Event Types

Should you allow anyone who RSVPs to attend your event?

There are two paths:

Open for all or Curated.

An open event has a big advantage:

Randomness.

You meet people outside your usual circle. Different industries. Different seniority levels. Different perspectives. Collaborations you didn't plan for.

It's also easier to grow. The wider the net, the more momentum you build.

But there are trade-offs.

The topic has to stay broad. Senior attendees may feel it's not for them. And you attract more people who treat the event transactionally.

That's why some organizers choose to curate.

Curation sacrifices randomness, but increases focus.

The filtering itself becomes part of the value. Now you're effectively vouching for the attendees.

Conversations go deeper and topics can be more niche. Attendees trust that the people in the room are relevant.

But now you have to reject people, and that can be uncomfortable. You'll sometimes get it wrong and miss out on interesting people who don't publicly share much. And growth is slower.

Both models work, but it's important to choose intentionally.

If you run a curated event, the filtering becomes part of your promise. If you break that promise, trust erodes.

What kind of events do you prefer?