Whenever I get an e-mail from your substack I'm already anticipating a very well researched and articulated take on what feels so recent it's almost in the immediate future, and I kinda already know but would've never articulated so clearly - and I wasn't disappointed. You've got skills and they're beautiful to watch. Thanks man
Good piece! I struggle to set up a listening event in Amsterdam but do not find any commercial venue interested in the idea since I dont have a social media following or much friend IRL and they ask who is going to promote it… The loophole of our times
This is something I’ve been trying to do more of and had success working with a hybrid venue (coffee shop, record store, event space) that was open to testing the idea on a Sunday. Could be worth a shot if you have mainly focused on trying to do it with bigger spaces.
Post-Luxury status symbol ->>> an overflowing mailbox full of junk mail. print and postage is expensive, and those that spend to produce it, will only want to reach those with money spend on their offers.
So good, thank you. Do you think the niche can be geographic and fit in to what you’re talking about? As if it’s a location-based subject, it inherently makes the gathering more practically achievable too. I’m organising a local event in a civic space (negligible cost) that is sort of a celebration of our neighbourhood so the niche is that it’s for people within a very small radius. But if evidence was shared online, would it then be a post-luxury status symbol? Thanks for the fascinating and challenging content!
I used to love hosting. My job had an element of throwing large events & privately, I loved to curate experiences for my friends - dinners & themed parties. Since the pandemic & having kids I just…stopped. I’ve tried to analyse why over the years but your line about performing ease & abundance got me real good! Great read 👏
This is so spot on. There's definitely a rising concept of 'community washing' by brands and businesses too, thinking that slapping on that word somehow magically creates a deep bond between random customers. But that's why the idea of community is so seductive at the moment - it can't be bought, it can't be shortcut. You have to put the work in. And where so much convenience is deadening our reward systems, it's one of the few places in our modern world where we can feel hedonic reward as it should be.
Love this piece. Thank you for it. This year, I am making intentional time for just “hanging out” because it feels so luxurious. My weekends are unhurried and languid. Hangouts look like going on the library, grabbing a random book and nestling into a window seat or sitting on a park bench, no air pods or phone and watching the world go by. Social hangouts are inviting a friend over to watch trash tv together and drink tea. I hope everyone else can make some hang out time in their life too.
On point as always Eugene. And I think the Gatsby film and ensuing cultural ripples also had a part to play in our collective fascination with the host figure
It feels like hosting and community events are more popular than ever as a rebuke to the 2D realm of the internet. Looking forward to the evolving world where we value in-person experience and connected more than a the parasocial relationships that we can access through a screen.
Whenever I get an e-mail from your substack I'm already anticipating a very well researched and articulated take on what feels so recent it's almost in the immediate future, and I kinda already know but would've never articulated so clearly - and I wasn't disappointed. You've got skills and they're beautiful to watch. Thanks man
Very well done
Good piece! I struggle to set up a listening event in Amsterdam but do not find any commercial venue interested in the idea since I dont have a social media following or much friend IRL and they ask who is going to promote it… The loophole of our times
This is something I’ve been trying to do more of and had success working with a hybrid venue (coffee shop, record store, event space) that was open to testing the idea on a Sunday. Could be worth a shot if you have mainly focused on trying to do it with bigger spaces.
Vive la third space and being a host (to both events and to product based businesses/artisans) at https://www.instagram.com/candor.candy!
Post-Luxury status symbol ->>> an overflowing mailbox full of junk mail. print and postage is expensive, and those that spend to produce it, will only want to reach those with money spend on their offers.
So good, thank you. Do you think the niche can be geographic and fit in to what you’re talking about? As if it’s a location-based subject, it inherently makes the gathering more practically achievable too. I’m organising a local event in a civic space (negligible cost) that is sort of a celebration of our neighbourhood so the niche is that it’s for people within a very small radius. But if evidence was shared online, would it then be a post-luxury status symbol? Thanks for the fascinating and challenging content!
Love this!! Hosting = social capital, and it’s also an act of service. On a mission to inspire more people to host 🫶
I used to love hosting. My job had an element of throwing large events & privately, I loved to curate experiences for my friends - dinners & themed parties. Since the pandemic & having kids I just…stopped. I’ve tried to analyse why over the years but your line about performing ease & abundance got me real good! Great read 👏
Croc!
This is so spot on. There's definitely a rising concept of 'community washing' by brands and businesses too, thinking that slapping on that word somehow magically creates a deep bond between random customers. But that's why the idea of community is so seductive at the moment - it can't be bought, it can't be shortcut. You have to put the work in. And where so much convenience is deadening our reward systems, it's one of the few places in our modern world where we can feel hedonic reward as it should be.
This is my manifesto. So excellent!
Love this piece. Thank you for it. This year, I am making intentional time for just “hanging out” because it feels so luxurious. My weekends are unhurried and languid. Hangouts look like going on the library, grabbing a random book and nestling into a window seat or sitting on a park bench, no air pods or phone and watching the world go by. Social hangouts are inviting a friend over to watch trash tv together and drink tea. I hope everyone else can make some hang out time in their life too.
On point as always Eugene. And I think the Gatsby film and ensuing cultural ripples also had a part to play in our collective fascination with the host figure
It feels like hosting and community events are more popular than ever as a rebuke to the 2D realm of the internet. Looking forward to the evolving world where we value in-person experience and connected more than a the parasocial relationships that we can access through a screen.
Love your points.