Angela Groninger: June 2008 Archives
This week, we travel from the seat of western culture to the "Land of the Rising Sun". As they say, the whole world passes through the "Big Mikan" and Meetup is not to be left out.
Its my pleasure to introduce you to the Meetup Organizer of the Week for June 25, 2008, Chris Wells and his group, The Tokyo Improv-A-Go-Go Meetup!
I was introduced to Chris' group in a most pleasant manner. One of my colleagues here at Meetup mentioned how a friend of his had found a wonderful, welcoming Meetup group within a week of arriving in Tokyo, Japan. Low and behold, the group is the Tokyo Improv-A-Go-Go Meetup. This heart-warming story truly brings home our mission of a Meetup Everywhere about Most Everything!
Thanks, Chris!
How long have you lived in Tokyo?
I've lived in Tokyo for 14 years, by way of Costa Rica and Kansas City, MO.
When your not performing at Improv-a-go-go, where would we find you?
I have a production company and I'm a professional narrator, doing the voice-overs on videos for Japanese companies and organizations.
I also produce and direct the Tokyo Comedy Show, Japan's longest-running English-language comedy show at 13 years, and perform as an improviser with it's in-house improv troupe, Spontaneous Confusion.
Tell us about your interest in improv, when did you begin performing, etc.
I started doing performances in grade school and on my high school's speech team, and continued through college, although I was a psychology major.
When I came to Japan to study the Japanese language and culture, a friend invited me to perform at a new show he was organizing, the Tokyo Comedy Store. And I've been hooked on improv ever since.
We've been lucky to have Keith Johnstone, inventor of Theatre Sports and all-around improv guru, come to Tokyo twice over the last decade and teach workshops here. The whole world really does eventually pass through the Big Mikan!
How were you introduced to Meetup.com?
Another organizer of several great Tokyo Meetups, Lauren Shannon, told me about it.
Has your experience as a Meetup Organizer changed or improved your life?
I have Meetups for both our TCS improv workshop and the open-mike/student show we call Improv-a-Go-Go and it's had a huge positive effect on our turn-out.
Not only in terms of just numbers, but also the speed with which newcomers in Tokyo find us. For the very first time last week I had someone show up to the workshop within one month of arriving in Japan! It seems like it used to take people over a year before they got settled in enough to really explore the various communities here
Do you have any big plans for your Meetup this year and beyond?
I'd like to keep on increasing the number of participants in our IAGG show and improv workshop.
By Angela Groninger on 06/24/08 9:18 AM
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Join us as we travel to the U.K. for a chat with an Organizer who has taken her personal passion for travel on a bi-continental journey.
I am pleased to introduce you to our Meetup Organizer of the Week for June 18, 2008, Heather and her group, The London UK Nomadchick Women's Travel Meetup.
"Nomadchick is about the transforming power of the journey. I wanted to create a place to meet other like-minded women who wanted to challenge themselves and create amazing experiences and memories."
-Heather TeyskoAs a seasoned traveler and aspiring author, Heather noticed a marked lack of resources for female travelers who'd prefer to "go it alone" rather than with a tour. She started her website, Nomadchick.com and her Meetups in London and Los Angeles quickly ensued. The groups allow women of all backgrounds a forum to share tips and insights into the world of women traveling alone.
Enjoy!
First off, please explain NomadChick to the world.
NomadChick
is a growing network of adventurous women travelers, especially women
who want to travel alone. I guess the stock, somewhat sappy answer
also is: NomadChick is about the transforming power of the journey, and the gutsy
women who challenge themselves to embrace all the journeys that life holds.
What prompted you to the idea?
What prompted you to the idea?
Having
lived in several states and countries, I spent my 20's traveling, and
being amazed at the lack of resources for women travelers. It seemed
like the only stuff out there were plastic packaged spa tours; and what
I found most valuable about travel was how it stretched me personally,
and I don't think you get that as much with a packaged pre-planned tour
where they give you the itinerary when you register. I'm not saying
that those kinds of trips are bad, and there's definitely a place for
them, but just that I wanted an alternative - a place to meet other
like-minded women who wanted to challenge themselves and create amazing
experiences and memories.
What type of work do you do when your not traveling?
I
work for a not-for-profit library cooperative in California and am very
involved in the library world, especially the marketing of libraries.
It's a niche world, but I LOVE it.
How did you find Meetup.com and has your group impacted the success of NomadChick?
How did you find Meetup.com and has your group impacted the success of NomadChick?
Like
many people, I'm sure, I found Meetup during Howard Dean's 2004
Presidential race! I went to Dean Meetups, and after that I was
hooked. It's such a great idea and easy way of getting people together
who share a passion. I've used Meetup whenever I've moved to new
cities, too - it's an instant way of having a great community because
you already know that you're going to be around people that you have
something in common with.
You've also started several more Meetup groups in California. Do you have plans to take NomadChick world-wide?
You've also started several more Meetup groups in California. Do you have plans to take NomadChick world-wide?
Right
now it's a labor of love (and since I started it, I got married, bought
a house, and suddenly have a bunch of cats, so I haven't been laboring
as much as I'd like lately!) but I would love to have Meetups worldwide
- I definitely think it would be great - already we've had people from
the Los Angeles group talk about attending the London one - it would be
awesome to have them everywhere! I just have to figure out how to make
that work.
The London Meetup is very popular. To what do you owe that success?
The London Meetup is very popular. To what do you owe that success?
The
amazing Assistant Organizers, Maria and K - and I can't thank Kathryn,
the previous AO, enough either; and also the fact that all of the
members really take an ownership of the group. It's really their
group, much more than mine, which I think is the way it should be.
I also think that London has travel in its blood much more than cities in the US - flights to Europe, Africa and most of Asia are less expensive, and shorter, which makes a huge difference.
Do you have a favorite Meetup story you'd like to share with us?
I also think that London has travel in its blood much more than cities in the US - flights to Europe, Africa and most of Asia are less expensive, and shorter, which makes a huge difference.
Do you have a favorite Meetup story you'd like to share with us?
I
guess it would be the first meeting of the Glendale, CA group. It was
small, and I was really nervous, and then suddenly everything just fell
into place, we were laughing and planning the excursions we wanted to
take, and I realized how much women wanted to have a group like this,
myself included. I always think that it's about more than just
traveling to exotic places - it's about being willing to stretch
yourself, take a chance, learn and have fun along the way.
Where do you see NomadChick headed in the future?
I
have big plans for it - I just need to find the time to put them into
action! I want to create a community for women travelers - whether
they're going to another state or another continent.
I am planning a series of guidebooks on advice for single women travelers, am working on a collection of travel memoirs from single women, and lots of other fun stuff. Sometimes, when
I stop to think about it all, it really freaks me out!
I am planning a series of guidebooks on advice for single women travelers, am working on a collection of travel memoirs from single women, and lots of other fun stuff. Sometimes, when
I stop to think about it all, it really freaks me out!
By Angela Groninger on 06/17/08 10:08 PM
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