduling a breakfast an hour before registration at a restaurant near the WordCamp Orange County venue seemed to make sense. We scheduled an extra meetup and shared it on social media.
“We’re having a breakfast before OC WordCamp and would love to see you there. So excited about the sessions – so much to learn and share!” it read.
Ten ladies showed up. We drank coffee and hot chocolate, laughed, talked about how we use WordPress, and discussed which sessions to attend — all before 8:00 a.m.
And you know what? We all felt closer. We noticed that people naturally buddied up and we kept finding each other throughout the whole weekend to share our insights and aha moments. As organizers our experience was enhanced due to the WordCamp breakfast.
More selfies including @JenBlogs4U @Carol_Stephen and @MistressPrime #WCOC16 pic.twitter.com/cFIjic0kxW
— Bridget Willard (@YouTooCanBeGuru) July 10, 2016
What did attendees say?
We wanted to make sure others felt the same, so we asked seasoned and first timers in our group.
“If you came to the breakfast, how would you say it enhanced your WordCamp experience?”
First time Camper, Yvonne Conway-Williams said, “I felt like there was a bit of bonding prior to going to camp. It definitely enhanced my experience overall as I had several people to share with throughout the day. I’m still not crazy about that whole morning thing, but I’m glad I made the effort and attended breakfast. Besides, it helped give me energy to get through the day.”
Carin Alexandra Arrigo explained, “Connection is so vital in LIFE. Meeting with these awesome women before OC WordCamp was a great indicator of how our weekend would be! The energy began on an early Sat morning and never let up.”
Even long-time WordPresser Lin Carlson wrote, “I made some new friends! Finally someone who will understand my tech talk and frustrations. This was my third WordCamp, and I definitely felt more connected and inspired.”
@YouTooCanBeGuru @WomenWhoWP @Carol_Stephen @JenBlogs4U @sageshilling 🙂 thanks for organizing breakfast, it was great meeting you all.
— Jessica Boctor (@JessBoctor) July 16, 2016
“My first WC was awesome! Now I see why everyone keeps talking about it! So glad I went. Loved the breakfast – it was great to hang with bright, beautiful and talented women!!” remarked Iris Messina.
It’s encouraging to read about other WordCamps that are starting to organize pre-event gatherings, too. WordCamp Ann Arbor is hosting an ice-breaker the night before its camp. As the year goes on, this may become a WordCamp trend and, if so, it will be a worthwhile one. Deepening friendships create the solid structure required for any community to thrive — and grow.
WordPress will continue to expand because quality events and people who care have become the norm, easing anxiety and building friendships throughout the WordPress community. Gotta love it; even if at times it means joining an early morning WordCamp breakfast at 7 a.m.