In Sacramento, California, I hosted my inaugural Robotime DIY craft meetup. Holiday Inn Rancho Cordova, CA meticulously prepared our room. I coordinated with them since March, and they were highly responsive to my preferences. Although the turnout was slightly lower than anticipated, I am pleased with the meetup’s outcome, which was both enjoyable and enriching.
Upon check-in, participants received business cards, signed consent forms for photos and videos, and raffle stubs for our icebreaker raffle. They were then directed to the table where the kits were displayed. Participants, who are experienced builders, were instructed to select a kit for construction and were also provided with tools for their respective tables.
Paolo, the manager of the Rolife store in Roseville Mall, attended the event and collaborated with us. He chose to build the Eiffel Tower.
I introduced myself to the participants and, after briefly mentioning housekeeping details such as restroom locations and snack availability, I outlined the process for winning Nanci Fruits (as per the instructions on the poster, thanks to Jill Francisco’s template). I encouraged participants to join the Robotime community and provided my affiliate link for purchasing additional kits and obtaining discounts using the QR codes on a separate poster.
Paolo subsequently spoke, presenting each participant with a $3 no-minimum coupon for purchasing kits at the Roseville location store. He also displayed a signboard listing all Rolife store locations in California. His presence at the event was invaluable, as he addressed numerous store-related inquiries.
As the building commenced, I incorporated a calming element by playing smooth jazz music in the background.
An hour later, we conducted an “ice breaker” raffle, awarding three Milk Tea Nanci’s to participants. Three other participants captured photographs and posted brief descriptions of the event on either Instagram or Facebook, subsequently winning Nanci fruits.
During the building event, I received feedback regarding certain kits, including the flimsiness of the wood used in the Vienna Bookstore kit. We also engaged in discussions about our motivations for building, our professions, wish lists, and Mother’s Day plans for those who were celebrating. I got to know more about the participants by engaging in these conversations.
Approximately 30 minutes prior to the conclusion of the event, participants were photographed in a group setting. As we concluded our meetup, I expressed my gratitude and informed attendees about an upcoming meetup that I may organize in the South Lake Tahoe area during the summer. The date and location will be determined at a later date.
Thank you so much @Robotime for all the support. As this is my first meetup, I took notes on what I can improve and what to be celebrated about this event. I am very thankful for all the learning from this community and I am already looking forward to my next event in our beautiful town in South Lake Tahoe.
I love small groups because it’s extra cozy and you really get to know each other. 
