Picking the right time for your meetup can make or break attendance. Get it wrong and even your most committed members will struggle to show up consistently.
Weeknight Events: The 7pm Sweet Spot #
If you're organizing on a weeknight, 7pm tends to work well for most people. It gives them time to finish work, grab a quick dinner, and get to your event without feeling completely rushed.
Some people will still arrive straight from work, maybe a bit frazzled. That's normal. If you're starting earlier—say 6pm or 6:30pm—consider having food available. When people are coming directly from the office, they're often hungry and tired. A few snacks or pizza makes a difference.
Weekend Timing Depends on the Event #
Weekends are more flexible, but remember that people guard their weekend time carefully. They've been working all week and have other things they want to do.
Late morning works well for a lot of events. People can have breakfast, come to your meetup, and still be home for lunch with the rest of their day free. Early evening also works—it doesn't eat into daytime plans but isn't so late that it feels like the whole evening is gone.
The middle of the day is trickier. A 2pm Saturday meetup means people feel like they've lost most of their day, even if the event only runs an hour or two.
Just Ask Your Members #
Here's the simplest advice: poll your members. Use a free tool like Doodle, When2meet, or even a basic Google Form to ask when works best for them.
If you get regular feedback on timing, you'll maximize attendance. People's schedules change—what worked six months ago might not work now. Check in occasionally and be willing to adjust.
Different members will have different constraints. Parents might prefer early evenings before bedtime routines. People who work shifts might need weekend options. You won't accommodate everyone, but asking shows you care about making it accessible.
Try It and Adjust #
Don't overthink it. Pick a time that seems reasonable, run a few events, and see who shows up. If attendance is consistently low, try a different slot. Most communities experiment with timing before finding what works.
The "perfect" time doesn't exist. Aim for good enough and adjust based on what you learn.
Try Radius #
We built Radius for organizers who want simple tools to build communities without the complexity or growth pressure of other platforms. Create a group or explore existing communities.